5 Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy Around the Holidays

The holidays are right around the corner, which has a lot of business owners thinking about things they can do to potentially keep their employees as happy as possible. Employee happiness can have a dramatic effect on productivity and should never be overlooked. If your employees feel as if they're being taken care of (especially around the holidays), they'll have every reason in the world to work as hard as possible and keep pushing your business in a forward direction. 

While employee happiness will never be completely in your control, there are a handful of things that you can do to keep them feeling appreciated. Start with these ideas, and don't hesitate to modify them in order to better suit your leadership style.

1. Create a Casual Atmosphere

"The atmosphere is very young and laid back," says a happy employee in one of Irvine, CA's 29 Prime reviews

Creating a casual work environment is essential when it comes to keeping your employees happy and in a good mood, as no one likes to work in a stuffy office. It can be incredibly helpful around the holidays to make your work environment as comfortable and casual as possible, as your employees will no doubt be under a great deal of stress and will appreciate the change in atmosphere. 

2. Encourage Employees to Share Ideas

Depending upon the relationship you have with your employees, they may or may not feel as if it is their place to offer suggestions about the business. Encouraging them to do so is a great way to build rapport and make your employees feel they're truly a part of the team. Plus, you never know which idea might actually have a dramatically positive impact on your business. You might want to consider holding a weekly meeting around the holidays, which will allow your employees to bring up anything they have on their minds.

3. Don't Skimp on Bonuses

Times are tough, and it's tough to find someone who isn't at least a little financially stressed around the holidays. Employees rely on bonuses in order to buy gifts for their families, and one of the easiest ways to keep them happy is to take care in not skimping in this department. Even if profits aren't through the roof, you've still got to offer a bonus large enough to let your employees know that you care about the work they're doing. 

4. Offer Up a Lengthy Vacation

Given the fact that people often have family in town for the holidays, there's no getting around the fact that your employees are going to have a lot on their plate during this time. Giving them a lengthy vacation of at least 5 business days (in addition to their regular vacation time) will show that you care, and it will also ensure that the work they do while they are in the office is of exceptional quality. 

5. Keep a Cool Head

Let's face it - employees can be frustrating at times. Blowing up at them around the holidays is not going to do you any favors, however, and will very likely affect their productivity. Try your best to keep a cool head, even if you're displeased with something about the work an employee is doing. Approach them about it, but keep emotion out of the equation.

Keeping your employees happy around the holidays is easier than you might think. Take the above tips into consideration, and you'll be on the right track!

About the author

Amanda Green is a site contributor that often writes on personal finance, marketing and business. In her free time she enjoys reading and playing volleyball with family and friends. Her work may also be found on http://www.paidtwice.com

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