The holidays aren’t always as joyful as they seem—this time of year can bring serious stress for employees trying to balance work, family, and personal responsibilities. From financial worries to emotional ups and downs, the season can take a toll on mental health. Great leaders understand these challenges and know how important it is to support their teams.
The difficult part, of course, is knowing which approach is best when it comes to reducing holiday stress at work. Even the most well-intentioned employers can implement ineffective solutions, and you want to be sure you’re truly making a difference. After all, you know that creating a space where employees feel seen and cared for isn’t just kind—it’s the key to a healthier, happier workplace.
Today, we’re diving into the telltale signs of employee holiday stress and uncovering 5 actionable strategies to tackle it head-on, because addressing it now can make all the difference for your team (and your business) in 2025 and beyond.
What Causes Poor Mental Health During the Holidays?
Christmas is known as a season of peace and joy, but unfortunately that isn’t the case for a lot of people. Many aspects of preparing or navigating this time of year lead to stress and overwhelm, leaving employees feeling isolated, exhausted, and frustrated.
Here are a few of the most common holiday stress causes:
1. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can worsen stress during the holidays, as shorter days and less sunlight affect mood and energy levels.
2. Financial Pressures
Holiday expenses like gifts, travel, and end-of-the-year bills can put serious financial pressure on your team. This stress often leads to distractions and dips in productivity.
3. Competing Demands
The holidays pull employees in every direction—work deadlines, family commitments, and social obligations all compete for their time. It’s a juggling act that often leads to burnout and stress.
4. Family Conflict
Family conflicts during the holidays can really take a toll on your employees. Between managing family expectations, navigating tensions, and dealing with personal struggles, it’s a lot to manage—and it can leave them feeling emotionally drained.
5. Burnout
Holiday burnout is no joke. Between year-end deadlines, personal to-do lists, and all the seasonal chaos, your team can end up feeling completely drained.
How to Spot Stressed Workers
As an employer, recognizing the signs of holiday stress is key to supporting your team through this busy season. With the right attention, you can help them thrive despite the challenges.
Here are a few tell-tale signs to watch for:
- Loss of interest in their work. When employees are stressed about the holidays, their mental energy is often drained by personal pressures, leaving little focus for work. This stress can cause disengagement, making it harder for them to stay motivated or productive.
- Withdrawal. Many individuals isolate themselves as a way of coping with feeling overwhelmed. Keep an eye out for employees who are withdrawing from colleagues or avoiding social interactions.
- Increased absenteeism. High levels of stress during the holidays can make it harder to show up for work. With too many personal pressures and responsibilities, your employees may lack the capacity to handle more.
- Difficulty concentrating. Your employees may struggle to concentrate as their minds are preoccupied with racing thoughts of anxiety, frustration, and personal stress—leaving little mental capacity for their daily duties.
- Changes in appearance. Have you noticed an employee has been neglecting personal grooming or showing up to work looking disheveled? Exhaustion from personal struggles and work pressures can make it hard to prioritize self-care.
5 Simple Strategies to Support Your Team Through Holiday Stress at Work
The holiday season can be tough on your team, but as an employer, you have a real chance to make a positive impact. Showing compassion and understanding can go a long way in helping reduce holiday stress and making employees feel cared for.
Here’s how you can manage holiday stress and foster a healthier, more productive environment:
1. Offer Flexible Schedules
Offering flexible work options is a great move, especially when your team is dealing with holiday stress or feeling down. It shows you care and helps them handle personal stuff while still getting work done. For example, letting employees change their hours or work from home gives them space to recharge, take care of family, or go to therapy. This not only helps their mental health but can also improve productivity.
2. Avoid Unnecessary Meetings
Before you schedule another team brainstorming or debrief meeting, take a moment to ask yourself: can this wait until after the holidays? Your team is probably feeling the end-of-year burnout, and you’ll likely get better results when they’re well-rested and ready to tackle things in the New Year.
3. Check In Regarding Workloads
Don’t just assume your employees are fine with their workload, especially as Christmas approaches. Check in with them to see if they feel the expectations are realistic or if any challenges have come up since the tasks were assigned. Being flexible and helping them adjust timelines or milestones can make a huge difference and give them some much-needed relief.
4. Show Appreciation for Your Team
Your team has worked hard all year—why not show some appreciation before they head into the holidays? A little recognition can go a long way in making them feel valued. Whether it’s handing out peer-nominated awards, writing personal thank-you cards, or treating them to a special dinner, these gestures show you care and help keep your team loyal and motivated.
5. Provide Mental Health Training
Last but not least, mental health training is always a win for your team. Whether it’s before the holidays to help them manage stress or after to help them recharge and start the New Year strong, it’s a great way to give your team the tools they need to thrive. They’ll learn how to shift their mindset around mental wellbeing, spot signs of stress or burnout in themselves and others, and pick up practical coping strategies for tough times.
Ready to Help Your Employees Manage Stress and Thrive in the Workplace?
Join us in being catalysts for change. It all starts with a simple commitment to empowering your team—and the decision to book mental health training.