Holidays can be a difficult time of year for employees with professional and financial strain on their minds, according to research from Workhuman. The survey of 3,000 full-time employees across the U.S., U.K., and Ireland finds that leaders can take several actionable steps to support their workforce and ensure a rewarding holiday season for everyone.
One in four respondents believe that gifts from colleagues or managers would be related to performance. This belief is vastly more prevalent in Ireland (37%) than in the United States. With an expanding shopping list, financial concerns can be a hallmark of the season. Many rely on their year-end bonus to support their holiday-related expenses, with 35% saying it will go towards gifts or travel. Luckily, 30% will be able to spend it on something they want, with another 17% putting the additional funds towards bills and expenses.
When employees don’t have the flexibility to spend their bonus how they want to, it can cause some ill will. Employee recognition programs can be a great way to ensure that employees buy something for themselves or have the chance to get a special gift for a loved one without cutting into what they consider a vital part of their annual compensation.
Most employees (78%) would use an employee recognition or reward program to purchase holiday gifts, and the same percentage (78%) say that being able to use points for holiday shopping would alleviate spending pressure during the holiday season.
While December is filled to the brim with holiday spirit at home, some employees don’t see that festivity reflected at work. Thirty-three percent of global employees—one in every three respondents—say that the holiday season makes them feel more stressed. Further, when asked to select all stressors that apply to them during this time of year, 64% cited the financial burden of the holiday season as a core stressor while 33% reported an increasing workload, and another 29% said that meeting their KPIs and end-of-year goals had their cortisol pumping.
Approximately 31% of stressed-out employees reported that the holiday season was difficult for them for personal reasons, serving as a reminder that no matter the end of year goals or pressure in play, it’s important to remember the whole human is there. For some, holiday time off will be a boon, with 43% of all employees saying they’ll return to work refreshed after the holidays, ready to kick off 2025. For U.S. employees, however, there is less optimism with 35% agreeing they’ll return refreshed after the holidays. Others won’t be able to leave work behind so easily, with 32% of employees reporting they’ll respond to work emails over the holidays and another 20% saying they can’t take as much time off as they would like due to their large workload.
A significant group of employees must also contend with stigma: 15% of employees report that their team or management looks down on them for taking time off during the holidays. When asked to select all the reasons they feel this way, the majority said it’s too busy leading up to the end of the year (55%) and others saying it’s taken as a sign of “low commitment” (42%) or simply not within the company norm (36%).
Despite this, employees seem determined to prioritize their well-being. More than a third (36%) of respondents say that their well-being at work has improved since last year. To improve well-being even more, employees are ready to be more productive (37%), learn a new skill (36%), be more social with colleagues (32%), take more PTO (28%), or ask for a raise or promotion (28%).
Expectations are also on employers to help bolster well-being. When asked to select they ways organizations could support their wellbeing, besides compensation and salary boosts, employees selected offering better benefits (45%), more recognition (36%), and more flexibility (32%).
Recognition ultimately hits the right notes at the end of the year. Receiving public appreciation from colleagues reduces potential stress around meeting year-end goals (63%). An essential note considering that the top answer when asked how productivity is impacted by the holiday season was that at the end of the year pressure picks up, and it makes meeting goals more intense.
