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HAPPIER DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
’Tis the season to be jolly – off and on the clock. In a recent survey
of Canadian professionals from staffing firm Accountemps, more
than a third (36 per cent) said they are more cheerful at work dur-ing
the holidays. But many are also busier, with 30 per cent of
respondents saying they are more stressed on the job this time of
year.
What makes workers weary during the most wonderful time of
the year? Professionals polled cited balancing holiday events and
work obligations (33 per cent), having fewer people on the job to
help (20 per cent) and trying to take time off and coming back to
heavy workloads (17 per cent) as the most stressful aspects of the
holiday season.
As for the gift that would bring the most cheer, professionals in-dicated
they wanted more flexible work schedules, higher year-end
bonuses and additional paid vacation time.
“Preparing for the holidays and juggling year-end responsibili-ties
at work can make this a busy and stressful time for employees,”
said Dianne Hunnam-Jones, Canadian president of Accountemps.
“To ensure business continues to run smoothly, employers should
consult their teams to see how they can alleviate pressure, and
consider providing additional resources to cover for vacations, or
allow for flexible work schedules.”
As the holidays approach, Accountemps offers the following
tips to prevent on-the-job fatigue:
■■ Make a list and check it twice. Before leaving work, write
down top priorities to accomplish the next day. Keep a separate
list for personal to-dos. This will help you manage priorities,
improve productivity and reduce stress during the holidays.
■■ Look for helpers. If you're buried with too many projects,
speak up. Meet with your manager to discuss possible
solutions to alleviate the pressure you're feeling, such as
adjusting deadlines or delegating.
■■ Give yourself the gift of time. Plan for time out of the office,
and help your boss prepare for your absence so all important
projects are covered. Think about ways you can minimize your
AS FOR THE GIFT THAT WOULD BRING THE
MOST CHEER, PROFESSIONALS INDICATED
THEY WANTED MORE FLEXIBLE WORK
SCHEDULES, HIGHER YEAR-END BONUSES
AND ADDITIONAL PAID VACATION TIME.
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HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ DECEMBER 2017 ❚ 9
/HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA
