The survey by Toughened Glass Systems found 1 in 3 workers reporting that both the cold weather and illness affected their productivity at work and have a knock-on effect on company goals and operations. This supports Office of National Statistics data that found a 138% decrease in productivity from Q3 to Q1 2024 in the UK, highlighting a drop in productivity during the winter period. 

Digital PR company Reboot Online has provided tips on how employers can help keep their employees motivated during the run-up to Christmas and into Q1.

1. Make yourself available Managing time and workload is important for all employees in an organisation, especially management. December is a busy month with organisations finishing up their work for the year, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed and overlook your duty of supporting your team. Ensure that you organise your time effectively so that you have time to check in with them. This could include regular one-to-ones, giving feedback on tasks and (if necessary) reallocating workload, which should fuel the team with drive and positivity and address any concerns before they grow.
   If you divide your time effectively, that’ll have a positive knock-on effect towards your team, increasing productivity with strong, fully involved management that always makes time to check in with everyone.
2. Offer a flexible work schedule If this is appropriate, incorporate a flexible working schedule into the workplace, which enables employees to work their usual agreed hours but at a time that suits them. This can reduce stress and give employees more time for personal errands, increasing their focus and engagement during the workday.
3. Flexible work goals Let your team set some personal work targets for the final weeks. They’re more likely to stay motivated and productive when they feel ownership over their goals and objectives. Consider letting them pick one professional goal they’d like to complete by the end of the year (such as learning a new skill that’s different but applicable to their field) and support them in reaching it.
4. Encourage professional development opportunities Offer short, engaging workshops or online courses your team can complete in an hour or less. Whether it’s a time management technique or a new tool, providing learning opportunities with tangible benefits for the next year shows your commitment to overall team growth and keeps them productive and engaged.
5. Give the gift of recognition Consider sending personal ‘shout-out’ messages, company-wide emails or newsletters that recognise individual and team achievements highlighting how their efforts contribute to the company’s success and shared goals. These can provide a quick, sincere boost to morale and motivation. Not only this, personal acknowledgement fosters a positive environment and reinforces each person's impact on the company’s achievements.
6. Shorter, focused work blocks Encourage your team to work in short, highly focused blocks with regular breaks. Use a time-blocking method (such as the Pomodoro Technique that splits working sessions into 25-minute blocks followed by a five-minute break) for increased focus and productivity, especially as energy levels may dip during this time of year. Also, encouraging employees to get outside on lunch breaks, and stepping out into the fresh air and natural light will boost brain activity and help employees re-focus on their work tasks. Natural light not only increases productivity levels but is also good for mental health.
7. Create a ‘Done by Christmas’ task list Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks to complete them by Christmas. Visual aids, like a large, shared checklist, can help employees stay on track and give a satisfying sense of accomplishment as they check items off.
8. Festive-themed incentives for achieving KPIs For employees who hit key performance indicators (KPIs), offer festive rewards, such as bonuses. Providing incentives can help employees stay focused on their goals and feel more of a sense of achievement.
9. End-of-year ‘Declutter Day’ Encourage everyone to declutter their workstations and digital files in preparation for the New Year. A clean workspace helps employees feel refreshed and come back to work feeling ready and motivated to hit the ground running, boosting motivation and reducing stress.
10. Streamlined meetings Keep meetings short and focused, especially as attention spans can wane closer to Christmas. Opt for stand-up meetings, focused agendas and clear action points to maintain productivity without taking too much time.

• Comment below on this story. Or let us know what you think by emailing us at [email protected] or tweet us to tell us your thoughts or share this story with a friend.