How To Rescue The Workplace From Inappropriate Flirting, Excessive Junk Food, and Lower Productivity During the Holiday Season

Top five tips for a less stressful, more productive holiday workplace offered by National Workplace Communications experts.

North Haven, CT (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -– In recognition that the December holiday season is the most stressful time of the year for employees and employer alike, workplace communications experts The Marlin Company today announced its top five tips for making the workplace less stressful, more productive and joyful this holiday season.

For over 60 years The Marlin Company has surveyed workers and employers and since 1995 has published its Annual "Attitudes in the American Workplace" poll, most recently conducted by Harris Interactive.

The year-end holiday period is the most stressful time of the year due to the additional responsibilities and time pressures heaped on top of already-full schedules and already-stressed employees," said Frank Kenna III, President of The Marlin Company. "Even during the pre-holiday season our surveys report over 80% of employees feel workplace stress, and this can get magnified during the holiday season."

Kenna offered the following tips to improve the workplace during the holidays:

1. Prevent holiday hanky panky and alcoholic excess

Holiday parties can be a fertile ground for unwanted advances from the opposite sex and over-indulging in alcoholic beverages, transforming model employees into possible behavior or legal problems. Our 2005 "Attitudes in the American Workplace conduced by Harris Interactive revealed that over 20% of employees admit to flirting with co-workers, and the holiday party could be the setting to take it to the next level. Giving this some thought in advance can help mitigate these occurrences. For instance publishing (or re-releasing) a code of conduct the week before the party is helpful.

Employers should give this some thought before a party to lesson the inappropriate behavior. Managers should think about who is going to come and what their relationships are, and be prepared to get involved in possible problems at a party before they get out of hand. A little thought beforehand can make a big difference in solving a touchy situation.

2. Increase health awareness; eliminate excess junk food

Many companies' office start to fill up with pies & cookies shortly after Thanksgiving and extend through New Year's. While the sugarcane farmers are sure to appreciate this, it's a good idea to encourage employees, or the vendors & suppliers sending the sweets, to consider healthier alternatives like dried fruits, flavored popcorn or non-food items.

Also think about what type of food will be served at holiday parties. The Marlin Company's 2006 12th Annual "Attitudes in the American Workplace" Poll conducted by Harris Interactive reported that 74% of employees said that cake, cookies or candy are sometimes or always served at company parties. Just because it's a party doesn't mean that healthy foods can't or shouldn't be available… and many employees are looking for them. This is a great opportunity to set a healthy trend for the upcoming year.

3. Understand that your employees may not be as focused as usual

The holidays are full of special events, parties and shopping which all add to demands on employees' lives. This can result in more tiredness at work causing less attention to detail, safety awareness and lower productivity. Managers should take this into account when setting year-end schedules and keep an eye out for individuals who may seem unusually stressed or tired.

4. Review the company year-end schedule

Not only do holidays occur around the end of the year, but many companies use a calendar-year schedule that causes company and holiday events to collide. This can add to the holiday hustle, so consider moving things such as year-end reviews or taking inventory to another time. For instance, consider changing the review schedule to mid-November or moving project deadlines a few weeks in either direction from December 31.

5. Don't forget about 'the day after'

There is so much attention paid to the run-up to the holidays, that when they're finally over, it's like letting the air out a balloon. Employees get the blahs. This is an opportunity for employers to recognize this up front and re-energize their teams. Take their employees' focus off the past and redirect it to the future. Get employees involved in planning for the coming year. Based on that planning, set goals and timelines with their input. Get employees excited about how they can make a difference in the upcoming year.

About The Marlin Company

For more than 90 years, The Marlin Company has been the Workplace Communication Experts ™ helping companies improve employee morale, productivity and performance through the innovative use of original, visually engaging content that is displayed in Communication Stations that can be managed through print or Internet distribution. Its stations, which contain content customized by industry, are helping more than 8,000 companies of all sizes improve workplace attitudes and behavior. Through its many years of experience, The Marlin Company has developed a strong database of, and experience in, issues affecting the workplace. It routinely surveys thousands of clients to determine their current issues, works with industry experts across North America, and conducts national polling. Since 1995, it has conducted its annual "Attitudes in the American Workplace" Labor Day poll. In the early years, the Gallup Organization conducted the polling. Harris Interactive has done so since 2001. For more information, please see www.themarlincompany.com.

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