Since this blog is about training, why are we writing a post today about the holiday blues?  After all, you cannot train people to be happy – even though good training always lifts moods.

We are writing this post because minor depression that can set in at this time of year can temporarily make your company a sadder place and have a negative influence on people’s performance. And if you are training your employees now, depression could diminish their attention and enthusiasm to learn.

Why People Become Sad at the Holidays

In “Why People Get Depressed at Christmas,” an article that appeared in Psychology Today back in 2010, psychotherapist Ray Williams writes that people can experience holiday depression when they have spent too much money on gifts and when their holidays are not as perfect as those depicted in ads and television programs.

Those are wise observations, but if you consider your employees as individuals, you could be able to identify some who are prone to sadness at this time of year because:

• They have lost loved ones in the last year or years
• They live alone and could be suffering from loneliness, which often feels more acute during the holidays
• They have gotten divorced, ended partnerships, or experienced other life changes that make them feel sad or alone
• They are new hires and while others are celebrating, they do not yet feel completely at home in your company
• They are empty nesters whose children are no longer living at home
• They are from faith traditions that make them feel somewhat distanced from the Christmas and Hanukah festivities that are taking place in the office

What’s a Caring Company to Do?

Putting up more holiday decorations or turning up the seasonal music can make sad employees feel even worse by reminding them constantly that it is holiday time and they “should” feel happy. Certain office holiday traditions, like Secret Santa gift exchanges and even holiday parties, can have a similar effect.

But here are some steps that can address the causes of holiday sadness:

• Keep things merry and bright – literally. In addition to suffering from the holiday blues, some employees could be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a period of depression that sets in when days become shorter and sunlight is harder to find. One solution is to look at the amount of natural light that enters your work areas, adjust window shades, and install lighting that emits a more balanced spectrum of “natural light.” (Most old fluorescent bulbs don’t do that, so consider replacing them.)
• Find ways to encourage employees to focus on other people, not themselves. Even though the end of December is not far away, there is still time to collect toys for children or coats for the needy, or to send a group of employees to sing holiday music at hospitals or nursing homes. Often, all it takes is one call to set up programs like those. Many psychologists have written that when people focus on other people and not on themselves, they are less prone to become sad.
• Make gifts personalized and thoughtful, not generic. Be sure to give presents that appeal to employees’ individual interests, like exercise, music, a sports team, pets, kids, family life or other interests. The right gifts, or even the right gift cards, show employees that you value them as individuals.
• Take time to express appreciation for work well done. Your managers or top executives can invite employees into meetings and offer thanks for projects well done, for contributions to the team, and more. A little one-on-one time with employees can send the message that your company is focused on what employees do well, not only on areas that need improvement or things that have gone “wrong” in the past year.
• Spend a little time in team-building. Many companies only invest time in team-building activities during the warm summer months, and do little at this time of year. Yet the holidays offer a good opportunity to invite individual teams to “thank you” lunches and other events that review the past year’s accomplishments and offer thanks for group success. Also, many psychologists believe that physical activity is an effective antidote for depression. Getting team members up and away from their desks and off to lunches is one option.

Wishing You and Your Employees the Happiest of Holidays

All of us at Tortal Training extend our best holiday wishes to you and everyone in your organization. Thank you for being our clients, readers of our blog, and valued members of our Tortal Training community.