1 in 4 less motivated at Christmas

New research from Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services reveals the festive season leaves one in four employees feeling less motivated than any other time of year.

When asked at what time of year individuals feel least motivated in the workplace, Christmas was highlighted as the most prevalent time for employees to be in the doldrums, more so than New Year or summertime.

The research, conducted by OnePoll, also reveals this seasonal effect is consistent across both full and part-time employees.

As a result, employers will need to make every effort to keep staff engaged right through the Christmas period in order to maintain performance levels. Short-term rewarding is an effective way of ensuring temporary, part-time and full-time employees feel valued and continually engaged with their work.

One method of achieving this is through non-financial rewards. Sodexo’s research revealed that almost half of employees would most like multi-choice gift cards to be included in their rewards package – a simple-to-implement gift and affordable for businesses of any size.

Jamie Mackenzie, marketing director at Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services, said: 
“The winter period often sees an increase in staff illness, as well as a depleted workforce as many employees take off for sunnier climates. With the dark nights drawing in and winter weather looming, the excitement and positivity of Christmas can get lost in the workplace and it can be very hard for employees to find focus, which often means that performance suffers as a result. Short-term rewards are an extremely effective tool for breathing new life into a workforce that is feeling a bit tired and jaded, regardless of whether an employee works once a week or every day. Everyone can enjoy the benefits that this type of rewarding brings.”