The holidays can be a lot of fun, but they can also lead to a lot of stress for business owners and employees. Between the family events and changing schedules, holiday season can be pretty hectic. Here are a few tips to help business owners come out on top.
Plan for More than the Holiday Party
Figuring out a time, date, and place for the annual company party is not even close to the most important thing owners need to plan for during the holiday season. Office time may be at a premium thanks to a combination of days off from observed holidays and paid time off (PTO) days used by employees. This means you need to plan ahead and make sure that your business won’t fall behind on anything because of the limited number of work hours in the holiday months.
Your employees won’t be the only people with fewer work days. Your clients and customers may be less available than usual thanks to the holiday season. Don’t wait until the middle of December to contact people if you can get a hold of them earlier than that.
Take Advantage of the Holiday Season
While the holidays mean extra days off, it can also afford some extra opportunities. Depending on your business, there may be marketing opportunities or various trends that you can use to your advantage. Holiday sales or specials can be a nice little incentive for your customers, even if you’re not a toy store or some other retailer. Don’t be afraid to get creative and use the season to your advantage.
Learn from Past Mistakes
Those who don’t learn from their past mistakes are doomed to repeat them. Take a look at your performance from the last year or two and note any trends or issues. This can help you identify problem areas and make the necessary adjustments, whether it’s more seasonal help, a better system for keeping track of time off, or any other factors. Plus, there are always the mistakes people can make during the office party. For tips on that, please refer to this helpful post on company parties.
Treat Your Employees (and Yourself) with a PEO
Nobody wants to deal with HR headaches. Even without any holiday party issues, managing HR can be a big pain for businesses. A Professional Employer Organization like Group Management Services can help you protect your business from HR issues and offer your employees greater benefits such as paid time off and other perks. Contact us today to learn how partnering with a PEO can strengthen your business this holiday season.