Shawnee Love   •  
November 22, 2010

Decorated houses, music on the radio and my invitation filled inbox are all heralding the holiday season. So many wonderful things and yet the holiday season is always one of the most stressful for human resources. Employees are overextended, the weather is inclement, unforgiving and unpredictable, and there is a lot going on!

Despite loving December for being the month of my birthday, the time of the first snowfall, and the peak of the season of joy and giving, December tortures me with:

1. Flu season~ Whether you decide to subsidize the flu shot for your employees or not, be prepared to have many of them off sick. Force them to stay home if they are coughing and hacking. No one is so important that they should be allowed to spread their germs to the workforce. Plus, people get better faster if they rest. If they are so strapped for cash that they can’t be off work, then you might want to think about:

• Offering sick time or opportunities to make up the time,
• Paying more (Few people can live on minimum wage),
• An employee assistance plan with good financial planning tools and resources to help employees manage their money.

Over the next couple weeks, I will share some other ways December tortures me and I would love to hear how December tortures you!