Reducing holiday stress and conflictAmericans are working harder than ever, according to a recent article posted at the Society for Human Resource Management web site. The article described a phone survey conducted by OfficeTeam, the California-based professional staffing service. This survey revealed that 42 percent of workers will not take any time off between Thanksgiving and New Year’s in 2007 beyond employer-provided time off, and 17 percent will only take one or two days off.

This means that nearly two thirds of employees intend on working without respite at a time of year when stress levels in both their work and home lives are at their peak. According to the survey, among office workers the situation is even more extreme, with only a quarter of employees taking time off, as organizations rush to complete end-of-year tasks.

As the stress level rises and the hours and days get long, tired people naturally get more impatient and testy around each other, and conflicts arise. Individuals experiencing this tension need help recognizing what is happening to and around them as well as support in managing stress and conflict in the workplace. Organizations that fail to address these issues proactively can experience a drop in morale and productivity, and some conflicts might escalate to levels that damage relationships for a long time past the holidays. Here are some steps you can take to prevent and manage work-related stress and conflict around the holidays:

  • Give yourself and those around you a break. People in conflict are not at their best, and a little bit of empathy can go a long way.
  • Encourage stress-relieving activities, such as exercise, games, walks, yoga, and others. Everyone has different pressure valves.
  • Laugh - people lose their sense of humor when stressed.
  • Communicate often and freely - stressed people hunker down and people in conflict stop talking altogether. This only makes things worse.
  • Connect people with resources, internal and external to the organization, such as EAPs, ombuds, and others, to supplement what they can do on their own if the need arises.

For additional tips on managing stress at work during these times, here are a few articles worth exploring:

“Is your work stressing you? Find out the better way to deal with stress”

“Tips for Managing Stress and Change at Work: Stress Management Tips”

“Tips for Managing Stress: How to Slow Down in a High Speed World”

“Managing Stress“

“Managing Stress: Tips to Chill Out”

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season.