‘Tis the season for fun celebrations, good food and getting together with friends and family. For many, the holidays are about spending time with loved ones, laughter and making memories. However, what seems joyous to some may feel like just the opposite to others.

According to a Healthline survey, 44% of people report stress during the holidays. Whether it’s dealing with difficult family members, budgeting for gifts or grieving a loved one, the holidays can stir up a lot of unpleasant emotions. With so much on employees’ plates, workplace productivity can also be affected. Fortunately for employers, an employee assistance program (or EAP) can guide employees to resources that improve their emotional health and wellbeing – just in time to kick off the season.

Identifying holiday stress

Activities associated with the holiday season – cooking, decorating, shopping, gathering – often create feelings of joy and contentment. However, such a full schedule can also impact your employees’ emotional health.

It’s important to recognize how stress affects people. Some symptoms may include:

• Irritability

• Body aches

• Headaches

• High blood pressure

• Fatigue

• Muscle tension

• Over or undereating

• Depression

• Restlessness or insomnia

• Difficulty concentrating or memory loss

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

What causes stress

Understanding how the holidays can be stressful for employees is imperative to guiding them toward getting the help they need. Stress can derive from various aspects of an employee’s life including:

• Budgeting for gifts         

• Relationship issues

• Family conflict

• Alcohol or substance use

• Grieving a loved one

• Eating disorders

• Travel coordination

• Scheduling conflicts

What employers can do to help

When the stress of the holidays starts to affect your employees’ mental and physical health, some extra support might be in order. By providing employees with access to a variety of resources, employers reduce the risk of their workers experiencing stress and anxiety. In addition to counseling and coaching, CuraLinc offers additional resources to support employees and managers during this busy time:

• Text therapy can be accessed anywhere, at any time. 

• Virtual group support helps employees recognize they’re not alone.

• Digital behavioral health provides evidence-based self-help tools and resources.

• Interactive digital toolkits offer resources for mindfulness, meditation, sleep fitness and more.

• Work-life benefits help employees stay balanced and focused.

• HR and management consultation provides human resources departments and company supervisors with expert guidance on supporting employees and information on topics from mental health first aid in the workplace to preventing burnout to building resilience.

With an EAP in place, organizations have access to valuable resources that support their employees both in and outside of the workplace. Whether they’re struggling with the holiday blues, everyday stress or a more serious mental health concern, an EAP with the proper construct and focus can help employees get back on track and stay happy, healthy and productive throughout the holidays and into the new year.