Back to top

Encompass® Insurance Insights & Articles



Keeping Morale Up While the Year Is Winding Down

As the year comes to a close and the temps and daylight hours decrease, you might notice a corresponding dip in the mood, morale and motivation of coworkers. Colleagues may not show the same enthusiasm over collaborative projects and business goals as they did back in January. Customer service can be more challenging at year's end if the stress of approaching holidays weighs heavily on your client's mind.

Group of female employees walking in the office holding coffee and notebooks.

Low morale in the workplace can lead to:

  • Decreased productivity
  • Increased absenteeism
  • Increased interpersonal conflicts
  • Dissatisfied customers
  • High employee turnover

Whether seasonal affective disorder (SAD), end-of-year blues, or just a natural dip in energy levels as the year winds down, you and those you work with may benefit from an injection of inspiration. Put a few of these morale-boosting ideas to the test to help the people who support you greet the new year with renewed dedication and enthusiasm.

Celebrate personal milestones and recognize losses.

Don't discount the significant effect small tokens of appreciation and acknowledgment can have. Consider crafting a handwritten note to everyone in the office expressing gratitude for things that took place this year.

Be specific and personal in your communication. The more aware you are of what motivates individual employees, the easier it will be for you to hone in on precisely what needs to be expressed for maximum impact.

Put a company outing on the calendar.

Getting off the property and interacting with coworkers in a fun, casual way can foster supportive relationships and better teamwork back at the office. It's essential for employees to feel that their opinions count, so let the crew suggest and then vote on ideas for company play dates. It could be a trip to the bowling alley, a high-end restaurant meal, or volunteering as a group with a local animal shelter.

Be generous with year-end bonuses.

Many people incur added expenses associated with holiday gift-giving, travel, and larger food bills. There's probably no time when extra cash is more appreciated than the year's last quarter. Unexpected financial gifts to employees can help lead to higher productivity and increased loyalty, but rewarding with free time is also effective.

Implement professional development and tuition reimbursement.

Employee advancement and empowering professional development are crucial to creating an engaged workforce. Lack of career development opportunities can be a reason for employee turnover. Losing an employee is costly to your business because you must recruit and train a replacement.

Make it easy for eligible employees to pursue academic degrees or change career tracks altogether by allocating money for online learning programs, conferences, and certifications. Consider assisting with tuition, travel expenses, books, and supplies and reap the rewards of a more skilled, competent, and dedicated workforce.


A group of Encompass agents

Customer Centric. Agent Focused.

Our simple, tailored approach to coverage offers powerful benefits to you and your clients.

Become an Agent

The general information contained in The Encompass Blog is provided as a courtesy, and is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The contents of this website are subject to periodic change without notice. Information provided on The Encompass Blog is not intended to replace official sources. Although attempts will be made to ensure that the information is accurate and timely, the information is presented "as is" and without warranties. Information contained on The Encompass Blog should not be mistaken for professional advice. Information contained herein should not be considered error-free and should not be used as the exclusive basis for decision-making. Use of website information is strictly voluntary and at the user's sole risk. We encourage you to obtain personal advice from qualified professionals when making decision regarding your specific situation.

Other resources linked from these pages are maintained by independent providers. The Encompass Blog does not monitor all linked resources and cannot guarantee their accuracy. Statements, views and opinions included in an independent provider's material are strictly those of the author(s). These views may not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of The Encompass Blog, the Encompass family of companies or its agents, officers or employees.

ECC Monitor: OK