As stressful as the holiday season can be for both companies and their employees, the post-holiday season can be just as challenging. The post-holiday time of year is often accompanied by employee fatigue. After all, the holiday season tends to be a hectic time of year. Employees sometimes have to work longer hours and take on higher workloads. Even when they’re not at work, their lives tend to be busy with travel and celebrations, so even if employees are away from work for a few days, they aren’t necessarily well rested once the holiday season has passed.
For employers, this can create a new and existential type of health and safety concern: employee fatigue. For what it’s worth, businesses should be aware of the possibility of employee fatigue all year. However, workers are more vulnerable during and immediately after the holiday season. During this time of year, extra attention needs to be paid and special measures taken to address employee fatigue. Here are some best practices for how employers can manage employee fatigue after the holiday rush and keep the workplace accident-free during the post-holiday season.
The first step in managing employee fatigue is being able to recognize the signs. People don’t all have the same threshold for feeling tired and they don’t always show their exhaustion the same way. If someone feels drowsy or is yawning a lot, those are obvious signs of fatigue. A lack of motivation or general lethargy can also be signs that someone is feeling tired. But there are more subtle reasons too, including someone being irritable or distracted. If an employee has a problem answering simple questions or seems to be making more errors than usual, it can be a sign of fatigue.
It’s critical that everyone in the workplace understands the signs of fatigue during and after the holiday season when this is likely to be an issue. Supervisors should be monitoring workers closely for signs of fatigue. At the same time, employees should know the signs so that they can detect them in both themselves and in their co-workers. It’s sometimes easier for another person to spot a tired worker than it is for someone to recognize that they are too tired to perform their job safely and effectively.
Just in case employees can notice when they are too tired to work, employers should have an easy way to report that. Companies need to trust employees to come to them when they are too tired to work and employees need to feel safe coming forward. Employers need to recognize that the increased likelihood of errors and accidents when employees are tired is not worth the risk. Therefore, let employees know that it’s okay to say that they’re too tired to work safely before something goes awry.
During and after the holidays, businesses have to walk a fine line because a lot of people want time off. At the same time, employees have to work harder and get tired much quicker if a business is short-staffed. If companies have to hire temporary workers and deny someone time off to avoid being short-staffed, those are actions worth considering. It’s also important for businesses to understand the minimum amount of employees they need to operate without risking employees being asked to do too much and become too tired to work safely.
While this may seem obvious, it needs to be mentioned. Allowing employees to take regular breaks can help them to avoid becoming too strained and tired. It will help to keep their energy up and allow them to stay focused on their job. For most jobs, this can be a much-needed mental break from the job, not just a physical one. After all, mental fatigue is going to result in poor judgment and more mistakes. Even an informal five-minute break every hour or two can make a big difference with regard to employee fatigue. Smart businesses won’t just allow employees to take breaks but they will go the extra mile to encourage frequent breaks in order to combat employee fatigue.
Along with frequent breaks, staying hydrated is an essential part of fighting fatigue. When employees take breaks, they should be encouraged to hydrate themselves at the same time. In fact, it’s also a good idea to make healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, and yogurt available to employees when they take their breaks. These foods and others that are high in protein and fiber can help keep employees energized during their shifts. Employers should also encourage workers to stay hydrated and eat healthy outside of work. While this isn’t something businesses can always control, it never hurts to suggest ideas that can help employees be at their best.
Obviously, employers can’t control how much rest workers get at home. But this doesn’t mean they can’t encourage good sleeping habits. Safety leaders can discuss the importance of good sleeping habits with employees and why it matters for employee health and safety. Simple advice like sticking with a routine and avoiding screens right before bed can easily be passed on to employees. Whether they follow that advice is a different issue, but it doesn’t hurt for employers to share that advice and encourage lifestyle habits that can help combat worker fatigue.
Ergonomics can actually play a surprising role in workplace fatigue. If employees sit in uncomfortable chairs, use tools that aren’t ergonomically designed, or have to strain their eyes while they work, it can all contribute to fatigue. These aren’t necessarily issues that will cause obvious signs of fatigue, but some of the more subtle examples of employee fatigue might show up as a result of poor ergonomics. Therefore, this is not something that companies should overlook in the interest of employee fatigue.
Believe it or not, noisy work environments tend to tire out workers a lot faster. Loud noises can be stressful and exhausting to listen to during a long shift. Of course, it’s virtually impossible in some industries to maintain a quiet workplace. However, there are some ways to mitigate noisy workplaces such as soundproofing certain areas or simply offering employees earplugs to wear. Everywhere else, try to limit noise and loud sounds as much as possible. If you can create a calm and quiet work environment, employees won’t get tired so quickly.
Along with a quieter work environment, a well-lit work environment can be a key detail in preventing employee fatigue. Studies show that natural light can put people in a better mood, which can help reduce stress and fatigue. It can also make employees more focused and energized. Whenever possible, flood the workplace with natural light. Of course, even if it’s not natural light, a well-lit work environment will mean employees won’t have to strain their eyes to see, reducing one of the most preventable causes of workplace fatigue.
Combating employee fatigue sometimes requires more of a big-picture approach. It’s not just something that happens during the holidays but is made a priority all year. This means encouraging employees to find the proper work-life balance so that they don’t feel physically and mentally exhausted on a daily basis.
There are a lot of ways that companies can help give employees a proper work-life balance. For starters, getting into a routine and having a consistent schedule is important. It doesn’t help employees to adjust their work and sleep schedules frequently. It’s equally important to make sure they are getting enough time off. Even if they aren’t taking a long vacation, giving employees a few extra days off occasionally can help them recharge their batteries and avoid long-term employee fatigue.
A big part of creating that life-work balance is offering some flexibility with schedules while keeping things consistent. This can mean allowing employees to choose the shifts they want to work rather than assigning shift times. For example, let early birds come to work early and leave sooner while those who aren’t morning people can work more in the afternoon and evenings. When possible, allowing employees to work remotely at least part of the time can also avoid the extra stress and energy of commuting, which can be an important tool for fighting worker fatigue. As mentioned, offering extra days off is also a good idea, especially if working longer shifts during the holidays is unavoidable.
One of the best ways to improve workplace safety is having EHS software in place. EHS software helps to manage all workplace safety hazards while creating a more streamlined and organized approach to workplace safety. This includes tracking data that could be relevant to workplace fatigue and managing risks of workplace fatigue better. With the right EHS software, your company can manage employee workloads, schedule regular breaks, and organize training sessions that teach employees about workplace fatigue, among many other tasks that will contribute to a safer work environment.