5 TIPS TO BOOST EMPLOYEE MORALE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

Employees are unmotivated after the Tet holiday, what should managers do?
The end of Tet means your employees have to return from the holiday and get back into the swing of work. However, not all of them are ready to work. Many will surely be daydreaming and feeling down. Nevertheless, the beginning of the new year is also a time when businesses are full of excitement to start implementing their plans and achieving growth targets. As a manager, what can you do to revive the gloomy work atmosphere in the company?
Let’s explore some ways with 1Office to boost your employees’ morale.

1. Help employees identify their motivations and work goals

The beginning of a year is the perfect time to look back at what has passed and learn from the past. By sitting down with employees and discussing what they want to achieve in the new year, you can provide them with the necessary support and guidance to ensure their work aligns with the company’s plans and goals. Instead of setting large but vague, general goals, help employees break them down into smaller objectives and set deadlines and roadmaps to achieve the final purpose.
Additionally, you should also find out what motivates your employees. Each person has different interests. Some employees work for money or promotions, desiring stability and few changes. However, other employees are eager to learn and grow in a dynamic environment.
You can create a Google Form survey about employee interests when accepting a job, including:
(1) Income
(2) Interest
(3) Recognition
(4) Stability
(5) Participation
(6) Advancement
(7) Forgiveness
(8) Working conditions
Don’t forget to ask employees to rank their work motivations in order of priority to better understand their career goals.

2. Encourage health and wellness activities

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight or get in shape. So, instead of offering cliché New Year’s wishes, why not help your employees achieve this? After all, a healthy employee is a happy employee.
Encourage employees to participate in health-promoting activities, such as: organizing clean-eating lunches at the company, setting fitness goals, or simply providing healthy snacks.
Don’t forget to join your employees in these health activities. The following activities, combined with a spring outing at the beginning of the year on a weekend, will help boost the entire team’s morale and bring everyone closer:

• Company-wide Sports Day
• Running Day
• Organize a Soccer Tournament
• Organize a Cooking Competition

3. Provide opportunities for training and skill enhancement

The beginning of the new year is a time when people are often excited to learn new knowledge and skills. This is the perfect time to encourage your employees’ spirits by offering opportunities for training and skill enhancement.
The “Workplace Learning Report 2018” by LinkedIn shows that 93% of employees stay longer with a company that has a strong training culture and a well-structured personnel development plan.
Talk to your employees about the company’s future vision and their role in that picture. The opportunity to learn and grow will help motivate employees and encourage them to do their best to shake off the holiday mood and get back into “work mode.”
To achieve this, you will also need appropriate and deserving employee recognition policies. Acknowledging work results encourages employees to continue doing what they are doing well, while also inspiring those around them. Whether this recognition comes in the form of small bonuses or a simple “Thank you,” acknowledging achievements is essential for strengthening employee engagement.

4. Organize a new year kick-off

The end of Tet doesn’t mean you should completely get rid of the festive atmosphere lingering in the office. Let’s enjoy the unfulfilled joys of the Tet holiday with employees, which they might have missed due to being busy with family matters, New Year’s greetings, visiting relatives, etc.
You can organize trips to pagodas at the beginning of the year or consider one of the following activities:

• Organize a team meal
• Take a road trip to another city
• Check into a homestay
• Go to the movies

5. Lead by example for your employees

If you are a business owner or a manager, always remember that your employees will follow your actions. The most effective way to dispel the post-holiday gloom is the positive energy and atmosphere from the leader. Therefore, it’s essential to take time to talk with your employees and work alongside them to implement your plans.
Remember that your employees are always watching you, so consider your own behavior to motivate them to work better. The best way to get them to act is to lead by example.