Ain’t No Cure For Wintertime Blues–Not!

I’m probably aging myself a bit, but remember the song, “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran?
“Well, my mom and pop told me,
“son, you gotta make some money”
If you want to use the car to go ridin’ next Sunday
Well, I didn’t go to work, told the boss I was sick
“Well, you can’t use the car ’cause you didn’t work a lick”
Sometimes I wonder what I’m a gonna do
But there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.
Well, how many of you have the wintertime blues? How many of your employees have the blues? I know I don’t have cabin fever—its campin’ fever! Following are a few suggestions for you to help your employees get past the blues and feel a spring in their step—pun intended!

1. Talk to your employees: Sounds pretty simple but take the time to ask how their day is or tell them about something they have done well and you appreciated. Maybe ask if they have any ideas on how to improve the workplace or system.
2. Gamification: Gamification can take the form of badges, leaderboards, points and progressions. Incentivizing quality work can be a great way for employees to receive feedback quickly.
3. Show gratitude: Even just a bit of recognition can lead to better self-esteem and better workplace relationships. An appreciated employee is a happy employee. Unhappy team members can lead to unhappy customers.
4. Encourage volunteering: Setting up a volunteering program and giving employees paid time off to volunteer can produce a significant return on investment for companies. A focus on generosity and good will can enhance your employees’ skills, encourage team-building and create a positive environment within your business.
5. Promote flexible working: For many who are working parents for instance, flexible working provides a good way to balance work and everyday life without compromising either. When implemented properly, flexible working can boost morale, engagement and general workplace productivity.
6. Take a break: Order in some donuts or pizza for the crew out of the blue! Surprise appreciation is the most heartfelt and appreciated. Of course a raise in wages always helps too, but tantalizing the taste buds can go a long ways towards curing the wintertime blues!