Christmas Tree

As the holiday period approaches, some businesses are preparing for a well-earned break while others are looking ahead to one of their busiest periods of the year.

Whether you’re winding down or cranking up, the coming weeks are an ideal time to thank employees for their efforts over the year, encourage everyone in the workplace to take care of their mental health, and look forward to a healthy, productive 2016.

For businesses hoping to make the most of a bumper trading and hospitality period, ensuring staff are supported during the busy times will help to both safeguard employees’ mental health and boost productivity.

If you’re shutting up shop until early January, encouraging employees to take a proper break from work and switch off completely will help them return refreshed and more engaged. And the same is true for small business owners and sole traders – while it’s tempting to keep answering emails and placing orders from your cousin’s lounge room during Christmas dinner, enjoying some uninterrupted time with family and friends will promote good mental health and ensure you’re ready to hit the ground running in 2016.

For all businesses, the end of the year provides a natural reflection point – a time to look back on the past 12 months, but also ahead to a fresh start and a chance to further ramp up your efforts to create a mentally healthy workplace. Heads Up four-step checklist will help you start the year with your best foot forward. View the checklist here.