Get your employees outside at lunchtime. You can easily do this by providing a heated area outdoors. This is a great way to ensure your employees get the dose of light and Vitamin D they need. They will also come back feeling refreshed and revitalised, which can lead to improved productivity in the workplace. After all, nothing sends people to sleep quicker than being stuck inside a toasty room all day long.
There are plenty of fun team building activities that will benefit your employees. Getting outdoors and getting active will help to reduce stress and improve sleep. It can give your team's spirits a much-needed boost, and you will have a lot of fun in the process too!
Encourage employees to have a 'walk break' at least once a day. You may think that allowing an extra break is counterproductive, but this is a great way to fight seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Your employees will come back feeling positive and refreshed. It's a great way to get people out of the slump they often experience during winter days.
In order to encourage employees to get outside and use your outdoor lunch area, you need to make sure the exterior part of your business is safe. You can do this by clearing the grounds and creating a temporary path by laying bark. This will ensure no one slips on the ice and has a nasty accident that will result in increased employee absenteeism.
Last but not least, it all comes down to being prepared. Get a grip on things you can control in advance, and you will find that things run a lot smoother. You also need to determine whether you will need any extra equipment such as air compressors and other equipment that helps in winter, you will be able to hire these. Plus, with some planning and preparation, if you do end up with a crisis on your hands, you will be free to manage the urgent things better.
So there you have it; five tips to help you and your employees get through the winter more effectively. Instead of dreading these months, you should embrace them! You can use the cold weather to your advantage with a few careful tweaks.