The winter blues can lead to office morale and productivity taking a dive. The best approach to tackling low morale is to embrace positive changes before it takes hold. Here are a few ways to get the ball rolling and combat low morale.

1. Brighten up your office with natural light and plants.

Get some greenery to add some color during those dark grey winter days. This will make it seem as close to summer inside as possible.  Also make sure you have enough windows or skylights to keep it nice and bright inside. This will help keep everyone awake and not get that office bound feeling when there is freezing rain and  knee deep snow outside. This is a time to help your employees to increase productivity during colder weather.

2. Allow flexible scheduling so associates can leave before it gets dark outside.

You know the saying salesmen go to work in the dark and come home in the dark? Well in the winter this is pretty much a fact of life for all the employees.  You need to be able to offer flexible scheduling as a matter of care for your employees so they can leave before it’s dark and the roadways are hard to navigate. Make your employee your first priority and they will make you their first priority.

3. Celebrate employee milestones and anniversaries in big ways.

If your employee is getting a promotion or a new position in the company celebrate it.  If they have been with your company for 1 year or 25 years, no matter the length, celebrate how far they’ve come and their commitment to your organization.

4. Provide fitness opportunities, such as free gym memberships or workout classes.

Now is definitely the time to find a small niche in your office where your employees can work out and has a few pieces of exercise equipment.  This will give your employees an outlet when the outdoors is too cold for them to do exercise. Support gym memberships and flexible gym times if need be to increase productivity at work.

5. Make sure to have fun around the holidays.

Make sure you plan fun office activities to boost morale around the holidays and celebrate.   Holiday parties including Thanksgiving lunches, Christmas Dinners, and happy hours will go a long way to boosting morale and employee productivity.

These productivity tips should help you get through this winter with increased productivity and morale!