Employers urged to beat the winter blues

Research shows that 5% of the UK population already suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – a disorder that makes people de-motivated and lethargic during the dark, gloomy winter months. And with little or no summer to speak of this year, SAD sufferers and employees in general are expected to find it difficult to maintain their momentum and productivity levels at work over the next five months – a situation that will have a detrimental impact on business performance. Gillian Dowling, employment technical consultant with Croner, says: “Employers will always see a slight fall in productivity during the winter because people are affected by the dark mornings, even darker nights and cold weather. “However, this year businesses are experiencing these symptoms earlier than usual because we didn’t have the uplifting sunny summer that normally helps employees get through the frosty September to February period. And we therefore expect to see an even larger drop in productivity. “Although it’s important to note that employers have no responsibility to raise the ‘mood’ of the office, we would advise that they make sure they are aware of any significant drops in staff morale as this will impact their business’s performance. “There are a number of initiatives employers can implement to help motivate their staff, and we typically encourage competitive businesses to employ these all year round to help improve their retention and recruitment rates, as well as productivity. Employee initiatives are just one way to stay ahead of competitors in regards to building a strong corporate reputation. “But in dealing with this year’s ‘winter blues’, we’re advising businesses to take specific steps to make sure staff aren’t left out in the cold, from creating more comfortable work environments to holding regular, informal chats with employees to ensure staff feel appreciated and motivated.” While dealing with the more serious issue of SAD is not an employer’s responsibility, making documentation with advice available to staff or being able to point sufferers in the right direction will make employers aware of any related attendance issues as well as showing that staff welfare is taken into consideration by the company. People can receive information and help with UK registered charity Seasonal Affective Disorder, also supported by NHS Direct, on line.