Jess stares at her laptop screen, trying to focus on the year-end report due tomorrow. Her mother’s doctor’s appointment reminder pings on her phone — another two-hour block carved out of next week’s packed schedule. She still hasn’t found a sitter for her kids while they’re out of school, her gift shopping remains half-finished, and her team’s holiday potluck needs organizing. She sighs. Sometimes, December feels less like a season of joy and more like an impossible juggling act.
Jess isn’t alone. According to the American Psychological Association, 89% of U.S. adults feel significant stress during the holidays. For employers, the surge in employee stress is more than a seasonal inconvenience. Holiday stress, distractions, and increased time off can significantly affect workplace productivity and overall business performance.
Forward-thinking organizations are discovering that providing support and family care benefits during this challenging season isn’t just good for employees — it’s essential for maintaining a productive, engaged workforce.
Understanding holiday stress
The modern holiday season creates a perfect storm of stressors, with financial pressures leading the way. 58% of adults experience financial stress during the holidays as they juggle gift purchases, travel expenses, and additional caregiving costs. This financial burden compounds time management challenges as employees struggle to balance work deadlines with family obligations and holiday preparations.
For the 73% of workers who split their time between full-time work and caregiving responsibilities, holiday challenges are often amplified. They’re not just managing their own holiday commitments; they’re orchestrating care for others during an already demanding time. The emotional toll is substantial, with 43% of people reporting that holiday stress interferes with their ability to enjoy the season.
The signs of caregiver burnout can become more prevalent during the holiday season, including:
- Physical and emotional exhaustion
- Increased anxiety and frustration
- Difficulty concentrating at work
- Social withdrawal from colleagues
- Decreased workplace engagement
The business impact of holiday stress
The effects of unaddressed holiday stress ripple throughout organizations from November through January. When employees feel overwhelmed, absenteeism rises and productivity drops.
Employee morale also suffers as workers struggle to maintain their performance while managing increased personal obligations. According to the American Institute of Stress, employees lose over five work hours weekly because they are distracted by their stressors. The impact extends beyond the holiday season itself, as stress-related health issues can affect long-term performance and overall health. One in five employees report their overall well-being declines during the holiday season.
Employee burnout and elevated turnover rates are significant risks. Burnt-out employees may seek opportunities with organizations that offer more support during high-stress periods. For employers, this can lead to significant costs in terms of recruitment, training, and lost institutional knowledge.
4 smart ways employers can ease holiday stress
The signs of holiday stress are everywhere. Jess in Marketing is struggling to meet deadlines while coordinating her mother’s medical appointments. Carl from Accounting just canceled his third team meeting this month due to an overbooked calendar. And your most reliable manager hasn’t been quite herself since taking on extra child care duties during the school break.
As these scenarios multiply throughout the holiday season, employers are well-positioned to make a meaningful difference for their workforce. Traditional strategies, such as offering schedule flexibility, encouraging PTO use, reminding employees about mental health benefits, and providing end-of-year bonuses, are all proven support solutions employers can call on. In addition, many organizations are discovering that offering caregiving support can deliver much-appreciated, targeted relief for stressed employees in four key ways.
1. Care resources at employees’ fingertips
During the holidays, regular caregiving needs for children, seniors, and pets are amplified and disrupted. As a result, employees’ search for reliable care becomes even more urgent – and more challenging. The time spent researching, vetting, and coordinating caregivers complicates an already stressful season.
By providing membership access to Care’s extensive network of vetted caregivers, employers can eliminate the time-consuming burden of finding the right match for extra child care over winter break, a pet sitter when the family cat can’t travel, or housekeeping services to ensure the house is sparkling before guests arrive for a holiday party. Beyond simplifying the search, a Care Membership gives employees the added confidence of knowing the care providers have been thoroughly vetted.
2. Safety nets for unexpected care needs
The holiday season is full of surprises. Some are stressful, like when a snowstorm unexpectedly closes school or the regular babysitter comes down with the flu. Employers that offer subsidized Backup Care benefits provide a valuable safety net that employees can call on when their primary care arrangements are unavailable. With easy-to-use mobile apps and digital platforms, employees can solve for care gaps on the go. Even better, having Backup Care benefits in place helps keep costs down for employees.
Along with reducing employee stress, Backup Care benefits help companies demonstrate tangible support for parents, caregivers, and pet owners. Employees feel valued – and they’re able to avoid last-minute callouts and maintain consistent productivity.
3. Access to expert guidance
Sometimes, the best antidote for caregiving stress is talking directly to an expert. A Care Membership gives members access to professional Care Specialists who provide personalized guidance and take on many of the time-intensive tasks of finding caregiving support.
The Care Specialists assist employees with navigating care needs that range from basic child, senior, and pet care to more complex care needs related to aging, disability, neurodiversity, and emotional wellness. Sharing the load of care coordination helps employees balance work and life – and enjoy the holiday season.
4. Flexible financial support
Care Spending Accounts are a valued benefit during any season but are especially appreciated by employees during the holiday rush. Spending accounts dedicated to caregiving expenses help ease employees’ financial pressures for both planned and unplanned care needs. Employers have the flexibility to define the dollar amounts to provide and the types of care that are covered. The accounts give employees another tool in their caregiving toolbox, lessening their financial stress year-round.
Care makes a difference
Jess wraps up her chat with a Care Specialist provided through the Care benefits offered by her company. One call has her feeling much less stressed. The Care Specialist identified child care solutions to cover her children’s winter break, suggested some senior care options to help with her mom’s care, and even connected her with a house-cleaning service to help get ready for her in-laws’ holiday visit. Jess feels more in control and turns her attention to finishing up that year-end marketing report before checking the last few items off her holiday shopping list.
The holidays bring joy – and stress. Employers can help employees lean into the joy by providing thoughtful benefits and support. Family care benefits can save the day during one of the busiest times of the year and create a foundation for a more resilient, engaged, and productive workforce that carries forward into the new year.
Ready to learn more about care benefit solutions for your employees?
