With the silly season upon us, you'll be starting to make plans for Christmas with the family, checking off your shopping list, and dreaming up all the fun things you'll do over the holidays. But amidst all the personal preparations, it’s important not to overlook managing the holidays for your team at work too. Here’s three questions to get you started.

1. How are you balancing staff absences with business needs?

The holiday season often brings a wave of leave requests, and if this isn’t managed well, it can quickly disrupt operations. To avoid this, start by clarifying your business’s needs; are you fully closed, business as usual, or maintaining limited availability? What needs to continue to operate, onsite or remote?

Balancing these needs with employee time-off requests can be tricky, but early planning makes all the difference. Encourage your team to submit their leave requests well in advance and establish a fair and transparent system for handling overlaps. Create a coverage plan for critical tasks, set clear expectations, cross-train team members and strengthen communication protocols where needed so everything continues to run as needed - no matter where your team may be logging in from.

2. Are you respecting diversity and being inclusive in your celebrations?

While you might be excited to spread some holiday cheer, remember that not everyone celebrates the same way—or at all. Celebrating as a team is a great way to build morale, but it’s important to consider your team’s diverse cultures, perspectives, and personal situations, especially if you have a multicultural or global workforce. For example, some may not celebrate Christmas or may observe New Year at a different time. Others may have unique practices tied to their own traditions, or find this time of year difficult for personal reasons.

Instead of jumping straight into the festivities your way, invite team members to share their preferences and customs if they’d like or offer optional activities where everyone can participate in ways that feel comfortable to them. By offering flexibility and recognising diverse experiences, you’ll create a greater sense of belonging and inclusivity within the team.

3. Are you encouraging your team to recharge and truly take a break?

The holidays are an ideal time for your team to rest and recharge after a busy year, but simply encouraging time off isn’t enough. You need to lead by example, role-model what it looks like to actually disconnect, and help remove any lingering barriers for your people.

Support them to prepare for their absence by assisting them in setting clear expectations with colleagues, writing out-of-office messages, and creating processes so they can fully step away without feeling the pull of work. When you create a culture that really values work-life balance, you ensure your team comes back rested and ready to tackle the new year.

A little forward planning can go a long way in ensuring a smooth and stress-free season for your team, and as a result, you. Now’s the time to get to planning!