How to beat the back to work blues and maintain morale 

Your employees return to work after a spell of annual leave, and you can’t help but notice a shift in their mood. They seem gloomy, not their usual selves. They’re potentially less keen to volunteer for tasks and more eager to pack up and leave at the end of the day – so what’s going on? 

The back to work blues can affect employees across all levels of an organisation, leading to decreased productivity, lower morale and overall dissatisfaction. Whether it’s returning from a holiday or a period of leave, the transition back to the workplace can be challenging. Here’s how to help your team beat the back to work blues and maintain high levels of morale throughout the year. 

Read Further: The case for (and against) the four day work week 

How to Beat the back to work blues and help your employees over the hurdle

1. Give them a warm welcome

Making your team feel valued right from the moment they get back can make all the difference. It doesn’t have to be anything monumental – just make the time to say hi, as them about their time away and catch them up on everything that’s happened while they’ve been gone. Keep things light and don’t bombard them with requests and information immediately. Let them know you’re happy they’re back, and perhaps schedule a catch-up chat for when they’ve settled in again.  

2. Encourage open communication

Open lines of communication are essential in addressing the back to work blues. Encourage your team to share their feelings and concerns. Regular check-ins can help you understand their challenges and provide the necessary support.

3. Offer flexible work options

Back to work blues might just indicate something deeper is at play. Maybe they’re frustrated by the lack of freedom they have at work, and the rigid structure they have to abide by. If you notice the back to work blues is really having an impact, it’s worth having a chat with your employees to let them know about your flexible working options. Perhaps this could come in the form of hybrid or remote work or flexible work hours. Giving them some autonomy and breathing room, while giving them space to make the role their own, can do wonders to improving morale and mood.

4. Set clear goals and expectations

On the note of ‘something deeper at play’, it could be that your employees’ low mood is related to a feeling of stress or pressure, brought on by unclear goals and objectives. Returning to work can feel overwhelming without clear direction. Help your team by setting clear, achievable goals and expectations. This provides a sense of purpose and control and helps regain focus and motivation.

5. Promote work-life balance

Encourage your team to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Support them in taking breaks, using their leave, and disconnecting from work after hours. This balance is vital for sustained productivity and mental wellbeing.

6. Recognise and reward

Recognition and rewards are powerful motivators for employees. Acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of your team. Whether it’s through verbal praise, awards or incentives, showing appreciation can significantly boost morale. 

Related: Employee appreciation ideas

7. Provide professional development opportunities

Investing in your employees’ growth can help combat the back to work blues. It might be that they feel stuck or stagnant in their current role, and they don’t see a way to progress. It’s a great idea to offer training programmes, workshops and opportunities for advancement. This not only improves skills but also demonstrates your commitment to their professional development. It also helps to keep employees loyal to your organisation – after all, if they have a bright future with your company, why would they look elsewhere? 

The importance of an employee listening strategy 

When it comes to beating the back to work blues, or in fact maintaining high levels of morale in general, employee listening strategies play an important role. An employee survey can be used to regularly collect feedback, thoughts and insights from your employees, helping you to monitor levels of employee engagement and morale throughout your company. 

Having the right data is the first step to pinpointing deeper issues with your employee experience, allowing you to bring about meaningful change. Done right, an employee listening strategy can foster a culture of trust and a belief that positive change is possible. 

If you’re looking to improve levels of employee engagement and morale, the first step is conducting an employee survey with People Insight. Get in touch for an employee survey today to start building a happier, more productive workplace.