It is that time of year when anyone occupied in a nine to five job is going to see scant sunshine during their working day.
It is the same every year, of course. And it may apply just as much to you as them. But as we understand more about well-being and mental health, and the jobs market becomes more fluid, there is a greater business case to take a more flexible and understanding approach to managing staff through winter.
A real physical barrier to productivity
It is well accepted that most people on our shores do not get enough Vitamin D from natural sources – diet and sunshine. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium and phosphate in the body and so is strongly correlated with bone health.
There is research to suggest a link between a lack of Vitamin D and being more prone to coughs, colds and chest infections. In addition, a Vitamin D deficiency can make you feel tired. These kind of symptoms are exactly the kind of thing that cause absence or at least slow workers down in their day-today tasks.
Greater exposure to sunlight in winter won’t make sufficient difference (the sun simply does not burn strong enough), although it may boost mood which is good in itself. Some employers offer Vitamin D testing to staff to see if there may be a problem, and you could raise awareness about supplements to aid dietary intake. This is something that the NHS recommends over winter.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
A mental health condition linked to the winter is seasonal affective disorder. Harsh weather and long nights are triggers, and people who already suffer from depression or have a family member who does so are more at risk.
Some of the symptoms include:
Wanting to stay indoors
Trouble sleeping or sleeping excessively
A lack of motivation or general malaise
Feelings of irritability or anxiousness
Just as with a Vitamin D deficiency, it is easy to link this to a drop in productivity. Here are some ideas to counter the condition…
Flexitime – Consider offering flexible hours over the winter to staff who suffer from SAD. Either coming in and finishing earlier or later, to ensure these staff get a bit of nonworking time in the daylight at the beginning or end of the day.
Enforcing lunchbreaks – Okay, “enforcing” is a strong word; but as you will know, many people are tempted to eat their lunch rooted to their desk and screens. Not only is a stroll in the fresh air good for physical health, but also for mental health, allowing for a change of scenery, a clearing of the mind, and if it’s a nice day, even a bit of sunshine.
SAD lamps – Because seasonal affective disorder is linked to lack of daylight, light therapy can be a helpful treatment. Lightboxes, which can come in the form of desk lamps, emit a very bright (but appropriately filtered) light which has been shown to assist. This may be a simple investment to help certain employees fight SAD and stay productive.
Take action with The HR Dept
If you would like to explore your options for keeping your workforce happy and productive this winter, HR Dept are here to help.
Alison Schreiber, HR Dept – Durham & Newcastle South. Call 01325 526 036 or email: alison.schreiber@hrdept.co.uk