Let’s Get Real About the Holiday Blues

These days our workplaces are more inclusive and welcoming than ever. One of the most heartening signs of this relatively recent shift is the de-stigmatization of mental health issues and increased openness around our employees' wellbeing. This is especially crucial during these winter months. 

For many, the holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for those who struggle with Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder (SAD), often referred to as the “holiday blues”, this can be an especially difficult time—let alone getting into the holiday spirit.  

At Harvey Nash, our mission is to improve the lives of our workers. And we have great news for anyone who may be struggling this time of year or anyone who is just looking to improve their overall wellbeing.  

One of the few silver linings to the recent pandemic and the Great Resignation that followed was that it created more communication and collaboration between employers and their teams. 

This was a time when employers were especially struggling. Many businesses lost employees at alarming rates, and hiring new talent was more difficult than ever. This set the stage for a reckoning between workers and employers. In the past few years, many of our client's interviews have gone through a notable shift. There is more of a focus on what candidates need and what employee benefits are most important to them.  

It has been great to see more candidates getting real and standing up for what they need—many sharing a common request for better benefits and access to mental wellness resources.  

And many of those initial conversations might not have gone very well these days, we know much more about SAD and how it can affect many workers in many different ways. Now, much more workers and their employers regard SAD as commonplace and can have frank, useful conversations about addressing this condition.