Fostering Year End Wellness in the Workplace

On Dec 15, 2025

By: Dr. Donna Raziano, Network Medical Director, AmeriHealth

Boosting Workplace Well-being at the End of the Year

Workplaces are always busy, but the end of the year can bring a perfect storm of professional and personal stressors. In addition to meeting year-end deadlines, many employees are juggling holiday responsibilities, stretching budgets, making travel plans, and struggling to find enough time and energy to manage it all. This can affect workplace morale and productivity.

Your employees are your greatest asset, and you play an important role in helping them maintain their well-being.

Small changes, big difference

There are lots of ways you can reduce your employees’ stress during the end of the year. Supporting work-life balance is key, and these small changes can make a big difference in workplace stress levels:

• Be flexible. Schools often schedule holiday parties or performances at the end of the year. If employees need to leave work early to attend these events, give them the time to do so.
• Encourage employees to take vacation days. Employees who take time to recharge and spend time with loved ones are typically more positive and productive.
• Organize a volunteer event. Not everyone celebrates holidays, so consider an end-of-year team event that benefits others. Working at a food bank, helping beautify a public space, or organizing a winter clothing drive can create connections between employees and their community.
• Keep meetings to a minimum. Everyone feels overcommitted during the end of the year. If it doesn’t have to be a meeting, make it an email. If it has to be a meeting, don’t make it at the end of a workday.
• Reduce employee travel. Between worrying about the weather, dealing with travel delays, and being away from loved ones, nonessential travel is a big stressor. Schedule virtual meetings whenever possible.
• Know the holidays. Lots of holidays fall during the last few weeks of the year. Ask employees which days they plan to be out of the office. Avoid scheduling deliverables on days when people are out of the office or immediately upon their return from vacation.
• Communicate with your team. Once you know when employees will be out of the office, clearly communicate the plan for coverage in advance so in-office employees know how their workload or responsibilities may change.

Prioritizing whole-body health

It’s also important to remind employees to take advantage of their health plan. AmeriHealth offers integrated resources that focus on the physical, emotional, and mental health of our members, including:

• Preventive care. Illnesses like flu, pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tend to spike in the winter. Encourage your employees to schedule a wellness visit with their primary care provider (PCP) to receive any seasonal vaccines that might be appropriate.
• Personalized support. We offer highly personalized resources and condition-specific support tailored to each employee. We also offer reward programs to incentivize members to maintain healthy habits.
• Behavioral healthcare. Our in-person and virtual support solutions can quickly connect your employees with individualized care that meets their needs.

For more information, visit amerihealth.com.

Disclaimer: Sponsored content articles do not reflect the opinions of New Jersey Business Magazine or the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

Related Articles: