Presenting

Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 57 Reducing Stress Keeping your staff 's morale and productivity high during the long hours required during holidays is vital for your success. Staff morale and attitudes will directly impact your store's functioning. Consider these helpful hints for keeping staff members morale high and reducing their stress. x Provide nutritious snacks (and meals, if feasible) everyday, to keep your staff fully charged throughout long workdays. Instead of chips; muffins, cookies and other pastries; candy bars; sugary soft drinks, fruit juices and flavored waters; etc., provide plenty of healthy high-carbohydrate offerings, including fresh fruits (apples, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, dates and raisins); raw vegetables; unsweetened yogurt; unsalted nuts; water flavored with fresh fruit slices; and so on. Encourage employees to drink plenty of water to fend off dehydration, which can lead to headaches and crankiness. x Employees need to know when their workdays will start and end and the length and time of their breaks (yes, you need to schedule breaks!). During the holidays, when employees may be working 10 or more hours per day, allowing them to take several short breaks throughout the day will likely improve their productivity. If your staff needs to work unusually late, consider taking them out to dinner after the store closes or sending them home for a two-hour break. When they return to work, they should be at least partially rejuvenated (and motivated to get done as early as possible!). x Creating a pleasant and comfortable working environment is important in keeping employees' spirits up. Make sure there is adequate light in the work areas. Provide cushioned floor mats. Try playing soothing instrumental music. When long evening hours roll around, consider providing barstools at the design tables. x Providing awards for your staff is a great way to reward productivity and keep them motivated and happy. Consider giving four or eight hours of paid time off (after the holiday, of course!) or gift certificates for dinner and a movie to employees who achieve an hourly, daily or weekly goal. Ask your employees what motivates them; it varies from person to person and, especially, from generation to generation—and it might not be money! TIP: Make sure to spread the rewards around, even if you have to create a category for someone to win a prize, so that the same people do not win everything; that will do nothing but cause resentment and decrease morale— the opposite of your intended goal! A nice way to celebrate the end a successful holiday season and thank everyone for their hard work (including temporary holiday employees) is to host a post-holiday staff party or an employee-appreciation breakfast (open the store late one day for this option). Consider scheduling the event in early January, to allow everyone time to fully rest and decompress! Give each person a small gift (not from your store!) to show your appreciation and remind them that they are an important part of your store's success. Showing your employees that you value them and their hard work goes a long way toward keeping dedicated employees—sometimes more so than money! Happy Holidays! Designer Troy Villager, T. Villager Designs Photographer Rebecca Renee Photography

• Cover