Danger week unearthed - 01/2001

Don McIntosh, UK general manager of Top Jobs on the Net.

Whether it's the Prime Minister or the office manager there comes a point in everyone's career when they are called upon to work over the Christmas period. According to Top Jobs on the Net's latest research over half of those surveyed were at work this Christmas, but less than 10% actually got down to any serious work - unearthing a Danger Week for UK employers.

Instead of knuckling down, our research found that employees spent Christmas shifts looking for some winter sun or on the phone catching up with family and friends (45 per cent), whilst one in every seven people got into work late, took long lunches and left early. One in three people admitted that they used the time to reflect on their career choices, updated their CV and looked at online recruitment sites for new career options!

Professor Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at UMIST (University of Manchester Institute for Science & Technology comments): The Top Jobs on the Net survey confirms what many of us have felt for a long time - that people need a stress break away from the pressures of the workplace during the Christmas period. Many people see Christmas and the New Year as a time to unwind and reflect on issues to do with work and their personal life. In some jobs it might be counterproductive to make people go into work at a time when the need for a respite away from the pressures of work is fundamental to personal and family wellbeing.

However, according to the research, there are some key Danger Week triggers, which the worried employer can keep a watch out for. These include:

Scrooge syndrome
One of the potential causes behind Danger Week is good old-fashioned resentment towards employers who have forced staff into the office. Many employees feel that Christmas cover is unnecessary and they could just as easily be at home with the rest of the population sleeping off the turkey or testing Playstation 2.

Post party push off
According to a recent survey from OfficeSmart, one third of employees regret their actions at the office Christmas party! As a result some employees will be found updating their CVs and considering career opportunities for 2001. One in three of employees surveyed by Top Jobs on the Net admitted that they intended to use their time in the office to update their CV.

For the sake of Auld Lang Syne
For many people the end of one year and the start of another is a time for reflection - a quiet time to assess life choices and consider whether they make them happy or not. For some (9%), this may involve planning for the year ahead with their current company however, for many more, this means planning for the year ahead with a 'different' company (30%).

However, while there are many triggers that cause Danger Week Professor Cary Cooper believes there are some simple measures companies can take to make staff feel happier about working at Christmas. He says: Ensuring the rationale behind the decision to keep the office open is clearly explained to all staff can go along way, as well as making sure that staff levels reflect the hierarchy of the company, i.e. it is not just the most junior staff working. A strong ethos of rewarding commitment and making staff feel like they are a valued member of the organisation 365 days a year however can make all the difference when it comes to asking staff to work over Christmas.

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