For many of us an invitation to go for works drinks on a ‘school night’ is the last thing that we want to do. Facing work the next day with a potential hangover, fatigued from a later than normal bedtime, exhausted from an evening entertaining, we’ve all been there at some point, but how do businesses that require their staff to lead hectic lives support them?
Many staff involved in events management and client hospitality are regularly required to put in the hours during the day and entertain clients or run events in the evenings. While these careers can potentially pay well and staff should be given reasonable time off, there are still chances that they’ll be expected at work at 9.00am after running a late event the night before. If there’s an expectation to warm up party hard clients the night before a meeting, or to run a corporate champagne and wine tasting event as a part of their duties, staff should be given some leeway for fatigue, if for no other reason than to prevent burnout.
Some forward-thinking companies have started introducing staff wellness rooms with places to nap in them. Obviously, they aren’t there to be misused. Their teams can’t expect a nap during working hours if they’ve been out in the pub the night before, but for those who are expected to entertain the option of a nap can be extremely beneficial. Not only will the staff member feel valued for the unsociable hours they’ve put in for the business, but refreshed team members are also less likely to make bad decisions or mistakes.
It’s also worth reminding your team members that while they should obviously be enjoying the events they’re involved in, they are still at work and representing the company. This advice could be the decider between another glass of champagne or a soft drink.
If you are entering a period where your team will be covering events and client entertaining it could also be a good idea to provide your team members with the opportunity to offset some of their work responsibilities. Handing over client communications to another team member to cover fatigue can be as simple as setting up call and email diversions, but can mean the world to an employee who has put in extra entertainment hours.
For more advice on keeping your team happy and mentally healthy, get in touch with the team at Dakota Blue.