‘Tis the season to be sidetracked. Whether it’s decking the halls or planning for parties, the holiday season brings with it a host of distractions for workers.  But nearly half (48 per cent) of senior managers surveyed recently said their employees are no less or more productive the week before a major holiday.

The survey, developed by Accountemps, was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees. In the survey, managers were asked: In your opinion, are employees more or less productive the week before a major holiday? The responses:

Much more productive  6%
Somewhat more productive 12%
No difference 48%
Somewhat less productive 28%
Much less productive 6%

While only one-third of those managers surveyed reported a notable decrease in employee productivity, here are five tips to improve your festive focus:

1. Make a list and check it twice
   Examine deadlines for upcoming major projects and adjust them as needed due to holiday schedules. Check in with coworkers on their vacation plans to avoid unexpected delays or setback due to employee absences.
2. Tie up loose ends with a bow
   Don’t leave people hanging while you’re away. Before leaving the office early to attend a seasonal function or departing for holiday vacation, update your voicemail and email auto-responses, and show coworkers how to find critical information.
3. Exchange the gift of time
   Delegate time-sensitive tasks and responsibilities to colleagues to take them off your plate and offer to return the favour when they’re out.
4. Make merry selectively
   Prioritize the events that are most important to you and don’t feel pressured to attend every holiday function. Likewise, even if you aren’t traveling for the holidays, you can still take time off to shop, plan meals or attend to other year-end tasks.
5. Remember, Santa’s not the only one with helpers
   If your department is spread thin, consider interim staff to help with year-end projects. A staffing firm can help identify skilled candidates.