Preventing Work Burnout During the 2025 Holiday Season

The holidays are a season of joy and celebration, yet for many professionals in the public sector, they bring a sharp spike in pressure. Year-end deadlines, heavier workloads and personal commitments can all lead to work-related burnout.

For public entities, this decrease in morale poses a significant risk to their ability to meet end-of-year goals and operate efficiently. Taking intentional steps to help your employees manage stress this holiday season can promote productivity while supporting mental wellness.

What is Holiday Burnout for Employees and What Causes it?

Holiday burnout refers to a state of exhaustion and low productivity during the end of the year. While burnout can occur year-round, it becomes even more pronounced for many employees during the holidays due to tight deadlines, financial pressure and balancing family obligations with work demands.

Several research reports underscore the connection between the holidays and increased feelings of stress and anxiety:

• A 2025 LifeStance Health survey found that 57% of individuals feel stressed during the holiday season due to increased obligations, financial strain and heightened expectations.
• The American Psychological Association reports that 41% of people experience elevated holiday stress, with more than half saying it negatively affects their physical health.
• Gallup research reinforces this growing challenge, noting that 23% of employees feel burned out at work very often or always.

Public entities face a variety of workforce challenges, from employee engagement to retention, which can become even more exacerbated during the holidays. However, by developing a strategic plan to prevent burnout and support work-life balance, public entities can improve productivity and meet year-end goals.

4 Proven Strategies to Help Employees Avoid Work Burnout

A proactive plan to managing burnout this holiday season can help your public entity meet its mission. Use these proven strategies to prioritize your employees’ wellness.

1. Set Realistic Expectations - Many employees face increased personal obligations during the holiday seasons. To avoid compounding these responsibilities with heightened work demands, proactively adjust workloads and set realistic deadlines. For example, when possible, avoid setting deadlines on holidays or the day following. It can also be helpful for managers to re-prioritize team tasks according to urgency so employees can focus on completing the most important assignments and save less critical tasks for after the holidays.

2. Incorporate Flexibility into Workdays - A flexible schedule gives employees the opportunity to tend to their personal responsibilities during the holiday season. Consider offering employees the following key benefits to minimize their stress:

• Flexible lunch times
• Alternative start and end times
• Compressed weeks
• Remote working days

Allowing employees to adapt their workdays to their needs shows trust, helping to boost productivity, retention and loyalty.

3. Encourage Self-Care and Offer Wellness Resources

Rest is essential for avoiding burnout, especially when work demands increase. Research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that downtime and intentional self-care can significantly reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Encourage your employees to practice self-care, such as:

• Reading for a few minutes between tasks
• Taking a walk outdoors during lunch
• Scheduling short breaks throughout the day
• Setting aside uninterrupted time to disconnect from work

It can also be helpful to provide wellness resources and programs for your employees, not only during the holidays, but year-round to combat burnout. Examples of programs include:

• Stress management workshops
• Guided meditations
• Team-building activities with an emphasis on mental wellness

Survey your employees to understand the types of wellness programs that would best fit their needs and interests. This will help ensure the resources and programs you offer are appealing to employees, therefore directly support their wellness during the holidays and throughout the year.

4. Promote Healthy Boundaries

With competing priorities and limited time, healthy boundaries are critical for employees. This applies not only to social commitments, but also to work demands. To prevent burnout, encourage your employees to implement the following practices:

• Set a firm stop time for work each day.
• Limit after-hours emails unless they are truly urgent.
• Avoid taking on additional year-end projects unless capacity allows.
• Communicate clearly with colleagues about availability and workload.

Healthy boundaries allow your employees to keep motivations high without depleting their energy during the busiest time of year.

How Alliant Navigates Public Entities Through Workforce Challenges

Creating a plan to avoid employee burnout this holiday season isn’t just a way to keep morale high; it’s a strategic risk management tool that cultivates greater retention and productivity, allowing your organization to stay on track in meeting its mission. At Alliant Public Entity, our specialists combine leading risk management strategies and custom insurance solutions to help public entities stay resilient in the face of today’s workforce crisis. Contact a risk management specialist today to discuss how your organization can address workforce challenges this holiday season and beyond.

Alliant note and disclaimer: This document is designed to provide general information and guidance. Please note that prior to implementation your legal counsel should review all details or policy information. Alliant Insurance Services does not provide legal advice or legal opinions. If a legal opinion is needed, please seek the services of your own legal advisor or ask Alliant Insurance Services for a referral. This document is provided on an “as is” basis without any warranty of any kind. Alliant Insurance Services disclaims any liability for any loss or damage from reliance on this document.

[1] LifeStance Health (2025). Holiday Mental Health Report 2025. https://lifestance.com/insight/holiday-mental-health-report-2025/

[2] American Psychological Association (2023). Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress

[3] Gallup (Employee Burnout Statistics). Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/237059/employee-burnout-part-main-causes.aspx

[4] National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Top Ways to Reduce Stress. https://www.nami.org/mental-health-month/top-ways-to-reduce-stress/