How do you support an employee who returns from vacation feeling stressed?

During this period, many employees return from their well-deserved vacation. Ideally, they are rested and full of energy to get back to work. But what can you do if you discover that the vacation was not so relaxing after all? And the employee is actually tired and slow to get started? In many cases, the stress coach from De Verzuimmakelaar offers a solution.

By Myrtille van Hout

Have a better post-vacation conversation
It all starts with genuine interest, having a meaningful conversation about how the vacation was. You will quickly notice whether it was truly enjoyable or if there may have been some problems. Don’t shy away from this, but ask further: why wasn’t it so nice? Bad weather, illness of a family member, announcement of a divorce, an evacuation in the holiday country—anything could have happened. You might think this is none of your business as an employer, but if the employee drops out a few months later, it suddenly becomes your concern. Prevention is always better than cure.

Time off is meant for relaxation
Let’s take a step back. Time off was originally initiated by the government to allow people to rest from work. But if work has piled up before the vacation and was not handed over to a colleague, it’s possible that someone was not able to truly relax during their holiday. Also, having to be reachable by phone or email does not contribute to a relaxing time. As an employer, you can influence these factors yourself. If you may not have paid enough attention to this before the vacation, review together with the employee whether there is any post-vacation stress. If so, take it seriously and work together on a solution.

Social support helps
Be aware that stress—often the result of prolonged tension—has a major impact on the employee and the work environment, including colleagues. If the cause of the stress is removed, the consequences usually disappear as well. Research shows that when the employer or manager shows understanding for someone’s situation, it is of great benefit to the employee. Social support, even at work, ensures that people recover better and faster.

Call in the stress coach
However, eliminating stress is often easier said than done. The further the stress system is disrupted, the longer recovery takes. Because the body becomes exhausted from stress, people also develop psychological problems. The causes of stress then often become overwhelming in their minds. For every problem, however, there is a solution, but they are no longer able to see it. Through the case manager at De Verzuimmakelaar, you can call in the stress coach. They help the employee regain insight into the bottlenecks and find a solution.

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