How to Ensure Your Staff Is Holiday-Ready — and Set Up for a Successful New Year

January 2026 As the year comes to a close and a new one begins, households and family offices often find themselves balancing celebrations, year-end deadlines, budgeting, and planning ahead. During this busy season, thoughtful preparation for your staff is essential—not only to keep operations running smoothly, but also to boost morale and strengthen long-term retention. With the right approach, the holidays can feel organized rather than overwhelming. Here’s how to ensure your domestic or family office team is prepared, supported, and ready for the year ahead. Plan Schedules Early Encourage staff to submit holiday and year-end time-off requests well in advance. This allows you to anticipate coverage gaps, adjust shifts, or bring in temporary help if needed. If workloads need to shift, communicate early and confirm expectations on both sides—never assume. Clear planning reduces last-minute stress and helps everyone feel confident heading into the holidays and the new year. Promote Work-Life Balance Your staff can only perform at their best when they’re rested and supported. Encourage breaks, respect paid time off, and honor personal traditions or commitments whenever possible. When employers model healthy boundaries, employees feel respected—and that respect is often returned through increased loyalty and productivity. Celebrate and Recognize Contributions Taking time to celebrate your team’s hard work builds connection and reinforces a positive workplace culture. A holiday lunch, small gathering, or even a thoughtful message of appreciation can go a long way. Personalized recognition helps staff feel seen and valued, especially during a demanding season. Offer Bonuses or Meaningful Appreciation Holiday bonuses—whether cash, gift cards, or additional paid time off—are a common and appreciated way to say thank you. Keep in mind that cash and gift cards are taxable and should be handled accordingly. Thoughtful rewards demonstrate gratitude and reinforce trust as you move into the new year. Conduct Year-End or New-Year Reviews After the holidays, schedule individual check-ins with staff to reflect on the past year and discuss goals for the year ahead. This is the ideal time to gather feedback, address concerns, and discuss compensation adjustments or benefit enhancements. Open conversations now help set clear expectations and alignment for the months ahead. Start the New Year Strong Preparing your home or family office for the holidays—and beyond—doesn’t have to be stressful. With proactive planning, clear communication, and genuine appreciation, you can create a calm, supportive environment that benefits everyone. A team that feels valued will continue to give their best, even during the busiest times of the year. Ready to Build or Expand Your Team? At Household Staffing, we understand that your home or family office requires professionals you can trust. We work closely with you to craft detailed job descriptions, competitive compensation packages, and long-term staffing solutions that support retention and peace of mind. We’ve helped Employer build reliable, compatible teams. Contact us today or complete our New Hire Form to begin a personalized search.