How to Boost Morale for Public Safety Officers During the Holiday Season

Written by KOVA Corp

Good morale is like fitness for the mind. It helps keeps spirits high and can keep you going even when times are tough. Many of the same strategies for keeping morale high for employees in other industries during the holiday season also apply to public safety officers.

Declining morale can have a drastic affect not only on individuals, but on departments as a whole. Because of this, keeping morale high should be a priority - especially during the holiday season, when stress seems to be at its highest levels. Here are some tried and true strategies for keeping morale high for public safety officers during the holiday season.

Celebrate Successes As They Happen

Although the holiday season is busy, it’s important to remember to celebrate successes both large and small. Celebrating a success is a small gesture, but it goes a long way to improving morale. Even something as simple as verbal recognition of a job well done is appreciated. Rewarding successes as they happen is often more effective than recognizing them after the fact.

Feed Them!

Studies have shown that employees feel valued and appreciated when they have food at the office. This is especially true for public safety officers, who work such long shifts. If providing meals at the stations isn’t feasible, then provide officers with food vouchers for lunch and dinner when they have a long shift.

Help Them De-Stress

The holidays are often a very stressful time for public safety officers, who may be dealing with more emergencies than usual. Help your public safety officers reduce stress by offering free yoga classes, meditation sessions, or counseling sessions. Yoga can help relax the mind and the body and counseling offers public safety officers a way to talk about their experiences on and off the job in a confidential and safe environment.

Keep Communication Lines Open

Always communicate as openly and honestly as possible. This prevents misunderstandings and shows that you are willing to listen if there’s anything your employees want to discuss with you. Communication also helps prepare your officers for what’s to come. If you know the holiday season always brings certain patterns in public safety, communicate them to your officers so they can prepare as best as possible.

Focus on the Good

When things get hectic and out of control, it’s easy to see the bad. Instead, try to focus on the things that go right during the holidays. Celebrate the season and celebrate your officers even if it’s just the little things. Practice daily gratitude at the office and be sure and comment when things are going well.

And don’t forget about the power of efficient, effective software tools when it comes to boosting morale. Kova Corp’s selection of public safety software solutions can help your 911 operators and public safety officers do their jobs better, leading to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover.

For more, read “5 Ways for Public Safety Workers to De-Stress During the Holidays.”

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