By Jan White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

According to a survey by photo company, Mixbook, “employees in the Lone Star State mark Monday, Dec. 12 as the average date their productivity at work starts to slow.”

The company surveyed over 3,000 employees and found that after Dec. 12, workers mentally check out, clock off, or just go through the motions at work during the holiday season. Holiday plans, shopping, parties, and decorating seem to take the forefront. And why not? Budgets have mostly been spent, and targets have been made or missed. The year is winding down, and so are employees.

Results also showed that 12:58 p.m. was the exact time during the day that productivity begins to wane. And apparently, 2:42 p.m. is the precise time workers feel it’s acceptable to start their holiday “happy hour,” while some feel it’s okay to bend the rules altogether and treat themselves to a lunchtime “adult beverage.”

Other findings say that over half of the strained relationships experienced by fellow employees actually improve during the Christmas season, perhaps due to less pressure as the year begins to wrap up. Or maybe it’s just the old adage that Christmas is a time to celebrate “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

“After how hard people have worked, it’s understandable that some would want to unwind a few days before the holidays officially start. The holidays are a time to celebrate together with friends and family, reflect on the past year, and mentally reset before jumping into the new year,” says Leslie Albertson, Director of Marketing at Mixbook.

So what should employers do with this information?

It appears there are two choices – they can either crack down on workers and make sure they keep their noses to the grindstone for the rest of the year. OR they can understand that everyone is going through tough times and as the song says, “We need a little Christmas right this very minute.” Maybe Dec. 12 could be the start of just the kind of break someone could use.