Happy Mothers Day! I hope everyone has the best Mothers day possible. In times of economic stress, we all can still return to the basics and celebrate simply with our families.

How much productivity at work is lost before major holidays? What happens when employees shop on line at work? How many employees actually work on Mothers Day and on major holidays?

I have often traveled on Mothers Day and on other holidays. I am always surprised each time employees are verbally abused, put down, shouted at on a consistent basis. It seems to only increase during holidays.

Can companies increase profits during the holiday period and during “normal” times? Europe and Australia have more flexible rules for employees, and America lags behind. Study after study demonstrate how productivity with flextime, tele-commuting and rotating who works on holidays on a voluntary basis, not an assigned basis. Motivation and productivity increases, as well as a decrease in harassment, conflict and poor communication.

Starting with this Mothers Day, let’s treat our Mom’s well, and treat everyone else with more civility and respect.

Dr. Brian Grossman is a communication and conflict resolution expert with ten years experience in helping teams perform at their best. If you would like help in motivational strategies that stick, contact Dr. Brian for a free consultation to assess how your team can thrive.