Page 3 - December 2020 Track N Times

FEATURE STORY

Staying Engaged During The Holiday Season

By Zebediah Dintelman, Manager Rail Grinding

With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror and
Christmas quickly approaching, the holiday season
will bring both happiness and stress to all. Staying
engaged and productive during the holiday season is
extremely important. Studies have shown that as
little as 13% of the workforce is engaged during the
holiday season which will undoubtably slow produc-
tion and more importantly heighten the risk for inju-
ry or incident.
In recent years (2018-2019) Fleet Operations’ safety
record for December has been nearly flawless with
only 1 recordable injury in 2018 and a perfect month
in 2019. With that, we have proven our ability to
navigate the stressful holiday season, machine shut-
downs, and harsh winters to achieve Operational and Safety Excellence. Although 2020 has thrown many curveballs,
we are a resilient bunch and must finish 2020 engaged and focused.
Tips to stay engaged:

1. Do not Overcommit and Rush
As we work to finalize last minute maintenance tasks, projects and machine shutdowns we can often over-
commit ourselves with hopes of beginning the holiday festivities a day or two early. Rushing to completion
often leads to unsatisfactory work and could put you and your co-workers in harm’s way.

2. Restart Each Day
Have you ever heard the quote, “Don’t let yesterday’s failures ruin the beauty of today”? With the fast-
paced nature of our business and the ever-changing world, it is easy to let yesterday’s stresses impact your
day. It is important to focus on the current task and leave the baggage from yesterday behind. Taking things
one day at a time can reduce holiday distractions and keep you engaged on safety and productivity.

3. Separate Personal and Professional Responsibilities
Undoubtably one of the hardest things to juggle in our professional lives is the work – life balance. Which
ultimately compounds during the holiday season and is always a major distraction. As families are focused on
family gatherings, presents for children, or even how Covid-19 will impact family traditions it is easy for us to
lose focus. Having a discussion with your friends and family about workday hours can help keep your day
free from distractions.

4. Get Involved
Staying involved in group discussions can help pass time and keep your mind from wondering. Simple discus-
sions related to work activities, to-dos, and even a few tall tales can help you and your crews stay focused
and reduce the anxieties of the Holiday Season. Continued Page 2

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