December is the month where the workplace feels like a mash-up of holiday spirit and HR chaos. One minute, the office is glowing with festive energy, and the next, everyone suddenly remembers year-end deadlines that were “supposed to get done earlier this year.”
For California businesses, December isn’t just about closing the books; it’s about holding the team together, keeping operations smooth, and setting up the foundation for a calm, compliant, clear-headed January.
Here’s a fun look at what really happens in the world of HR and people operations this time of year, and how companies can walk into 2026 feeling prepared instead of panicked.
The Great PTO Avalanche
Teams rush to put in last-minute PTO requests; calendars turn into patchwork quilts, and managers start doing math that requires more creativity than Excel is built for.
Employees need rest, and businesses need coverage. Balancing is an underrated art form.
The trick is simple but crucial: Set expectations early, communicate often, and have a flexible plan. (And yes, it helps when HR isn’t the only team trying to keep track of everything.)
The Year-End Review Rush
No matter how early you start, performance reviews always seem to land in December. Suddenly, managers remember:
- Those conversations they meant to document,
- Goals they meant to align,
- Feedback they meant to share,
- And notes they meant to write, but didn’t.
The best approach? Keep reviews simple, structured, and honest. December is not the month for surprises: it’s the month for reflection and direction.
The Compliance Countdown
While everyone else is winding down, compliance is warming up for January.
December HR teams are juggling:
- Policy updates
- New-year handbook revisions
- Manager training reminders
- Workplace postings
- Leave policy clarifications
- Safety and documentation clean-up
It’s the month that exposes which processes were maintained, and which were avoided.
The companies that walk into January calm and confident are the ones who didn’t try to “do everything at the last minute.”
The Employee Relations “Holiday Edition”
The end of the year brings emotions: gratitude, stress, ambition, burnout, sometimes all at once.
HR sees it firsthand. This is the season when employees:
- want feedback
- want reassurance
- want clarity
- want to feel seen
A small gesture: a thank-you email, a quick check-in, a moment of appreciation, can do more for morale than any gift card.
The holidays amplify culture. Whatever your business invests in people, December magnifies it.
Ready to start 2026 strong?
If your December to-do list feels too long, or too heavy – 3G’s can take the HR, payroll, and compliance load off your plate. Let’s make the new year smoother, steadier, and more people first.
