Tax season aftercare: How to recover after the busiest time of the year
Tax season is hard on your team. Before you go back to business as usual, make sure you give your people the aftercare they need.
Tax season can feel like a sprint, a marathon, and a rollercoaster all in one. And while it’s tempting to jump straight back into ‘business as usual,’ what comes after tax season is just as important as what happens during it.
Post tax season staff retention is serious. In fact, public accounting turnover spikes between 40-60% right after tax season.
Now is the time to show up for your team more than ever, not pull back. Here are three practical steps you can take to help them recover, and come back stronger.
How to help your team recover from busy season
1. Celebrate (properly)
After all those late nights, frantic email chains, and hours poring over spreadsheets, it’s no surprise that most of your staff will be tired, homesick, or anxious about the to-do list that they’re about to come back to.
They need more than just a pat on the back. Take the time to plan and prepare a celebration that truly counts.
Here are a few examples of how to celebrate your team members:
Rewards: Whether it’s time off, or a company retreat, or a visit from a therapy dog, repay your team for their hard work with something they’ll genuinely look forward to.
Recognition: Share the wins with personalized thank you letters, a company-wide update overflowing with praise from clients, or both.
Reset: In other words, have fun. Host a team lunch (virtual lunches can work for hybrid teams), but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Axe throwing, escape rooms, online trivia—any non-work activity that brings people together will only make your team stronger.
Celebrations don’t have to be expensive or over-the-top. The key is to do something—and mean it.
2. Debrief with your team
Every tax season reveals friction points. From inefficiencies to persistent sore points like late client submissions and flooded inboxes, if there’s a problem with your workflows, your people will have felt it during tax season.
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