Tax Season Stress Busters…Part Two

Last week we presented [1] some ideas on ways to reduce the stresses of tax season. Here are some more great ideas from the members of AccountingWEB.com – Part Two

1. On nice weekend days, teens can come to the office parking lot and wash all the cars.

    

2. I worked for a firm that supplied busy season meals Monday through Thursdays from March 1st through April 15th. We had a caterer come three of the four days and ordered pizza on Thursdays. We also had doughnuts and a cold sandwich lunch on Saturday. Food Food Food!

    

3. We have the bulk food type bins set up in our kitchen with everything from fish crackers to M&M's and much more! We also have fresh fruit and good things of course. Here are some diet snack suggestions for food to make available to staff:

    

   • Dried fruit and nut snack mix
      
   • Fresh fruit
      
   • Raw veggies
      
   • Half a whole-wheat bagel
      
   • High-fiber cereal
      
   • Low-fat, whole-grain crackers
      
   • Low-fat, whole-wheat pretzels
      
   • Also, granola bars and other power bars are great
      
   • Reduced-fat microwave popcorn
      
   • Nuts and yogurt may be boring snacks, but provide excellent sources of energy for getting through those long days.

    

4. I have disposable cameras set around the staff area for those Kodak tax season moments. I'll take the candid shots and put them into a PowerPoint surprise presentation at our after tax season party.

    

5. Pink Slips: You have pink slips that your team can fill out on another team member for extending exceptional service to a colleague or client during tax season and put it in a fish bowl. We meet every Monday afternoon at 3:00 in the conference room and read each one so everyone gets acknowledged the last one out of the bowl wins $25 cash and is in the grand prize drawing - at the end of tax season for a prize of $50.

    

6. I know a managing partner whom I gave the idea to that's giving away a trip for two to the Bahamas! I have a manicurist coming in Friday's who does massages and reflexology as well. The staff loves it! They are half hour sessions -- she's booked solid each week!

    

7. I worked for a firm who had a large airline client who donated a trip to Mexico - Great giveaway!

    

8. We also had a massage therapist come in every Friday for chair massages during tax season. We had the staff sign up for the service in advance, it was a great success. Some of the men didn't like it, but the rest of us did - it was free and it felt wonderful! We looked forward to it all week long.

    

9. Have a baby photo - pet photo - high school yearbook photo Contest - Encourage employees to bring in their photos and post them on a bulletin board in your break room then have your staff guess whose photo or pet is on the board.