The weeks before and after Christmas are notorious for staff winding down and very little getting done but this year companies cannot afford to carry anyone for the final few working days of the year.

And when businesses return in the new year, they need to make sure staff start get straight back into the swing of things without the traditional few days to acclimatise.

"While it is a time to celebrate, the holiday season can create many challenges for managers," said a Business Link spokesperson. "Good preparation is the only way to avoid these challenges turning into a problem that impacts on the business."

Business Link suggests the following tips on how to prepare for the festive period:

Staff leave
Find an open and fair way of deciding who will provide cover over the holiday period if you need it

Keep staff motivated
Give staff clear targets of what you expect them to achieve, or they may start celebrating early

Christmas cashflow
Identify and chase important invoices. Accounts departments may go on leave earlier than you expect

Security
For many businesses this is the longest period when no one is on the premises, and burglars know that. Review your security and ensure that all computer files are backed up off-site

Holidays
Be prepared for contacts to be away from the week before Christmas until the second week in January

Get a health check
Review the health of your business and identify potential issues and opportunities

Cashflow
Dramatic changes in turnover, Christmas bonuses and low productivity can all have an impact on cashflow

Staff productivity
Staff can take a while to get motivated again after the long break. So set clear goals for the year ahead to help your employees stay focused

Tax
Deadlines are looming. File your tax returns early so you don't have a last-minute panic