The New Deadline for Projects: November 1?
Can firms afford to slow down—or cease—projects a full two months before year-end?
The finance-department manager sent out the email to peers in other divisions on October 19th: “If you want my department to do new work for you by the end of the year, please submit your request by November 1st.” Workers were confused—and now very rushed.
Traditionally, many firms have sanctioned slowdowns of work a couple weeks before year-end. But in a new twist, many workers and managers are cutting off requests for new work with two months—or one-sixth of the year—remaining. Experts say it's the latest sign not only of bad planning, but also of an endemic issue with worker engagement. "It’s pretty draconian to say ‘No new projects,’ especially if you’re starting to communicate that now,” says Tamara Rodman, a senior client partner in Korn Ferry’s Culture, Change and Communications practice.
In general, leaders are struggling to create a healthy work-life balance for their employees (and themselves). Only about 30% of employees feel engaged at work, and multiple studies have shown that productivity can fall during the holidays by as much as 40%. In this case, however, experts say the premature cutoff may eat into profits. “Sometimes the business needs to accommodate the employees, and sometimes employees need to accommodate the business,” says Mark Royal, employee-engagement expert and Korn Ferry senior client partner. Worse, rushing projects can lead to costly errors.
To some degree, experts say firms have only themselves to blame for employees packing it in so early: Organizations are offering fewer carrots these days. The number of employees receiving holiday bonuses peaked in 2021 at 44%, according to payroll processor ADP; only about 40% get one now. Threats of AI-related layoffs have only reduced worker engagement further, as have cutbacks in management layers.
Most executives know that getting projects—new or otherwise—finished late in the year can be tough, since there are, in practice, only three weeks (and sometimes as few as 12 working days), in December before the winter holidays. Many organizations also impose a so-called “Turkey Freeze,” an unofficial cutoff for new projects right before US Thanksgiving (which takes place on the last Thursday of November). The pressure to prioritize existing projects can be especially acute for firms whose fiscal years end in December. “There are probably a lot of things that need to be wrapped up on this year’s budget,” Rodman says.
But November 1st is at least three full workweeks before Thanksgiving. Cutting off new projects with 17% of the year remaining can appear cautious at best and lazy at worst. “That’s just a big chunk of the year,” says Royal.
For the rest of 2026, experts say managers should work with their peers to get new and pressing projects across the finish line. “Open a stakeholder dialogue rather than a moratorium,” Rodman says.
Learn more about Korn Ferry's Employee Experience capabilities.
