Holliday season is rapidly approaching, and with it comes jolly times. People always remember the start and end of anything, so taking some time and going the extra mile to finish this 2022 year with a bang can go a long way. Your employees have stuck with the company thru thick and thin, making it possible to celebrate the end-of-year results.
Acts of appreciation and kindness are wonderful for morale, retention and company brand reputation. One gift can separate you from the rest and show your employees exactly how much you value them. In the end, no company can exist without its dedicated staff, so improving any relationship on that end can secure a healthy atmosphere, at least until next year! We’ve prepared some reliable suggestions and tips for you to start with!
1. The human factor
Attention costs next to nothing but is priceless to others. Words alone cannot hold up if they are not backed up with actions or concrete signs of affection. Taking the time to talk to your teams or team member individually and going thru all the adventures you had during the work year is a great way of catching up and reminiscing. Celebrating the ups and downs goes hand in hand with all business actions that have led to this moment.
Thanking them for their work and contributions in person is vastly superior compared to a gift card or a company email. Not that you should ignore those traditions, but you should supplement them with direct, human contact. Publicly praising employees boosts retention and employee relationship, bringing that holiday spirit, love and magic to your company. All the information you get this way helps you build up that employee profile and cater to their specific needs. Getting to know someone is also a great chance to make business friends and adapt your work environment for them.
2. Throw an office party
We know it’s still crunch time overall, and there are deadlines to be had, but those are dwindling and coming to an end. As the year grinds to a halt, so too do production and orders, which leads to a bit more breathing room and time. Picking a good date to throw a company event is the perfect way to celebrate and unite with your workforce. Throwing off steam, mingling, celebrating achievements you’ve all had during the year and making memories together will build your collective.
Becoming more than coworkers and transitioning into friends will create a strong work collective and positive work environment. Make sure not to go overboard with alcohol and food and to keep it moderate. One more aspect to consider is the date. People with families will want to spend the holidays with them, so try to pick a perfect date that everyone can adhere to. Consulting with your workforce and working together towards finding the ideal time is the biggest item on the checklist. Everything else comes naturally, and the celebration can begin!
3. Presents!
It’s the season of gifting and, after all, no Christmas period is complete without gifts. From simple to lavish, it is always the thought that counts, and are remembered for days to come. Any gift is better than ignoring your employees, and you don’t have to go overboard with presents. While monetary incentives in form of Christmas bonuses, 13th pay and gift cards all go a long way, the other side is presented. You can wrap or stack your presents in neat and beautiful Christmas hampers, which can be placed on everyone’s desks!
Filling them with envelopes, delights treats, and decorations gets everyone in the Christmas mood! You can style them to go hand-in-hand with your overall office decoration, or you can put them all under a Christmas tree in your office. Whatever your choice may be, you can’t go wrong by sticking to traditions. By putting a few modern twists and sparkling in some magic, you will make the memories last longer! Evoking our earliest memories of presents and excitement to find something new under the Christmas tree is always a fun little nostalgia trip.
4. Improvements for everyone
Santa’s little elves don’t only make gadgets, Christmas cards and bonuses. Your company can surely use some new equipment for your employees, which can show commitment, compassion and dedication to long-term plans. The holiday season will come and go, but people working for you will still work there tomorrow. When you take the time to listen to their advice and feedback during your interviews, you can also learn about their professional opinions about work.
When you go out of your way to purchase or modernise your work surroundings, you are letting them know you care. Making someone’s work easier or bringing it in compliance with modern-age standards, sends a powerful message that dreams can become a reality. People will appreciate the gesture, and the feeling of a new year and a new beginning will be in the air. Breaking the monotony of the workplace is easy during the holidays, but keeping that fresh spirit afterwards requires some effort. Any effort you make, will be appreciated and worthwhile.
Consider employee investments made into your workplace as a two-way street. You are investing in modernising your workplace and you give your employees a chance to shine. With greater means come greater results which will offer a chance for a greater year to come. The affection and acts of kindness will also not go unnoticed by your employees who value anything you do for them. Employee retention is a commodity measured in gold, so any investment you make to keep them for the next year’s Christmas party will return tenfold.
5. Year-long celebration
Keep the energy and motion of the Christmas period throughout the year by doting your calendar with various other holidays. The Christmas spirit is eternal, as its principles are universal. Appreciation, affection and love are the core principles of the upcoming Christmas holidays. One that can be distilled down and spread for future events for years to come.
People love parties at work as it breaks the usual monotony and infuses everyone with fresh energy. Each holiday is a perfect opportunity to cover and celebrate someone’s favourite season. Christmas, Saint Patric’s day, Labour Day, whatever the cause may be, it unites all under the banner of celebration. Christmas parties are often considered required and most employees expect them. But by going out of your way to spread the Christmas joy through the year, you will be subverting their expectations and creating a positive work environment.
Celebrating what’s common for all of us, under different holidays, shows that all are equal and create an atmosphere of equal representation in the workplace. And when each holiday has a chance to shine, so do workers celebrating it.
6. Ways to learn and grow
By celebrating Christmas, we celebrate what brought us to that day and for what we have to be thankful. An entire business year is ripe with learning and chances for knowledge, but it does not need to stop with Christmas. You can use all that experience and see how you can make the best of it. Thinking ahead about the year 2023 and the possible challenges it could entrail, can lead you to realise what employee courses you can get.
Investing in your workforce shows you value their work and does wonder for retention. All human beings love affection, and when you show someone you notice and want to advance their professional career, you, are also saying there is a future for them in your company. Training programs for your employees can be a great addition to the mentioned Christmas hampers.
7. Include the families
No man is an island and the Christmas season is all about the family. While your workforce is one big family at the workplace or factory, all of your employees also have families you can include in the celebration. If you don’t feel like inviting them over or think that would be too forward, you can always write them a sincere company letter. In which you can showcase all the great achievements and moment your employee in question achieved throughout the year.
Companies in Japan practice such personal activities and tight work communities. Personal employee achievements are presented to a wider community and they gain wider recognition. When you show your employees just how much you care and the impact of their actions, they can dedicate themselves further to personal advancements and bask in the glory of a job well done.
Taking any steps towards a positive outcome is noteworthy. Ignorance is not bliss when you are dealing with people working for you. Taking the time and patience to spread the holiday cheer becomes a perpetual mobile at one point. Once the positive energy is in, it will generate more and more until your entire company is engulfed in it. Treat every employee equally and you will see the joy in their eyes. Once your employees feel valuable, they will associate themselves with your company. After which, you can plan a continuous Christmas party for all and for years to come. We wish you all the best!
