The spirit of the season often inspires employers to show their goodwill and appreciation to loyal staffers with a suitable gift or gesture.
However, businesses that have cut corners all year long may hesitate to continue their giving traditions this year. In fact, Express Leadership’s recent survey, “How Are You Rewarding Your Employees This Year?,” revealed that nearly one third of respondents have no plans to offer holiday rewards this season.
Doing more with less has been the order of the day since the beginning of the recession, but as conditions gradually improve, now might be the perfect time to be benevolent. Fewer staff members, expanded workloads, and related stress may have your employees more in need of a pick-me-up than ever.
A small token of appreciation shows thoughtfulness and consideration; it also boosts morale. Here are some easy gift ideas that spread holiday cheer without affecting your bottom line:
- Paid time off: Additional vacation time, especially during the holidays, is a great way to show your employees that you value them. You don’t have to shut down the entire office for a day. Instead, stagger your work force to ensure the office is covered or issue certificates that employees can choose when to use.
- Early holidays: Productivity tends to be low the day before a holiday, so consider sending employees home early on key dates like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and the last business day of the year. If you can’t close the entire office early, consider sending everyone home except the most essential personnel, who can be rewarded with paid time off at a later date.
- Stuffed stockings: Stuff holiday stockings with inexpensive items that can be personalized to reflect employees’ interests. If you know of a tea lover in the group, fill that stocking with a selection of gourmet tea sachets. For those who love to read, a book light or embossed bookmark will look more festive when packaged in a colorful stocking.
- Gift cards: Regardless of the amount, a gift card to a store you know an employee frequents lets him or her know that you genuinely care about giving just the right gift. Since gift cards have been the most popular holiday gift for five years running, your employees are sure to enjoy them. Just be aware of recent changes that impact gift card purchases.
- Charitable donations: Focusing on a charity that a group of employees embrace and recognizing their commitment to the cause with a donation in their names also demonstrates empathy.
- Traveling flowers: Every week in a holiday month, fill an office vase with a seasonal bouquet of flowers that can be displayed on an employee’s desk. Winter bouquets might feature holly, ivy, glittery branches, or poinsettias. At the end of the week, let the employee draw a co-worker’s name at random. Move the vase to the next person’s desk with a fresh bouquet.
- Group recognitions: Pick up take-out food for the group, put on festive music, and allow employees to leave after lunch. Winter is also a great season for potlucks.
No matter how you recognize employees this season, try to be personal and sincere. You’ll get more than you give with improved employee morale and engagement. Do you have other ideas for employee recognition during the holidays? Post in the comments section below.
So true that a token of appreciation shows thoughtfulness and boosts morale, which can go a long way in ultimately helping with the success of your company.