This holiday season is far from normal in many workplaces. This means it’s more important than ever to find meaningful ways to show recognition to workers—particularly if your organization is in flux and test-driving new work arrangements during the pandemic.
With many workers facing extra challenges and feeling the stress of balancing work with other obligations, a little recognition can go a long way by making people feel valued and improving morale during the holiday season, review cycle, and end of the year.
Here’s how you can give your employees some TLC this winter through effective recognition strategies.
Take the Annual Holiday Party Online
Just because your staff isn’t together in the office right now doesn’t mean you can’t gather virtually and toast the season as a team. Holding a webinar holiday celebration via Zoom, FaceTime, or another conferencing platform gives managers a chance to publicly recognize individual contributions while everyone enjoys traditional holiday fare.
But don’t leave this party’s success to chance—plan ahead and budget for it just like you would an in-person get together. Let employees expense the holiday cheer of their choice for dinner and drinks, or ship everyone a bottle of their favorite beverage if it doesn’t break the bank. Send out an invitation that lets people know what they can expect: when the holiday happy hour starts, what time employee awards will be announced, and other key aspects of the event.
Personalize Holiday Greetings and Rewards
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If your usually office-based team is dispersed this year, then you’ll need new ways to achieve your employee connection goals around the holidays and end-of-the-year recognition. Even something as simple as having every manager send each of their employees a hand-signed holiday card or small gift can let teams know that they matter.
Consider personalizing rewards linked with review time as well. Providing each employee with a small “home office” budget to spend as they choose on their home office setup, in addition to their usual holiday bonus, enables individuals to customize their gift to what they need most right now.
You might also offer staff additional opportunities for paid time off as a way to say thanks to your employees this holiday season. This acknowledgment that many workers have much more to deal with this year can show staff that you care about their well-being. And, extra PTO may come as a particularly welcome surprise to employees this year, based on a LinkedIn survey showing that about half of workers plan to take off less time during the holidays than they did last year.
Treat Teams to Some Fun
Let the team know that one way you’re acknowledging their extra contributions this year by carving time out of the daily grind to facilitate some holiday cheer with a spin to accommodate everyone’s remote location.
Whether it’s an ugly sweater contest, a white elephant gift exchange, or a Secret Santa game played on company time, you can adapt it to a virtual setting to provide an extra morale boost and recognize the team’s hard work by keeping the holiday spirit alive.
Award Bonuses and Appreciation Gifts
While holiday parties are one way to show your staff how much you appreciate them, consider something a little more practical this year: gift cards and on-the-spot bonuses. This form of “cash in the pocket” is something that many employees appreciate even more than other holiday perks. A recent survey of LinkedIn members found that around 50% would prefer receiving a bonus over other types of workplace holiday celebrations and recognitions.
Give Back to Causes That Employees Care About
Some employees feel best leveraging holiday resources toward their favorite community causes and charities in lieu of year-end events or personal bonuses. Consider polling staff on the causes that they care about, and send a donation to charities that workers choose. Employers might also offer teams the option of taking a day off for one of the many in-person or remote volunteering opportunities available this time of year.
Show Your Appreciation
Regardless of which method your management team chooses to recognize your employees this year, the most important point is to be sure to express your gratitude. Even if your budget is tight and bonuses are off the table, your company can still make a meaningful impact by ensuring that each and every employee receives a personal communication from leadership that conveys just how much their efforts are appreciated and valued.
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