Christmas is not only a time to make family and friends feel special, but also the employees and colleagues that your business relies on every day of the year. To make the people you work with feel appreciated and motivate them into the Christmas season and beyond, here are some of the top things that you can do.
Donate in Their Name
Rather than get your employees or colleagues a gift that will quickly end up in the trash, you should consider donating to a charity in their name. This can help your work colleagues to feel like their efforts are making a difference beyond the business, and can even show your business to be a caring and socially responsible brand. If you want to turn this holiday giving into more of a gift to your staff, you should consider gifting your donation, with some charities allowing you to print off or email cards to show the donation that you have made.
Give Them a Pay Rise or Bonus
The Christmas bonus is one of the most traditional ways to show appreciation for your employees over the holiday season, for the simple reason that it is the most effective. This will allow your colleagues to spend the extra money on something that they want or need. However, if you are looking for ways to make a long-term impact, you should consider giving them a permanent pay rise to boost motivation levels on their return.
Praise Them for Their Hard Work Individually
Making your staff feel appreciated does not have to be expensive, though. It can be as simple as praising your employees – and even your colleagues- for the hard work that they have done, and taking notice of the ways that they have had a positive impact on the company. This can help them to feel good about themselves, with self-esteem being one of the most precious gifts that you can give.
Give Them Extra Time Off
However, having extra time is often more appreciated by your employees than physical gifts. To allow your employees to enjoy the festive period and to return in high spirits and ready to work, you should give them the time off that they need. You might also consider allowing them to finish early on important days or when their work is finished.
Set Up Group Activities
Many people make close friends at work that they would like to celebrate the season with. To do this, you should set up group activities for your workplace. Even in the COVID era, it is possible to do this, whether this is a meal out, or simply a few drinks after work, rather than the usual staff party that you start to prepare for months in advance.
Start a Secret Santa
If you do want to start gift-giving this season, though, you should set-up a secret Santa. This is an inexpensive way to make sure that everyone feels appreciated and to have some fun before the Christmas break. You can do this by pulling names out of a hat or creating a sign-up sheet that can help you to know who wants to get involved.