10 Fun and Unique Ways To Appreciate Your Team This Season
/Showing appreciation for your employees’ hard work helps boost morale, improve retention, build a strong company culture, and can even lead to higher productivity. In short, happy employees make for a strong company.
This year, opt for some unique ways to appreciate your team and all the ways they contribute to your company’s success. Here are a few ideas for you.
1. Share Work Perks
This time of year, business owners and upper management often get so inundated with gifts from vendors and other perks that it’s hard to even use them all. Did you land tickets to the latest play or reservations at the new hot restaurant in town? Do you have airline miles or a first-class upgrade to spare? Or maybe you have gift baskets galore from your vendors?
Share these perks with your employees! They’ll appreciate them and nothing will go to waste.
2. Surprise Them With Snacks
Even the toughest day’s work is better with good snacks! Find out what your team members’ favorite treats are, and ship a box of goodies to their home (or bring them to the office). Include a personalized thank-you note to tell them how much you appreciate having them on the team.
3. Give Personalized Gifts
By “personalized,” we don’t mean having their name engraved onto office supplies. Instead, send something unique to each of your team members—a gift that represents their interests and that you know they’ll truly enjoy.
These gifts don’t have to be expensive: it’s the personal touch that matters. For example, if you have a history buff on the team, gift them a History By Mail subscription! Cooking classes, art courses, tickets to a local play or concert, or fun outdoor adventures like ziplining or rock climbing all make excellent gifts as well.
Note: If you have a big team and aren’t sure what your employees would like, ask their managers and supervisors.
4. Offer a Floating Holiday or Extra PTO
Extra paid time off is an easy gift to give, and one that anyone would enjoy. Surprise your team with an extra long holiday break this year!
Some companies go so far as to take the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day off so their team can rest and start the year refreshed. But if you can’t manage a whole week, an extra day or two will be just as welcome. You can tack them onto your usual time off or offer team members a floating holiday they can take any time before the end of the year.
5. Mail a Handwritten Card
How many handwritten letters and cards do you get these days? I suspect not many. That’s what makes a handwritten note so special…and much more meaningful than a generic holiday card!
Write a card for each of your team members, telling them what you appreciate about them (get specific!) and wishing them a happy holiday. Be sure to personalize it further by mentioning their family, hobbies, travel plans, or other personal details. Finally, include a gift card for their favorite restaurant, coffee shop, or store so they can get themselves something special.
6. Send Fun for the Family
During the holidays, most of us try to spend as much time as possible with family. This year, recognize that by sending each of your employees a game or two for the whole family to enjoy! Include some fun snacks and hot cocoa for a complete family game night.
7. Cook’s Night Off
Treat your team members to a cook’s night off by having dinner delivered from their favorite restaurant on a Friday night. This will free them up from cooking for a night and allow them to relax and enjoy time (and a delicious meal) with their loved ones without having to worry about getting dinner on the table.
8. Host an Employee Awards Ceremony
Create custom awards and host an employee awards ceremony to show your team members you’ve noticed and appreciated their contributions throughout the year. Designate an award for each employee based on an accomplishment from the year or specific qualities they embody that help make your company a success.
Make it extra special with lunch or snacks and festive decorations, and invite each person to the front of the room to accept their award so they can receive appreciative applause from the whole team.
9. Social Media Shout-Outs
Show your employees how much you appreciate them by showcasing their work and accomplishments on your social media platforms!
This is a great one to do consistently throughout the year—not just during the holiday season. Consider making it a regular part of your social media presence. You can celebrate completed projects or other wins, birthdays, work anniversaries, and more. (Bonus: this will help your audience get to know your team better!)
10. Throw a Party!
When all else fails, throw a holiday party! Whether it’s a lunchtime celebration with treats and gifts or a formal event your employees and their significant others can dress up for, a party is always a hit.
A festive gathering allows your team members to bond over food, games, and non-work-related banter. It’s also a great venue for recognizing team member achievements and company successes.
We hope these fun and unique ways to appreciate your team give you some new ideas for showing your employees how glad you are that they’re a part of your company. From the Red Seat team to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season!
