Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to surprise your staff with a festive treat. This strategy helps in boosting employee engagement by making them feel appreciated at work.
Aside from that, this activity might also increase their productivity levels as they’d be inspired to prove themselves worthy of recognition. As a result, you can improve employee retention rates, giving your company a competitive edge.
There are many ways to surprise your workers this Christmas. Here are four of the best ones:
1) Sending Them Gifts
One of the best ways to surprise your employees this Christmas is by giving them gifts because this shows that you care about them on a personal level. Besides that, this strategy can also strengthen your relationship with your team. In turn, you’ll encourage them to stay with your organization.
Here are some viable gift ideas:
- Christmas Cards: These types of gifts are a great way to show your appreciation to your employees. When purchasing these gifts, you can buy bulk Christmas cards to save money instead of purchasing them individually. For instance, you can get them in a pack of a hundred pieces or more, depending on the size of your team.
- Reward Vouchers: If you have an employee that has worked hard over the year, it can be a good idea to give them a gift voucher as a reward for their efforts. This option is a cost-efficient alternative because your staff can use it towards anything they want, instead of giving them something they won’t be able to use.
- A Box Of Chocolates: This is one of the most special ways to thank your productive employees. You can purchase chocolates in bulk online or in any local store. However, ensure that you have enough variety so everyone can receive something they like.
2) Giving Them Extra Days Off
One of the best ways to show your employees that you appreciate them is by giving them extra days off during the holiday season. This tactic allows them to spend time with their families and friends—a much needed break from their hectic work schedules. In addition, you might also give yourself some time to think about how you can improve your company’s culture while your workers are away.
For instance, you may allow your employees to take their days off early in the week before Christmas as they might already have booked flights for that period. Alternatively, you can distribute those days through January and February, so everyone has some time off without booking them in advance. Another option is to give them two days off at once and one day of at a later time, if that suits your business needs better.
3) Offering Them An All-Expense Paid Trip
Imagine the joy and excitement your employees will feel when they realize that you’ve planned a trip for them. A little extra love from their boss can go a long way, and your workers will be thrilled and inspired by this experience. Additionally, this activity can be an excellent chance for your staff to bond with their colleagues, which can strengthen cross-team collaborations once they return to the workplace.
If you’re considering giving your employees an all-expense paid trip this holiday season, you should ensure everyone’s on board with the idea before making any plans. Doing so ensures that nobody would feel like you’re forcing them to go on an unexpected vacation, especially if they already have plans of their own.
Also, you must consider the costs associated with the entire trip. If your company can’t afford this, you may try other cost-effective alternatives.
4) Hosting A Company-Wide Christmas Party
Hosting a holiday party allows employees to bond with one another. Employees who feel connected with the organization will have higher morale and be more committed to the success of the business. Thus, this initiative can ultimately help improve productivity in the workplace.
If you’re planning to host a company-wide Christmas party, you should plan at least a month before the event date. Doing so ensures you have plenty of time to organize everything, as well as book the venue and the necessary service providers. Aside from that, you can also partner with vendors to assist you throughout the event, which helps you prevent last-minute issues.
Key Takeaway
Retaining your workers within your organization can be easy if you show them gratitude and appreciation. Therefore, you must consider these four options to surprise them this Christmas. With any of these ideas, you’ll surely be able to strengthen your bond with your team, significantly reducing turnover rates.