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It's the Holidays. 10 ideas You Can Do For Your Employees.
Dave White
December 11, 2024
It’s the Holidays. 10 Ideas You Can Do for Your Employees.
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“The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”
2 Important Stories
Where would you like to work?
1: A Holiday to Remember: A Startup’s Celebration Story
In the heart of a bustling city, a small tech startup had just wrapped up its most challenging year yet. With limited funding, tight deadlines, product launches, and the endless grind of scaling, the team had rarely paused to catch their breath, let alone celebrate. The company’s founder, Maya, realized this as she reviewed the year’s milestones one late December evening. Despite their achievements, the atmosphere felt strained, even distant. She decided it was time to change that.
“We need to celebrate, not just the holidays but each other,” Maya announced at the next team meeting. The room buzzed with curiosity—celebrations weren’t exactly part of their startup culture. But Maya was determined. She assembled a small planning committee and rolled out the first-ever Holiday Celebration.
The Celebration
On a Friday evening, the team gathered in their modest office, now transformed with twinkling fairy lights, garlands, and a glowing holiday tree adorned with quirky tech-themed ornaments—tiny keyboards, mouse figurines, and even a miniature drone. The air smelled of cinnamon and cocoa, thanks to a local bakery’s spread of festive treats.
The highlight of the evening was Maya’s personal touch: handwritten thank-you notes for every employee, tucked into gift bags filled with small, thoughtful items like custom mugs and gift cards. The celebration wrapped up with a playful white elephant gift exchange and a karaoke session that left everyone laughing, even the usually reserved developers.
A New Tradition
The success of the holiday celebration led Maya to declare it an annual tradition. The next year, the team rented a larger venue, invited family members, and included awards for unique contributions. But the heart of the event remained the same: gratitude, connection, and joy.
What started as a simple holiday gathering became a cornerstone of thew company’s culture. As the company grew, employees often credited these celebrations for fostering a sense of belonging that scaled with them. And Maya never forgot the lesson she learned that first year: even in the fast-paced world of startups, it’s worth pausing to celebrate the people who make the journey possible.
2: The Startup That Forgot to Celebrate
In a quiet office tucked away in a city’s tech district, this startup was making waves in the AI industry. Founded by Alex, an ambitious and relentless engineer, the startup had just completed a groundbreaking year. Their product was gaining traction, investors were showing interest, and the team was expanding rapidly. On the surface, everything seemed perfect.
The Decision to Skip the Holidays
As December rolled around, some employees started whispering about holiday plans. “Do you think we’ll have a party?” asked Jenna, a marketing associate. “Maybe a bonus?” chimed in Raj, one of the developers. But nothing happened - no celebrations, no time off, and no appreciation.
The Turning Point
By March, Alex noticed the shift. Employee engagement scores were at an all-time low. Key talent had left. Even the weekly all-hands meetings were subdued, with employees avoiding eye contact or speaking up.
One evening, Alex sat alone in the office, scrolling through emails. Among the messages was a resignation letter from Raj, who had been instrumental in developing their flagship product. The final lines struck a chord:
“I respect what we’ve built here, but I need to work in a place where people are more than just tools to achieve goals. I want to feel valued, even in small ways.”
The Lesson Learned
Alex realized that skipping the holidays wasn’t just about the lack of a party—it was a missed opportunity to show gratitude, foster connection, and create a sense of belonging. Determined to make a change, he scheduled a surprise spring celebration, complete with awards, team bonding activities, and heartfelt thank-you speeches.
Here’s What You Can Do - There’s Time
It does not need to be expensive, time consuming, or difficult
1 Take time to talk with each employee to express your gratitude
Talk about successes and challenges
Recognize their hard work and contributions
2 Host a year-end event
It does not need to be expensive and can be in the office
Go out to lunch with the team
Make sure to include everyone, even those that are remote
3 Give employees a bonus
Make it meaningful
It does not need to be expensive
4 Give your employees hand written notes
Write about about successes and challenges
Recognize their hard work and contributions
5 Send a short video message to all employees
Achievements and challenges for the past year
A look ahead to the new year
6 Host a year end recognition event
Recognize the entire team, individual contributions, and new employees
Be sure to involve remote employees
7 Host a team outing to someplace memorable
It could be something the team does together such as bowling or a scenic walk
8 Host a party that includes family members
9 Offer additional time off for the holidays
10 Organize multiple casual get togethers to encourage team building and communication
📙 Report: “12 Best Employee Appreciation Ideas for the Holidays” by inspirus
How To Include Everyone
Holiday and year-end events must be all inclusive
Be sure to include all of your remote employees
Host video events at times that work for all time zones
Send packages or holiday items to their homes
Talk about all of the holidays your employees observe as you address them
Show interest in their celebrations
Provide additional time off that fits with individual beliefs and celebrations
Bonus Tip: Bonuses and hand-written notes work for everyone
Bonus Tip: Give small gifts and make sure they are appropriate for each person
📙 Report: “Employee Recognition During the Holidays: Why it Matters and How to Facilitate It”
By Kudoboard
📙 Recommended Reading
By Tracy Maylett, Matthew Wride, and Kelly Patterson
Also available as an audio book
Parting Thought
“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”
You Can Help
Simply reply to this email and let me know what you think. What would you like to see in upcoming issues? Your feedback is appreciated. Dave
👉 Know someone?
Pass this along and they will receive my new ebook “Hiring Success for Early-Stage Startups” when they subscribe.
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