How To Show Employee Appreciation During the Holiday Season

Showing appreciation in the workplace is important any time of year, but employee appreciation during the holiday season is especially powerful. It’s the perfect time to express gratitude to employees for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year. From personalized holiday messages to thoughtful gift-giving, the moments of joy you create during the festive season will set the tone for the year to come.

There are countless ways to spread holiday cheer and show just how much you value your employees – no matter your budget. Here are some easy, flexible ideas to make sure employees feel appreciated and recognized. 

The Importance of Employee Appreciation

Study after study has found that appreciation is a critical part of building a positive, successful workplace. Recognition impacts everything from employee morale to productivity and performance – it really does drive results. For instance, 80% of employees say they would work harder if they felt better appreciated and recognizing employees can increase employee engagement, productivity, and performance by 14%, according to Deloitte. 

Of course, you should be focused on fostering a culture of appreciation all the time, but if there’s one time above others to focus your attention, it’s the holiday season. Miss this opportunity to connect with employees and they will take note. However you slice it, everyone has some kind of expectations around the holidays. 

For example, nearly three-quarters of employees say they hope to receive a gift from their company during the holiday season, according to recent research. And more than half of employees are more likely to stay with a company that shows appreciation during the holiday season, that same study reported. 

Ways To Show Appreciation During the Holidays 

Personalized Thank You Notes 

A simple, personalized thank you note can make an employee feel genuinely valued, reinforcing their importance to the team and to leadership. Who should the note come from? Research from Gallup found that 28% of employees report the most memorable recognition comes from their direct manager, 24% say from the CEO or other executive and nine percent prefer recognition from peers.

Regardless of the sender, the key to a meaningful thank you message is personalization and sincerity. Mention the specific accomplishments or qualities that made an impact over the past year and detail why you appreciate the employee’s unique contributions so much. 

If you’re also planning to send a holiday gift, a heartfelt thank you message can be the perfect personal touch to accompany it.

Holiday Gifts

Pairing a holiday message with a gift makes for a memorable experience that can go beyond words. Holiday gifts show employees that their hard work and commitment are appreciated in very real ways. Whether you offer a personalized present, a unique experience or a financial bonus, holiday gift-giving creates a tangible connection.

And it doesn’t have to break the bank. Use our gift generator to browse the most popular gift choices for different budget levels. 

Here are some tips for corporate gift-giving:

1. Let employees choose from a catalog of gifts that match their preferences in categories like technology, fashion, wellness and more.
2. In addition to tangible gifts, include experience-focused options like tickets, dining or travel.
3. For those who value giving back, offer the option to donate to a charity of their choice so they can support causes that matter to them.

Public Employee Recognition

The end-of-year holiday season is rife with opportunities for public recognition and celebrating employees’ hard work and contributions. Honoring individual and team achievements in a visible way creates a strong sense of pride and boosts morale. 

For example, if you’re hosting an end-of-year party or meeting – add in some time for acknowledgments! 

This could include, for example:

1. Sharing key company milestones achieved during the year and recognizing the specific teams and individuals behind them.
2. Give awards for exceptional contributions, unique ideas or unsung heroes who consistently go above and beyond.
3. Allowing leaders and team members to share stories about impactful projects or collaborative efforts.

Including a gift along with public recognition can make the experience even more meaningful. Consider presenting awardees with a small, thoughtful gift as a thank you for their contributions.

Extra Time Off or Flexible Scheduling

Words of acknowledgment and gifts are always appreciated, but those aren’t the only ways to show appreciation. Providing extra time off or flexible scheduling is a valuable way to turn the end-of-year crunch into a more peaceful holiday season. 

Encouraging employees to spend quality time with loved ones, recharge or simply enjoy some personal downtime communicates trust and respect for their lives outside of work. This could include a company-wide break over Christmas and New Year's (beyond the traditional bank or federal holidays), reduced hours, a floating holiday of the employee’s choice or flexible scheduling options. 

Employee Appreciation Challenges and Considerations During the Holidays

The end of the year is often filled with holiday spirit and goodwill, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some pitfalls to avoid to make sure employees feel valued.

Avoiding Generic Recognition

Generic recognition is on par with no recognition at all – it dilutes your efforts and sends an inadvertent message that you don’t truly care. Personalization matters, so focus on customizing your appreciation based on each team member's contributions, interests and experiences.

Taking the time to highlight specific qualities and achievements makes the recognition feel much more genuine. 

Balancing Consistency With Spontaneity 

A structured recognition program has many benefits, like making sure no one is overlooked and recognition is fairly distributed to avoid potential feelings of favoritism.

At the same time, leave room for spontaneous gestures of appreciation – this could be as simple as a shout-out in a meeting or an unexpected gift.  

Budget Constraints

Appreciation doesn’t need to come with a high price tag. 

Simple gestures such as handwritten thank you notes or verbal acknowledgments in team meetings can have a powerful impact. Working with a partner like Inspirus can help streamline your holiday planning to fit your budget, brand and goals.

How To Involve the Whole Team in Holiday Appreciation 

Engaging everyone at the company – from the leadership team to each team member, whether they work remotely or in person – is foundational to fostering an inclusive, positive company culture. Here are some ways to involve the entire organization.

Team-Based Recognition

Encourage departments and teams to recognize each other’s contributions in the holiday spirit of generosity and giving. Gratitude-focused team-building activities can also strengthen bonds within individual teams and the organization as a whole – whether it’s a collaborative project, an outing or fun competition. 

Shared experiences provide an opportunity for employees to connect on a personal level, celebrate each other’s successes and cultivate a sense of community that sustains itself throughout the year.

Employee-Led Initiatives

While it’s crucial to feel valued from leadership, there’s something to be said about giving employees the opportunity to create a joyful holiday season how they like best.

Encourage and support employees in proposing or spearheading holiday initiatives like team potlucks, charity drives or holiday decorations that reflect company values. Foster unique traditions created by individual teams, like themed competitions, Secret Santa events or holiday gratitude walls to share notes of appreciation.

Foster a Joyous Holiday Season

The holiday season is the perfect time to show appreciation and spread joy.  

Embrace the spirit of giving and generosity the holiday season brings by making end-of-year celebrations extra special for employees. Need more inspiration? Browse the holiday experience guide for budgeting tips, a holiday quiz, expert advice and more.