christmas is the perfect time to reward your teams

But with many options available for employee recognition, what are the best ways to say thanks?

The Christmas holidays signal the end of a long 12 months of hard work for you and your employees - and hopefully, chance to have a well-earned break! 

Plus, Christmas is the perfect time to say thanks and show appreciation for your employees efforts over the past 12 months as you can help end your employees' year on a positive note.

So if you’re struggling to think of ways to keep your company celebrations fresh, then here are ten ways you can reward your employees this Christmas and what you can do to make the cold, dark days of the winter that little bit brighter...

1. recognise performance with instant rewards

Available as both a reward and a supportive mechanism, our extensive range of eVouchers and Gift Cards are one of the quickest, easiest and most efficient ways to say thank you to your employees this Christmas. 

We partner with a huge network of some of the UK's most popular retailers and supermarkets, meaning you can provide support in the right areas of your employees' lives. 

Saying thank you with rewards is not only a great way to keep spirits up during what can be a tough time for many, but also an opportunity to motivate them into the new year and beyond! 

2. Provide flexible working

Although many employees and employers are embracing hybrid working, there is another step you can take towards flexible working. 

It may not be practical all year round, or for all types of organisations, but providing your employees with flexibility arounds the hours they work over the Christmas period is a generous gesture that will impact your organisation with limited disruption in the short term.

Whether your people need to work late in exchange for a longer lunch, or finish early to pick up the kids, let them set some of the pace in December. Think about it: if you’ve agreed what work needs doing, when it’s required and the standard it needs to be delivered to, does it matter if it’s done at 8pm as opposed to 3pm?

Some of your employees may even feel more comfortable working irregular or even compressed hours during this period, so it could be a win win for both parties. The best way to find out? Ask!

3. EXTRA HOLIDAY/TIME OFF

There's plenty to get done at Christmas, so one of the best ways you can reward your employees is to give them a bit of extra time to tick those things off the to do list!

Plus, there’s a lot to be said for companies who know the importance of a work-life balance and giving your employees the luxury of extra time off, over and above their usual holiday allowance, can be really good for both morale and wellbeing.

Whether it’s to take time off to volunteer at a local charity shelter or simply taking the time back to recharge the batteries, time back at the end of the year is always appreciated.

4. LET THEM OFF THE HOOK

A simple one, this – not everyone likes Christmas, and not everyone observes Christmas. Whether it’s for religious or personal reasons, there will be members of your team who just don’t want to engage with the festive fun – so don’t force them to.

Avoid pressuring people to join in with the festivities if it’s not for them, let people off the hook for Christmas jumper day without any questions asked, and just be understanding of everyone’s personal preferences and beliefs around the end of the year.

23% of employees in the UK cite being more stressed in the run-up to Christmas than at any other time of the year - so where you can, cut your people some slack and let them off the hook.

5. help salaries strech further

The run-up to Christmas can be pretty costly for your employees, between Christmas presents, parties, to extra treats to make the season special.

But it doesn't have to be all financial doom and gloom for your people. There are ways you can help to make things easier for your employees in the build up to Christmas... and all year round, actually.

We know that companies can't afford to just hand out pay rises and bonuses every year, but providing perks, such as employee discounts and other lifestyle benefits, shows that you’re willing to invest in them and help their salaries stretch further.

6.KICK YOUR INCENTIVES UP A NOTCH

Motivation, in general, can take a bit of a dive in December. That's why giving real thought to your festive motivation, incentives and rewards, is kind of a big deal! 

Encourage a big end of year push by offering some serious incentives in December – something that goes a little further than what you’d usually provide during the rest of the year. 

Rather than something that employees can use or redeem instantly, consider using something a little more long-term as an incentive. Travel vouchers to use in the new year will be a great motivator that continues to inspire staff loyalty in the months ahead.

7.  TAKE TIME OUT OF THE DAY TO HAVE SOME FUN

Of course employers still have a business to run, and they won’t want their workforce kicking back and doing nothing for the entirety of December, but taking some time out during the working day to enjoy social activities can be really good for both employee morale and improving your company culture. 

Organising Christmas activities throughout the month, such as dress-up days, online quizzes or virtual Christmas Pictionary, have proven to be very popular with employees across all industries. 

8. DISH OUT THE FESTIVE TREATS

Christmas is traditionally a time of year to over-indulge… After all, who doesn’t enjoy all the drinks, treats and festivities that come with the Christmas!?

Providing your employees with all the mince pies and chocolates they desire is a great way to spread some festive cheer; however, with hybrid working it's not as easy to enjoy a seemingly endless supplies of treats on the next desk with our colleagues.

So a fun way to keep up the festive food frenzy could be to plan a 12 days of Christmas hamper or advent calendar-style system that gets delivered to your employees and  every day features a different treat. 

9. SAY “THANK YOU”

You might decide that you’re going to provide Christmas gifts and treats for your employees as a reward for all of their hard work – but don’t forget to actually say thank you! The most important thing for employees when receiving a reward isn’t necessarily the financial gain, or the entertainment value of what you’ve given them – it’s the feeling that they actually are valued by the business.

How we can help with your employee rewards: 

From eVouchers to Gift Cards, we can help you make your Christmas rewards memorable for your employees and easy for you! Get in touch today to speak to our experts to get started.