The Dos and Don’ts of Office Holidays

Every year you face the same thing – how to celebrate Christmas in the office. There are many things to consider: office party or a gathering off-site, decorate or not, work load, time off, etc.

While this isn’t a major problem on the surface, what you may not realize is how it affects your employees throughout the year. The main area being impacted?

Morale.

Your team culture is directly affected by the decisions that are made on how to handle the holidays as an office or organization. There is much to consider.

• Christmas isn’t the only holiday that happens in December. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are also major holidays celebrated this month and you may not be recognizing those employees who aren’t embracing the man with the red suit. You may want to expand your definition of ‘holiday’ to include those dates so employees have a choice on when they take days off. Time off is valued highly by most employees.
• Know your audience. In other words, understand the people on your team and their personalities. Some will enjoy group gatherings while others would prefer to skip an office party. Get input from each person on their likes and dislikes and while you can’t please everyone, taking their input into consideration and planning your celebrations ahead of time will help to avoid an event that falls flat.
• Be aware of alcohol consumption. Nothing ruins a good party faster than people who have over indulged and exhibit negative behaviors and poor judgement – not to mention the possible liability issues. Keep the festive atmosphere by offering a glass or two per person and supply non-alcoholic beverages for those who choose not to imbibe. Be sure to provide plenty of food rather than leaving that to the employees to supply. It’s a great way to show appreciation for their efforts all year long.
• The dreaded gift exchange. While some people enjoy this tradition, many do not, so keep the jolly holiday atmosphere alive by making this an option rather than mandatory. And speaking of gifts, according to a recent survey of over 3,000 employees from a cross-section of industries, the gift that was overwhelmingly appreciated the most was monetary. Respondents rated that highest while receiving a gift – particularly one that is the same as everyone else on the team or in the organization – was rated the lowest.

How you approach the holidays in your organization is just one way to show your employees how much you appreciate their contributions. Appreciation at work is crucial to keeping employees engaged and solidifying their loyalty. Feeling appreciated for their efforts helps create employees who are happy in their jobs, which impacts their long-term effectiveness and productivity.

If you’re interested in hearing more about how focusing on appreciation at work can impact your team’s performance, I’d love to talk with you. Please schedule a call with me to learn more.