HOLIDAY GIFT AND PARTY IDEAS THAT DRIVE EMPLOYEE LOYALTY

SIX IDEAS TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE LOYALTY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

1) Try a virtual scavenger hunt.

With virtual teams becoming the new norm, it is time to rethink the holiday party. One great way to show your appreciation is to have a virtual scavenger hunt. Make a list of fun items that everyone can scramble to try and find. Here are a few examples: a penny from the 1990’s, a roll of wrapping paper, something pink, something from your local sports team. The winners can be determined by who collects the most items before time runs out.

2) Have a trivia contest.

These can be great for virtual or in-person teams. You can incorporate questions about the holidays, pop culture, sports, or even the CEO. Reward the winners, but make sure everyone gets something even if they don’t answer a single question correctly.

3) Have a white elephant gift exchange.

A white elephant gift exchange is always a hit. Give everyone on the team $20 on their Whistle card and have them buy the strangest, funniest gift they can find. You can do this virtually by having employees submit their wrapped gifts ahead of time. Go around the room and have everyone open their gift. Give out prizes for first, second, and third place. Maybe some lightsaber chopsticks, a book of dad jokes, or anything with Nic Cage’s face on it. 

4) Just give people cash.

If the above ideas won’t work for every team, don’t worry. You can always give everyone a little extra cash on their Whistle card. This way, everyone can buy what they want and you don’t have to worry about getting it wrong. Let’s face it, everyone wants cash instead of another gift card anyway.

While giving cash may feel impersonal, it can be done in a personal way. Write each employee a note and tell them why you appreciate them. Be as specific as possible. Remind them of a great project they completed this year or tell them about something you are excited to collaborate with them on next year.

5) Give the gift of time off.

This is one of the best ways to show you care. Let your team know that you appreciate all their hard work this year by giving them an extra day (or two) off. If you can’t swing an extra day, give them a half day. Time is the one commodity that we can never get more of, so this is always a cherished gift.

6) Give them a new skill.

Everyone wants to get better at something. Maybe it’s related to their day job, but even better if it is not. Maybe you employee wants to learn to code, learn how to speak French, learn how to be a podcaster, or learn the piano. Give them a subscription to Masterclass, Duolingo, or Codecademy. Even better, give them paid time to use those subscriptions. Insecure employers might worry that training their employees will lead them to leave the company. The best employers know that the only thing more dangerous than a good employee leaving is a bad employee staying. Encourage your employees to upskill and promote from within.