Rewarding over Christmas: how to get it right
As an employer, there’s plenty to plan including the all-important Christmas party (if you’re doing one this year), festive activities and employee gifts and rewards.
Here’s just a few things you should consider…
Why you should reward at Christmas:
As Christmas is at the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on all the hard work over the past year. But your employees might also be taking the time to think about their roles and if they are satisfied with your company.
According to research from the Office Team, 66% of employees say they would quit if they felt unappreciated, so to tackle those feelings make sure to show your employees that you’re grateful for all they’ve done for you this past year.
And with 94% of your employees wanting some form of gift from their employer to make them feel valued, it’s important to get your reward right…
Plan, and give out the rewards, as early as you can
If you leave planning and giving out your employee gifts to the last minute, then you risk not getting the desired effect. For example, giving out gifts on Christmas Eve can make your employees feel like an afterthought, and if you leave it too late you might not be able to give your teams their gift before they go off on holiday.
Avoid cash if you can
Cash, like an annual bonus, can easily be swallowed up by everyday bills. There are alternatives, like vouchers or gift cards. These are more memorable than cash and are great for all your employees as they offer choice so they can treat themselves to something on their Christmas list.
Plus, according to a survey by Instant Print, employees said that vouchers were their top choice of gift from employers.
Don’t forget to spread rewards throughout the year
Employee gifts or rewards are a great way to commemorate the festive season, but only rewarding at Christmas won’t be good for employee motivation. Try to spread your rewards throughout the year to make them truly effective for engagement.
Why not save a small reward for the New Year to help tackle any January blues!
Make the season special in other ways
Christmas shouldn’t just be about gifts and rewards, there are plenty of ways you can boost your employee engagement all season long. You could host a Christmas jumper competition, dedicate a day to decorate the office or host a festive quiz!
Having Christmas activities spread throughout December can help boost engagement and motivation and make the season a bit more special!
The author is Jamie Mackenzie, director at Sodexo Engage.
This article is provided by Sodexo Engage.
In partnership with Pluxee UK
Pluxee UK, is a leading employee benefits and engagement partner that opens up a world of opportunities to help people enjoy more of what really matters in their lives.
