Three ways to rethink traditional corporate vacation programs

Steve is the co-founder and CEO of Award coa fast-growing rewards and recognition company in the world.

The holiday season is one of traditions and the workplace is no different. Holiday programs, such as year-end bonuses, holiday parties, and business gifts, are common in many industries.

However, not all traditions build the tension and connection they should. In fact, these traditional corporate celebrations are often ineffective at best and abusive at worst. Bonuses rarely please everyone, and they can only be observed temporarily. Holidays are rarely inclusive of different cultures and traditions. And promotional gifts are usually boring and impersonal, which can make employees feel unappreciated and undervalued.

Holiday traditions can be a huge boost to corporate culture if done right. With that in mind, here are some ideas for rethinking and reimagining corporate holiday traditions to make sure everyone enjoys the celebrations.

1. Don’t ignore the remaining 10 months.

While Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are great occasions to be festive, thankful, and giving, there are dozens of other holidays throughout the year that businesses should take advantage of. These additional holidays can encourage diversity and inclusion, create new traditions, and help employees feel valued and excited throughout all 12 months, not just at the end of the year.

Global holidays are the best way to involve all your employees, regardless of their background. World Social Justice Day is on February 20 and it’s a great opportunity to raise awareness. Employee Appreciation Day is the first Friday in March and it’s a perfect time to celebrate employees in a variety of ways. World Health Day on April 7 is great for promoting and celebrating health and wellness in the workplace.

Holiday feelings of appreciation, gratitude, excitement, and camaraderie shouldn’t be limited to December. Instead, create holiday traditions year-round that involve everyone and keep those good feelings going.

2. Consider inclusivity when planning parties.

Inclusion is a key theme in the workforce today, and with good reason. Everyone has different backgrounds, personalities, religious beliefs and cultural ties. Here are some ways to plan a holiday party that will be fun for all your employees.

• Set a good date. December is still a good time for an end of year party. However, many holidays fall around this time and you don’t want to create a conflict with employees’ possible plans. Yom Kippur and Diwali usually fall in October, while holidays such as Yule, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are celebrated in December. Find a day that doesn’t coincide with other holidays so that all your employees can make it.

• Be careful with food and drink. Some groups don’t eat pork, so a holiday ham shouldn’t be on the menu. Some people don’t drink alcohol, so make sure there are other options. The point is that employees shouldn’t feel uncomfortable on a holiday, so make sure the menu includes all palettes and beliefs.

• Focus on recognizing the wins of the year. A year-end party is great for acknowledging the good that has happened over the past 12 months. Focus the celebration on the great people in the company. While speeches, games, and gifts are great, make sure everyone in attendance feels more valued than they did before they came.

An inclusive party focused on recognizing the people who make your business run will be a hit every year – that’s a tradition employees should have no trouble getting excited about.

3. Give gifts that are really worthwhile.

The promotional gift is an age-old tradition that many people are not happy with. HR professionals and leaders fuss over what to give their employees, while employees pretend to be happy with branded swag items or a fancy watch they didn’t want. While giving any type of gift is a great place to start, only gifts that are meaningful to the recipient will have the intended effect.

Instead of buying a single gift for each employee, companies need to understand what their people want. Get to know the employees who are part of your company. What does Tim like to do in accounting? What about Angela in sales? Let managers learn what they can and then personalize the corporate gift to suit each individual.

Or, if you want a simpler solution, gift points on a recognition platform. This type of gift isn’t just cash or a gift card, but it still lets employees buy anything they want. No guessing and no hassle, just personalized gifts for everyone.

The new workplace needs new traditions.

Traditions do a lot of great things for people, including making healthy memories, creating excitement, strengthening bonds, and reminding everyone of what really matters. Make the most of your company holiday programs this year by rethinking your traditions and creating new ones that will reward and excite every employee.

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