2020 has been a truly remarkable year, one that has pushed humans and nature alike to their extremes. The whole world has undergone rapid and dramatic changes in one year that would have taken it at least 10 years to accomplish. This year, countries who hoped for a robust economy have found themselves dealing with a possible recession; businesses that projected gains at the start of the year have recorded losses; the world has moved from mostly physical interactions to mainly virtual communication, and we all have had to deal with unexpected changes that have not been fully pleasant.
Typically, at about this, there is some excitement in the air. Your organization may probably have a culture of giving out gift baskets; festive food for the holiday season; or sharing profits with staff members, and understandably employees would be looking forward to these perks. But in the face of so much uncertainty, and with companies recording huge losses as a result of the pandemic, as well as the resulting blow to weak economies, the anticipation is at an all-time low.
How then could you creatively and thoughtfully say ‘thank you’ to your staff who have weathered the storm with you throughout this tumultuous year while motivating them to work even harder?
Offer gift vouchers or prepaid cards.
Giving out hampers or foodstuff is wonderful, but even better would be allowing your staff choose what they really want themselves. By offering gift vouchers, you are giving them the liberty to get what they or their families truly want and need this season.
But because these vouchers might be tied to a particular store, thereby limiting their choices, it may be best to get a prepaid gift card from a bank. This card will offer your employees even more buying freedom and would most likely make them happier and more productive in the coming year.
Plan a luxurious staycation.
In spite of tempting travel offers, quite a number of your staff may be unable to travel this year as the world tries to find a healthy way out of the jaws of COVID-19. If you are a small business, a perfect way to get your staff to relax and unwind after a rather stressful year is to plan a weekend retreat at a luxurious resort. Give them the option of bringing along members of their immediate family or a partner and plan fun activities around the weekend.
This would be a great way to get everyone to really relax, and also to bring everyone closer together. Having a productive team is great, but having a cohesive and productive team is even better.
Close earlier than you normally would for the year.
Maybe your business cannot afford gift vouchers and weekend staycations at luxury resorts. You can decide to close operations earlier than planned at the end of the year. Let your staff know that they would have to round up activities as quickly as they can so that they can get extra days off, and see them become more efficient than ever!
Reward them with additional days of paid leave.
If you cannot shut down your business at the end of the year or you cannot close operations earlier than planned, another creative way to thank and appreciate your staff would be to extend their leave days at no cost to them. Even if they would not all be taking their leave by the end of the year, you can stretch the validity of this offer to a fixed time in the new year.
Personalise gift packs.
Perhaps yours is a larger organisation that cannot afford the above-mentioned options and gift hampers or packs are your best bet. Instead of just generic gifts and festive food, why not include a personal touch to these gifts?
Writing a personal, heartfelt note to each employee and including your signature would turn any bland gift to the most valuable gift ever.
