In recent times the Christmas party has been one of the casualties of small business cost cutting. However allowing your employees to celebrate can be a good way of rewarding them for their hard work throughout the year and can help build loyalty from your team.
Rewarding your employees doesn’t have to be expensive but can speak volumes and go a long way to boosting staff morale and giving them a much deserved thank you. So what can you do?
Ask you employees what they want
Ask for ideas for celebrating the festive period from your team. Most people will be impressed that you’ve even asked. Be sure to outline your budget. Once you have a few good ideas, put them to a vote.
Host an event
Your Christmas party doesn’t have to be an expensive affair with a three course meal and a free bar (although no one will complain if that’s the route you’d like to take!) If you have the space to do it in your own premises and it is a suitable venue, use what you have. Why not consider holding the event during working hours to give an extra boost to the festivities?
Make your own entertainment
For free entertainment that gets everyone talking, you could hold a festive quiz and donate a present as the prize for the winner. Perhaps the venue could be the nearest pub.
Fancy dress or a Christmas jumper day with a prize for the best one may be a popular idea or why not arrange a secret Santa, where participants each buy a present for another member of staff. This means employees can get into the festive spirit without spending a fortune.
Christmas Lunch
Who says that the Christmas party has to be in the evening? You could take employees out for lunch at a local pub or restaurant. It’s cheaper than a traditional party, but your staff will still get a treat (you may have to write off the afternoon however, but then it is Christmas!).
Leave early
If it won’t affect productivity too much, you could allow employees to go home a couple of hours early on the last day before the Christmas holidays.
Christmas Decorations
Allow staff to get into the festive spirit by decorating the workplace with Christmas decorations. These could be provided by you or by them, depending on how generous you are feeling!!
Gifts
Sometimes small gestures can mean just as much to your employees as over-the-top gestures. Why not give each employee a bottle of wine, a gift voucher or a box of chocolates (their choice)?
Recognise exceptional work
Christmas can be a great time to make people feel valued by giving awards for exceptional work in your business. For example, the person who’s made the most sales or who goes above and beyond in the workplace.
Say thank you
Showing employees that you recognise their hard work can sometimes mean more than any Christmas gift or bonus. Take the opportunity to go round your place of work and talk to every member of staff thanking them personally for their hard work. It speaks volumes in the season of goodwill!