Employee appreciation is important year-round, but it’s especially meaningful around the holidays. The fourth quarter is the busiest season for many companies, which means team members are working harder than ever to keep the business running. Finding ways to thank employees can validate their efforts and create a stronger connection to the business.

1. Give a holiday gift

A gift to employees is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. Choosing office gifts requires careful thought—your goal should be to select an item that’s useful and appealing to a broad range of employees. Find the perfect gift and you’ll notice an instant mood shift around the office.

2. Recognize employees with awards

Put a holiday-themed twist on a typical office awards ceremony by giving appreciation awards throughout the month of December. Create a different award for each of your employees, making an effort to honor specific accomplishments or qualities. You might thank one person for their ability to make everyone laugh, for example, or praise the way they stayed calm in a challenging situation.

Present a few awards every day of the month with a small speech at the morning meeting. Then, allow the employee to draw a number that corresponds with a gift. Include items that have true value, such as gift cards to a local restaurant or tickets to a show. This combination—specific, verbal appreciation and a tangible reward—is a meaningful and fun way to thank employees.

3. Host a holiday event for employees’ loved ones

Capture the good vibes of the holiday season with a festive company event and ask employees to invite their family or friends. Introducing loved ones to colleagues can create a heightened sense of excitement. To encourage the team to participate, plan an activity that’s hard to resist. If many of your employees have children, a family-friendly holiday carnival can be a big draw. You can also spice up a holiday party by:

  • Hiring a live band
  • Putting together food packages for local shelters
  • Creating ornament-decorating and cookie-decorating stations
  • Setting up a hot buffet filled with holiday treats

Choose a date and activities well in advance to give employees’ loved ones time to plan, bearing in mind that you may need to host the event on an evening or weekend to allow kids and friends to join in the fun.

4. Order a holiday meal

If your business gets a rush of orders or foot traffic during the holidays, you may not be able to plan a company-wide event. Instead, treat each team or department to a special meal. It’s an opportunity to spend quality time with each employee and thank them for their work in person—something that goes a long way during the busy season.

Whether you run a small business or a large corporation, Grubhub Corporate Accounts can help you plan each team meal with ease. You can cater a meal, offer individual credits for employees to order themselves, or start a group order. Regardless of which option you choose, everything is billed to one account to make life easier for you and your accounting department. The Grubhub platform offers efficient corporate ordering for all your office celebrations, whether you’re planning a party or ordering pastries as a surprise thank-you treat.
To find out how we can support your efforts to thank employees during the holidays and beyond, get started with Grubhub Corporate Accounts.