Company culture is the foundation of business success.

Improving company culture is no longer a back-burner issue. If you don’t build an exciting workplace in 2025, you’ll have a hard time attracting (and retaining!) talent and achieving organizational goals.

Good news: company culture isn’t some mystical force, though it may feel like that sometimes. And you don’t have to hike to the top of a mountain to obtain it. You simply have to implement the right strategies.

That begs the question: what are the right strategies? After studying current trends, we have the answer for you. Keep reading to learn how to build a positive company culture in 2025.

10 Strategies for Improving Company Culture

1. Identify Your Company’s Core Values

Core values are the foundation of your company’s culture.

They act as a compass that guides decisions, behaviors, and priorities. Without clearly defined values, your team will disconnect because they won’t know what their organization stands for.

Have you taken time to identify your company’s values yet? If not, know that they should reflect things you and your team care about and what makes your brand unique. For example, companies that produce cutting-edge technology may have innovation as a core value.

If you have core values established, check in on them. When is the last time you revisited them? If it’s been a few years, it may be time for a refresh.

Once you’ve settled on your company’s values, infuse them into every aspect of your business—from new hire onboarding to leadership decisions. Refer to them regularly in company meetings and when giving employee shout outs. When employees see these values in action, they’ll become more engaged and company culture will flourish.

2. Hire the Most Talented People You Can

The people you bring into your organization shape culture in a big way.

Quality recruitment isn’t about finding someone who can do a job. It’s about finding someone who both has the capacity to do a job and will enhance workplace dynamics. After all, most skills can be taught. Specific values, as well as the attitudes that support them, are harder to cultivate.

To improve company culture, focus on hiring individuals who are not only talented but also passionate about your mission. Use the core values you established to make hiring decisions. A team built on shared goals and respect will elevate culture.

3. Promote a Strong Work-Life Balance

Burnout is one of the biggest threats to good company culture. Employees need to balance their professional responsibilities with their personal lives. And your company needs to help them.

If you don’t accept this responsibility, your organization’s productivity will plummet and turnover will go up. The question is, how can you foster healthy work-life balance?

There are plenty of ways. For instance, you could offer flexible schedules (more on this below,) encourage employees to use their PTO, and model healthy boundaries from the top down. Even small things, like discouraging after-hours emails, can make a big difference.

4. Offer Employees Hybrid Work Arrangements

The shift to remote and hybrid work isn’t a trend—it’s the new normal.

Employees value the flexibility that this arrangement gives them. In fact, a recent survey found that 95% of workers want to work from home at least some of the time.

But fully remote work situations aren’t always practical. That’s why hybrid work, AKA when employees split time between in-office and remote work, is growing in popularity.

Hybrid work arrangements boost job satisfaction and expand the talent pool by attracting candidates who prioritize flexibility. As we’ve seen, these things can affect company culture. 

Just remember, to make hybrid work successful, you need to equip your employees with the tools they need both at home and in the office, like reliable tech and clear communication platforms. Additionally, you need to define clear expectations for both remote and in-office days. That way work always moves forward while still offering employees the flexibility they crave.

5. Provide Career Advancement Opportunities

Employees stay where they can grow. If you want to improve company culture, do whatever you can to help your team reach their full potential. And do it on an ongoing basis, not when employees ask.

Career development programs, skill-building workshops, and mentorship opportunities show employees you care about their future. When your team understands this, they’ll start to care more about the future of your company too. That’s when culture will really start to thrive.

Keep in mind, everyone has different career aspirations. Talk to your employees on a regular basis to learn what they want to achieve. Then work to develop roadmaps for advancements.

Bonus: the more skilled your team is, the better they’ll perform. So this is a win-win situation!

6. Make Sure Everyone Feels Included

Employees who feel excluded and/or undervalued are less likely to work hard, share their best ideas, or contribute to the long-term growth of your company in a meaningful way.

An inclusive workplace culture will make sure everyone feels like a respected member of the team. When this happens, job satisfaction and performance will rise. Do what you can to celebrate employees and the unique traits they bring to the table. 

Find different ways to connect and celebrate employees based on what resonates most. Some teams like big public celebrations, while others prefer a private 1-on-1 thanks from the boss. Ask your team what they like, and focus attention there.

7. Develop Employee Conflict Resolution Skills

Conflict happens (If you work in HR, I don’t have to tell you this.). How it’s handled will make or break your culture.

Unresolved issues can fester, leading to tension and reduced morale. Instead of avoiding conflict, empower employees to address it constructively and help them actually do it.

Offer training on conflict resolution techniques, such as active listening and negotiation skills. Additionally, ensure you and/or other managers are equipped to mediate disputes effectively.

When your employees feel supported through various conflicts, they’ll be more likely to maintain positive working relationships and collaborate with their coworkers.

8. Support Mindfulness in the Workplace

According to the American Psychological Association (APA) mindfulness is, “Awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings.” In other words, it’s understanding the current situation, both inside and outside one’s head. This is a valuable workplace skill that can support a healthier culture.

When employees practice mindfulness, they’ll be able to manage their stress, improve their focus, and boost their overall well-being. These things can help create a positive work environment.

With that in mind, try offering mindfulness workshops, meditation sessions, or even quiet spaces for reflection. Even small practices, like encouraging employees to take short breaks, can help.

9. Adapt to New Technologies and Job Requirements

New technology is changing the way we work. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), jobs that used to take hours now take minutes. As such, many companies have embraced AI, but not everyone feels comfortable with emerging technologies.

To improve company culture, help your employees adapt to and embrace these technological innovations.

Provide training programs to upskill employees for new job requirements and ensure they understand how advanced tools can enhance (not replace) their roles. When your team feels this kind of support, they’ll be more likely to embrace new tech and maintain a positive attitude.

10. Invest in an Effective Recognition Program

Recognition is one of the best ways to improve workplace culture.

Employees want to feel like their hard work is noticed and appreciated. Because of this, a strong recognition program can boost team engagement and individual employee retention. As we’ve already discussed, these things can impact culture in a significant way.

Do your best to publicly celebrate achievements. You can do this by making announcements during team meetings or invest in a tool like Kudoboard.

Kudoboard makes it easy to recognize employees. You simply create a Kudoboard for either an individual or for a group. On the board, you can send personalized messages, GIFs, videos and more to team members. Just as important, employees can send these things to each other too. In both cases, recipients of such recognition will feel appreciated and engaged deeper in their work.

Sign up for a free demo of Kudoboard to get started today.

What is Company Culture?

Company culture is the shared values, behaviors, and attitudes that define how work is done within an organization. Think of it as the personality of your workplace—the invisible thread connecting employees to each other and the organization’s overarching mission.

Culture shapes how people collaborate, make decisions, and interact daily. It’s not just about perks or policies. It’s about the emotional and professional environment you create.

A strong company culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentionally built and nurtured over time. Whether positive or negative, culture influences employee engagement and performance.

Why is a Strong Company Culture so Important?

Company culture impacts how employees feel and perform at work. It can also influence how long they stay, which as we’ll see in a moment, is a pretty big deal. But there are other benefits to a good company culture too. 

Productivity and Performance

A positive culture provides the environment people need to focus, collaborate, and innovate. When these things happen, higher productivity and performance levels are almost inevitable.

On the flip side, a toxic culture can stifle creativity and cause unnecessary stress. Employees may spend more time navigating workplace politics than actually doing their jobs. A strong culture eliminates these distractions, allowing teams to focus on achieving their goals.

Trust and Collaboration

Trust is an important business quality. Why? Because teams that trust each other are often more willing to collaborate, which can lead to better outcomes for 73% of employees.

Of course, trust isn’t built overnight. You have to cultivate it over time, through consistent actions. A positive company culture will help you make it happen. Once you do, your team will naturally become more engaged and motivated. They’ll also work together at a higher level.

Employee Engagement and Retention

Employees thrive when they feel valued and connected. A supportive company culture fosters this connection, encouraging team members to invest more energy into their work.

Without good culture, engagement plummets and talented individuals start looking elsewhere. This is a serious problem because employee turnover can have serious financial consequences.

Think about it: would you stay at a job where your contributions went unnoticed or where negativity was the norm? Probably not. A healthy culture promotes recognition, encouragement, and a sense of belonging—all key ingredients for keeping your best people on board.

The Recruitment Process

Job seekers care about more than their salaries. They want to work for organizations with positive workplace cultures. Why wouldn’t they? It makes those 40 hours a week so much more enjoyable.

Quite simply: if your culture is strong, it will be much easier for you to attract top talent.

According to McKinsey, top performers are 800% more productive than average workers in the same positions. That’s a lot of extra work getting done every day thanks to focusing on your own company culture.

Customer Experience

Company culture doesn’t only affect employees. It extends to your customers.

Engaged team members provide better service, solve problems faster, and create positive interactions. In other words, they provide the experiences customers want.

Research shows that a 5% bump in customer loyalty can produce 25% to 95% more revenue. By working to improve your company culture, you’ll create happy customers. Since happy customers are more loyal, a positive environment for employees can drive more revenue.

Supports Long-Term Business Growth

Finally, good workplace culture will elevate your entire company.

Culture creates a foundation for sustained growth by aligning teams around shared goals and values. Companies with strong cultures are better equipped to adapt to challenges, innovate, and maintain a competitive edge. These things are crucial in the current marketplace.

When your employees are engaged and motivated, they’ll push your organization forward. It’s not just about surviving, it’s about thriving in an ever-changing environment.

Building Workplace Culture With Kudoboard

There are so many benefits to improving company culture. After reading this article, you have 10 strategies, based on current trends, to implement and build a productive work environment. 

Now you just need to choose a few strategies to start with and see how things go.

Whether you decide to prioritize work-life balance, institute a hybrid work model, or invest in an effective recognition program, the moves you make in this area will be incredibly valuable.

Elevate your company culture with Kudoboard!

Celebrate employee milestones, company events, and peer-to-peer recognition with the platform loved by millions.

Sign up for a business demo

Employee Appreciation Day is a moment to pause and celebrate your team. If your team is remote, distributed, hybrid, or all of the above, it’s even more important to make sure employees are seen and recognized.

A thoughtful celebration this Employee Appreciation Day will help remote employees feel valued, continue to do their best work, and stay with your company.

In this article, we share 10 practical ways to acknowledge your remote team’s efforts.

Employee Appreciation Day: Virtual Ideas to Celebrate Your Team

Working from home can get lonely. Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day is an excellent way to remind your remote employees that they’re valued members of your team.

With that in mind, here are a few proven ways to make sure your remote workers feel the love.

1. Send an Online Group Card

One of the best ways to show gratitude is to send an online group card.

An online group card is a digital version of a traditional card that multiple people can contribute to. Unlike traditional cards, however, online group cards can be signed by people anywhere. No need to be physically in the same place! They can also include longer messages, images, GIFs, and videos, which makes them extra special.

Use a tool like Kudoboard to create online group cards for your remote employees. All you have to do is create a board using one of our professionally designed templates, add your message of appreciation, and invite other team members to join. Then deliver the finished product to your remote recipient. You can also add a gift card to reward your team for a job well done.

Encourage team members to dig deep and leave personalized messages. Or funny GIFs around a certain theme. Or even record videos or audio posts of themselves talking about their coworker. These things will make the group card more impactful, reminding remote employees how appreciated they really are.

2. Play an Online Game With Team Members

Having fun with your team is an easy way to increase connection and create memories. Online games that can be played from anywhere work great. Simple enough, but the question is, which games should you play?

The answer is, whatever gets your employees excited! Do they want to play trivia? How about two truths and a lie? Maybe they’re adventurous and want to tackle a virtual escape room.

Any of these can be fun depending on the team. They can also encourage friendly competition, teamwork, and laughter. As such, they’re excellent tools for building team culture, in addition to recognizing remote employees. Play one and see what happens.

3. Offer Employees a Home Office Upgrade

Your off-site workers spend a lot of time in their home offices. Why not offer to upgrade these spaces? Doing so is an excellent way to celebrate employees remotely.

The upgrades you offer could include an ergonomic chair, noise-canceling headphones, a quality desk lamp, or even an annual stipend for decorating their space. These things will not only improve productivity, but also demonstrate that your company values its staff’s well-being.

Put simply, a home office upgrade is a practical gift that keeps on giving.

4. Support Your Remote Workers’ Career Goals

Remote workers can be concerned that without in-office face time, they are missing out on opportunities and promotions. Your remote staffers have career goals. Find out what they are; then help them become reality.

Few Employee Appreciation Day ideas can compete with this. Why? Because it shows remote employees that you care about them, not just the work they do for your company.

For some employees, this idea will have you purchasing online courses and/or industry conference tickets. For others, you give a remote team member more responsibility. That way they can develop their skills and level up within your company—an ideal situation.

5. Donate to Charity in an Employee’s Name

Do your remote employees support specific charities?

If so, donate to these organizations in their honor. Doing so will show appreciation, display company values, and make the world a better place. You can also send a charity gift card with a thank you Kudoboard and let them choose from 50 different organizations.

For many people, the act of giving is more rewarding than receiving a traditional gift or piece of company swag. Keep that in mind on this year’s Employee Appreciation Day.

6. Grant Your Team Extra Paid Time Off

What if you paid your remote employees to watch Netflix? (Trust us, they aren’t doing that on a typical Wednesday.) Or take a day trip with their families? Or do another random thing that brings them joy? They’d probably feel super appreciated, right?

That’s why you should consider granting your team extra paid time off (PTO.)

For example, you could announce a half day and let your staff clock out after lunch. Or skip an entire Friday. Or take a whole week to rest, travel, or otherwise recharge. The end result will be happier, more productive employees who work hard to meet team goals.

7. Bring Your Entire Team Together

Virtual team building activities are great. But nothing beats in-person experiences. Show your remote employees that you care by bringing them all together for a face-to-face event.

Obviously, this idea requires deeper pockets than the ones previously mentioned. (Flights, hotel rooms, meals, and so on add up.) But if you can swing it, you’ll be able to help your remote team build deeper connections with each other, which will likely lead to better work down the road.

Plus, you’ll all have a fantastic time, which will improve team culture and employee retention metrics. Because of these things, this is a step above other Employee Appreciation Day ideas.

8. Shoot a Heartfelt Video for Everyone

While your remote workers will definitely appreciate an office upgrade, industry conference tickets, and extra PTO, they don’t need these things to be productive members of your team.

What they really need is to know that their efforts are seen and valued by the company they work for.

One of the best ways to make sure your remote employees know this is to tell them via video. Set aside an hour for each leader in your company, and ask them to hit the record button on their phone and speak from the heart.

Pro tip: make a different video for every remote team member. In said video, spotlight the unique contributions each person has made so that the recording feels more authentic. Then send it off on Employee Appreciation Day (you can do this on a Kudoboard!) to increase job satisfaction and performance.

9. Highlight Your Staff on Social Media

Did you cringe when you read the remote team appreciation idea above? “Step in front of a camera? I could never…” It’s okay! Just highlight your staff on social media instead.

Pop onto LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, or any of the other social networks your company uses. Then post a picture of your remote employees (with their permission, of course) and highlight each person’s specific contributions to key projects, company goals, etc.

Then throw in a few fun facts while you’re at it like, “When Jimmy isn’t crushing customer service tickets for us, he’s ripping on his guitar. Rock on, Jimmy!” (Again, make sure you get permission from each of your remote workers before you post about them.)

A thoughtful post on social media will make your team feel appreciated while reinforcing a positive work culture to your company’s broader audience.

10. Build a Sustainable Employee Recognition Program

Last but not least, honor your remote team on Employee Appreciation Day 2025 by building a sustainable employee recognition program for your company. That way, employees’ efforts are acknowledged on a regular basis—both by management personnel and coworkers.

Kudoboard is an excellent tool for ongoing employee recognition. With it, you can shout out employees whenever you want on peer-to-peer recognition boards. Employees can contribute too, by shouting out their coworkers. And as mentioned above, shout outs can contain text, images, and/or videos.

Whichever tool you decide to use, make regular employee recognition a priority. Doing so will help your remote team feel appreciated, perform at a higher level, and stick around for longer.

FAQs for Employee Appreciation Day 2025

When is Employee Appreciation Day 2025?

Employee Appreciation Day is always celebrated on the first Friday in March. In 2025, Employee Appreciation Day falls on March 7th.

What is Employee Appreciation?

At its core, employee appreciation is about acknowledging the efforts and dedication of your team. It’s a way to let employees know you see their hard work and value their contributions.

This is important because a culture of appreciation can transform the way employees feel about their jobs. When people feel recognized, they’re more likely to stay motivated and engaged.

Think of it like watering a plant. Without consistent appreciation, it’s hard for employees to thrive in their roles. Employee Appreciation Day 2025 is a perfect opportunity to ensure your team knows they’re an essential part of your brand’s success.

Why is Employee Appreciation Important?

Expressing gratitude is more than a feel-good gesture, it’s a smart business move.

When employees feel appreciated, they’re more likely to reach peak performance, stay loyal, and drive company culture. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of showing appreciation:

• Better Productivity: Happy employees are productive employees. Recognizing their contributions can inspire them to accomplish things they previously couldn’t.
• Reduced Turnover: When employees feel valued, they’re less likely to seek new opportunities.
• Improved Workplace Morale: Appreciation fosters a positive work environment where people feel motivated and connected.
• Stronger Team Relationships: Gratitude builds trust and improves collaboration within remote teams. This is especially important for employees who work in different areas.

In short, Employee Appreciation Day isn’t just about making your team feel good. It’s about creating a thriving workplace where your employees want to do their best—and actually can.

What’s the Difference Between Employee Appreciation and Employee Recognition?

While these terms are often used interchangeably, they’re not quite the same. Understanding the difference between them can make your efforts in each area more effective.

• Employee Appreciation: This is about valuing employees as people. It’s more holistic and focuses on how they contribute to the company’s culture and success, regardless of specific milestones or achievements. Think of it as saying, “We value you for being you.”
• Employee Recognition: This is more about acknowledging specific accomplishments or performance metrics. For example, you might recognize an employee for exceeding a sales goal, completing a major project, or demonstrating exceptional leadership.

Both employee appreciation and recognition are important. When you combine them together, they create a balanced approach that makes all employees feel valued.

For remote teams, combining appropriate levels of appreciation and recognition is especially critical, as these professionals can’t rely on casual in-office interactions to feel seen and acknowledged. By focusing on both, you ensure your employees know they matter—not just for what they do, but for who they are. And that’s the foundation of a healthy, engaged team.

Employee Appreciation Day is your chance to highlight both aspects and make a true impact.

Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day with Kudoboard

Make sure your remote employees feel the love with a group card or peer-to-peer recognition board.

Create a Kudoboard

As the Human Resources (HR) landscape continues to evolve, staying ahead with the best tools and technologies is crucial for creating efficient and employee-centric workplaces. In 2025, HR professionals are spoiled for choice with software that optimizes everything from employee recognition to payroll management. Here’s a list of the top 20 tools every HR professional should consider using this year.

1. Kudoboard

Kudoboard revolutionizes employee recognition and team celebrations. Kudoboard allows teams to create collaborative, digital appreciation boards for work anniversaries, birthdays, retirements, and more. You can also turn on automation so employee milestones are never forgotten. Its intuitive design fosters a culture of gratitude and employee engagement, making it a must-have tool for boosting morale and improving team cohesion.

2. BambooHR

BambooHR is an all-in-one HR software designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers features like employee records management, time tracking, performance reviews, and recruitment tools, all within an intuitive interface.

3. Workday

Workday provides enterprise-level HR and financial management solutions. With advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, Workday helps HR teams make data-informed decisions, streamline onboarding, and enhance workforce planning.

4. SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors is a comprehensive HR suite that covers talent management, HR analytics, and workforce planning. Its scalable solutions cater to businesses of all sizes, making it ideal for growing companies.

5. Gusto

Gusto is perfect for managing payroll, benefits, and HR compliance. Its seamless integration with other tools and automation features make Gusto an excellent choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking to streamline administrative tasks.

6. Zoho People

Zoho People simplifies employee management with features like attendance tracking, leave management, and performance appraisals. This affordable and customizable platform is a favorite among HR professionals.

7. Lever

Lever focuses on recruitment and talent acquisition. Its applicant tracking system (ATS) and candidate relationship management (CRM) features ensure a smooth hiring process, from sourcing to onboarding.

8. ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a robust platform for payroll, benefits administration, and workforce management. Known for its reliability, ADP provides HR teams with tools to manage complex compliance requirements.

9. ClearCompany

ClearCompany offers tools for talent management, performance reviews, and goal alignment. Its predictive analytics help HR teams make strategic decisions and enhance employee engagement.

10. PaystubHero

PaystubHero simplifies payroll management with its user-friendly platform for generating accurate pay stubs. HR professionals can easily create compliant, detailed stubs for employees, helping to reduce administrative burdens and ensure seamless payroll processing.

11. Namely

Namely combines payroll, benefits, and talent management in a single platform. With its user-friendly interface, Namely is ideal for mid-sized businesses looking to centralize their HR operations.

12. 15Five

15Five is a performance management tool that focuses on continuous feedback and employee development. Its weekly check-ins, goal setting, and peer recognition features foster a positive work environment.

13. Greenhouse

Greenhouse specializes in recruitment and onboarding. It’s a go-to solution for companies that prioritize building inclusive and high-performing teams through structured hiring processes.

14. TINYpulse

TINYpulse gathers real-time employee feedback through anonymous surveys. HR teams can use its insights to improve workplace culture and address concerns before they escalate.

15. Monday.com

Monday.com is a flexible work operating system that helps HR teams manage workflows, projects, and employee onboarding. Its customizable templates make it adaptable to various HR processes.

16. Paylocity

Paylocity is a cloud-based HR and payroll solution designed to simplify workforce management. Its intuitive interface and robust analytics make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.

17. Rippling

Rippling combines HR, IT, and payroll into one unified platform. With its seamless integration and automation features, Rippling helps HR teams save time and reduce administrative complexity.

18. HighBob

HighBob is a modern HRIS designed to support dynamic companies. It offers tools for performance management, employee engagement, and analytics, all in an easy-to-use interface.

19. Trello

Trello is a versatile project management tool that HR teams can use for onboarding workflows, task management, and event planning. Its visual boards and collaborative features make team coordination simple.

20. Slack

Slack is a communication platform that keeps HR teams connected. With its integration capabilities and real-time messaging, Slack streamlines communication across departments, improving overall productivity. Slack can also be integrated with Kudoboard to ensure shout outs and employee recognition is top of mind.

Why These Tools Matter

The tools listed above cover a broad range of HR needs, including employee engagement, recruitment, performance management, and payroll. By integrating these solutions, HR professionals can create a seamless experience for their teams while saving time and reducing administrative headaches.

Choosing the Right Tool

When selecting an HR tool, consider the unique needs of your organization, such as the size of your team, budget, and specific goals. Most of these platforms offer free trials or demos, so take advantage of these options to find the perfect fit.

By leveraging these top 20 HR tools in 2025, you can enhance productivity, foster a positive workplace culture, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of human resources.

Peer recognition is an essential part of modern workplace culture. In environments where collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect are valued, recognizing and celebrating colleagues’ achievements is a powerful tool. It allows employees to celebrate one another’s efforts in real time, often with greater meaning and impact.

The challenge is implementing employee recognition effectively. Luckily, there are many fun, creative, and easy ways to foster a culture of appreciation among employees. In this article, we’ll explore 40 peer recognition examples of both what to do and what to say. Whether you’re in a small team or a large corporation, these examples can help ensure that no good deed goes unnoticed. 

Let’s get started.

10 Peer Recognition Examples to Use In Your Company

Simply requesting your team members to praise each other more will lead to little success. Instead, implementing specific programs provides the opportunity and guidelines for recognition. This will lead to greater engagement in and impact of the recognition. Below are some recognition ideas your company can use in its peer recognition program.

Peer-to-Peer Shoutouts

Create a designated space (either physically in the office or digitally) where employees can publicly acknowledge one another for good work or acts of kindness. This could be a bulletin board, Slack channel, or even a weekly email roundup.

Recognition Cards

Provide employees with printed or digital peer recognition cards to give to colleagues to say “thank you” or recognize specific achievements. These could be custom-designed for the company and include space for personal messages.

Employee of the Week (Nominated by Peers)

Create an “Employee of the Week” program where employees nominate their peers. Have a rotating trophy or symbolic item the winner holds onto for the week.

Monthly Peer Awards

Create a structured monthly award program where employees can submit nominations for their peers. These awards can be based on specific categories like “Most Helpful” or “Best Team Player.”

Digital Peer Badges

Incorporate a peer recognition badge system into your internal communication platforms. Employees can award each other digital badges for skills, collaboration, or other achievements.

Surprise Recognition Videos

Have employees create short video messages recognizing a peer’s efforts or achievements. Compile the clips into a surprise video and share it during a team meeting or on a shared platform.

Peer Recognition Raffle

Set up a peer recognition raffle system where every time an employee recognizes a peer, they both get a raffle ticket. At the end of the month, hold a drawing for a fun prize.

Customized Peer Awards

Create fun, personalized awards that peers can give to each other. These can be quirky or serious, such as “Best Brainstormer” or “Master Multitasker.”

Read More: “30 Catchy Creative Names for Employee Recognition Awards”

“Pay It Forward” Recognition Chain

Start a “Pay It Forward” recognition chain, where an employee who receives recognition passes it on by recognizing someone else the next day.

Peer Recognition Gift Exchange

Organize a peer-to-peer gift exchange where employees give a small token of appreciation to a colleague who helped them during a particular project or task.

70 Peer Recognition Message Examples

Creating the opportunity for recognition is only half the battle. The other half is knowing what to say. When recognizing a peer, it’s important to be specific and sincere. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, acknowledging a job well done, or simply appreciating someone’s support, the right words can make all the difference. 

Here are 70 peer recognition message examples to help inspire meaningful and thoughtful messages for your coworkers.

Peer Recognition Examples for Work Anniversaries

• “Congratulations on your [X] year work anniversary! Your dedication and hard work inspire us all. Here’s to many more years of success together!”
• “Happy work anniversary, [Name]! Your passion and energy make a huge impact every day. Thank you for everything you do!”
• “Wow, [X] years at the company! Your expertise and commitment have been invaluable, and we’re lucky to have you on the team.”
• “Congrats on your work anniversary! Your contributions over the years have truly shaped our team’s success. We appreciate you!”
• “Happy [X] years with us! You’re a key part of this team, and we’re so grateful for your continued dedication.”

Peer Recognition Examples for Going Above and Beyond

• “I just wanted to thank you for going the extra mile on [project/task]. Your hard work did not go unnoticed!”
• “Your efforts in making the [event/project] a success were amazing. You truly went above and beyond, and we couldn’t have done it without you!”
• “You consistently exceed expectations, [Name]. Your work on [specific task] was extraordinary, and it made a huge difference!”
• “Thank you for staying late and ensuring everything was done perfectly. Your commitment is inspiring!”
• “You always go above and beyond in everything you do. Thank you for putting in the extra effort—it makes all the difference.”

Peer Recognition Examples for Teamwork and Collaboration

• “[Employee name] I couldn’t have completed this project without your teamwork and collaboration. Thank you for always being willing to lend a helping hand!”
• “You’re such a great team player, [Name]. Your collaborative spirit and positive energy make working with you a pleasure!”
• “Thanks for jumping in and helping out the team. Your willingness to collaborate and share ideas really pushed us to success!”
• “Your ability to work so well with everyone is amazing. We couldn’t have achieved this without your strong sense of teamwork.”
• “Thanks for being an amazing teammate, [Name]. Your collaborative efforts helped us meet our goals, and I’m so grateful for your support.”

Peer Recognition Examples for Leadership and Mentorship

• “Thank you for being such a supportive mentor, [Name]. Your guidance has helped me grow in so many ways!”
• “You lead by example and inspire everyone around you. Thank you for always being there to offer advice and direction!”
• “Your leadership on the [project] was key to its success. I appreciate how you steered the team with such calm and confidence.”
• “Thank you for being a constant source of wisdom and encouragement. Your mentorship has made such a positive impact on my career.”
• “Your leadership has been a game changer for our team. Thank you for always stepping up and guiding us to success!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Problem-Solving

• “Thank you for finding such a creative solution to [specific problem]. Your problem-solving skills saved the day!”
• “You have an amazing ability to stay calm and find solutions in high-pressure situations. We’re lucky to have you on the team!”
• “Your out-of-the-box thinking helped solve a major issue we were facing. I really appreciate your innovation and problem-solving!”
• “Thanks for tackling that difficult problem head-on and coming up with a brilliant solution. You’re always thinking one step ahead!”
• “Your quick thinking and determination helped resolve a complex issue. You’re a true problem-solver, and we appreciate it.”

Peer Recognition Examples for Support and Encouragement

• “Thank you for always being so supportive and encouraging. You make the workplace a better place for all of us!”
• “You’re always willing to help, no matter how busy you are. Your kindness and generosity do not go unnoticed!”
• “Thanks for being such a positive presence and for always lifting people up when they need it. Your encouragement means a lot!”
• “Your constant support has made such a difference in my work. I appreciate everything you do, both big and small!”
• “Thank you for being my go-to person for advice and support. Your encouragement keeps me motivated and focused!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Innovation and Creativity

• “Your creativity in handling [specific project/task] was truly impressive. Thank you for bringing fresh concepts to the table!”
• “You always manage to come up with innovative solutions that take our work to the next level. Your creativity is inspiring!”
• “Thanks for thinking outside the box on [task/project]. Your unique perspective really made a difference!”
• “You have an incredible ability to turn new ideas into reality. Thanks for always pushing us to be innovative!”
• “Your creative approach to problem-solving is unmatched. Thank you for always bringing new and exciting projects to the team!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Meeting Deadlines

• “You consistently meet every deadline with such efficiency and accuracy. Thanks for keeping us on track!”
• “Thanks for making sure everything was completed ahead of schedule! Your time management skills are exceptional.”
• “You always deliver, no matter how tight the deadline is. Your ability to stay on top of things is impressive!”
• “I’m so impressed by how you managed to complete [project/task] on time despite the challenges. You’re amazing!”
• “Thank you for your focus and determination in meeting our deadline. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Positivity and Attitude

• “Your positivity is contagious, and it really makes a difference in the team’s morale. Thank you for always bringing good energy!”
• “You always manage to keep a smile on your face and lift the team’s spirits, no matter the situation. Your attitude is so appreciated!”
• “Your optimism and can-do attitude are truly motivating. Thank you for always keeping things light and fun!”
• “You have a special way of making everyone feel good, even on tough days. Thanks for being such a positive influence!”
• “Your upbeat attitude brightens everyone’s day. Thank you for making the workplace a more enjoyable space!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Reliability and Dependability

• “You’re always someone I can count on. Thank you for being so dependable and consistent in everything you do!”
• “I can always rely on you to follow through, no matter the task. Your dependability is something we all appreciate!”
• “Thanks for always delivering quality work on time. Your reliability helps the whole team run smoothly.”
• “You’re a rock for this team, and I know I can always trust you to get the job done right. Thank you!”
• “I appreciate how dependable you are. You consistently come through when it matters most!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Adaptability and Flexibility

• “Your ability to adapt to last-minute changes is remarkable. Thank you for your flexibility and positive attitude!”
• “You handled the changes to [project/task] with such grace and professionalism. Thanks for being so adaptable!”
• “I’m amazed by how easily you pivoted when things didn’t go as planned. Your adaptability is truly appreciated!”
• “Thank you for adjusting to the new direction so quickly and effectively. Your flexibility made all the difference!”
• “Your adaptability in the face of uncertainty is a huge asset to the team. Thank you for staying calm and flexible!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Learning and Growth

• “I’ve noticed how much effort you’ve put into learning and improving, and it’s inspiring to see your growth!”
• “Your commitment to self-improvement and continuous learning is so admirable. Keep up the great work!”
• “Thank you for always being open to feedback and actively working to grow. Your progress has been incredible!”
• “You’ve grown so much in your role, and I’m so proud of all your hard work and dedication!”
• “Watching you develop new skills and tackle challenges has been a pleasure. Keep pushing yourself—you’re doing great!”

Peer Recognition Examples for Project Success

• “Your leadership on the [project] was critical to its success. Thank you for driving us forward!”
• “You played such a key role in the success of [project]. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!”
• “The project wouldn’t have been the same without your valuable contributions. Thanks for making it a success!”
• “You did an amazing job managing the [project/task]. Your attention to detail and hard work paid off!”
• “Thanks for going above and beyond on [project/task]. Your contribution was essential to our success!”

Read More: “How to Write a Peer Recognition Message”

Tips for Making Peer Recognition Work

While peer recognition can positively impact workplace culture, implementing it effectively and getting employees to participate requires thoughtful planning. Here are some key tips to ensure that your peer recognition efforts truly resonate and foster a culture of appreciation:

• Make It Consistent: Recognition shouldn’t be a one-time event or reserved for special occasions. To truly build a culture of appreciation, peer recognition should happen regularly. Remind employees to look for everyday moments where they can uplift and acknowledge their peers’ efforts and share those thoughts.

• Keep It Genuine: Recognition is most impactful when it feels authentic. Encourage employees to be specific in their praise, highlighting particular actions or contributions that made a difference. Instead of vague compliments like “You’re great to work with,” focus on real examples, such as “I appreciated how you helped me troubleshoot that issue yesterday.”

• Be Inclusive: Peer recognition should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their role, department, or location. Make sure the recognition system you put in place allows for participation from all employees, including remote workers, part-time staff, and people from different teams. Peer recognition should cross boundaries and involve everyone.

• Make It Fun: Inject some creativity and fun into your peer recognition efforts! Whether it’s through playful awards like “Most Likely to Save the Day” or lighthearted tokens of appreciation, keeping peer recognition enjoyable helps create a positive environment where people feel excited to recognize one another.

• Recognize Small and Big Wins Alike: Don’t just wait for major milestones to give recognition. Encourage employees to celebrate both the small wins (like completing a task early or offering a helping hand) and the big achievements (like leading a successful project). Recognizing day-to-day contributions fosters a culture of continuous appreciation.

• Lead by Example: While peer recognition is employee-driven, management and leadership should still model the behavior. When leaders actively participate in peer recognition programs or casually praise team members, it signals to everyone that recognition is valued at all levels of the organization.

• Ensure Transparency: Make sure everyone understands how the peer recognition process works. Whether it’s nominating someone for a peer recognition award or writing a note of thanks, clarity is important. Clear guidelines help ensure recognition is fair and equitable across the team.

• Tie It to Core Values: Align peer recognition with your company’s core values or goals. When employees recognize each other for behaviors that reflect organizational values (such as collaboration, innovation, or customer focus), it helps reinforce those values and makes recognition more meaningful.

• Incorporate Feedback and Improvement: Periodically review your peer recognition system to make sure it’s working for your employees. Send out surveys or solicit feedback from staff about what they like or would improve. Adjusting the program based on employee input ensures it remains effective and well-received.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your peer recognition system strengthens relationships and employee morale while also benefiting the organization’s overall success.

Why is Peer Recognition Important?

Peer recognition is a vital element in creating a positive and thriving workplace environment. Unlike top-down employee recognition from managers or leadership, peer recognition occurs horizontally within teams, where colleagues acknowledge and celebrate each other’s contributions. This type of recognition can have a profound impact on morale, productivity, and employee retention. Here are several reasons why adding peer recognition into an employee recognition program is so important:

• Fosters a Collaborative Culture: Peer recognition encourages a culture of teamwork and collaboration. When employees feel appreciated by a team member, they are more likely to continue supporting each other and working towards shared goals. 

• Builds Trust and Strengthens Relationships: When colleagues recognize each other’s contributions, it builds trust and respect within the team. Employees who feel that their efforts are valued by their peers are more likely to form strong working relationships. These relationships are essential for fostering open communication, solving problems more effectively, and increasing overall job satisfaction.

• Increases Motivation and Engagement: Receiving recognition from peers can be highly motivating. Knowing that your hard work is seen and appreciated by those working alongside you encourages you to stay engaged and continue putting in effort. This leads to higher levels of employee motivation, which in turn increases productivity and overall job satisfaction. 

• Boosts Employee Retention: A workplace that promotes peer recognition can significantly improve employee retention. Peer recognition creates a sense of belonging, which is critical for retaining top talent. Employees who feel connected to their peers are more invested in the success of the team and the company.

• Enhances Employee Experience: Being recognized by peers for a job well done can improve emotional well-being. It can provide validation, reduce feelings of isolation, and build confidence in one’s abilities. A culture of recognition is linked to lower stress levels, improved morale, and greater happiness at work.

• Encourages Continuous Improvement: Peer recognition not only celebrates current successes but also inspires continuous improvement. Employees who see their peers being recognized for outstanding contributions are more likely to strive for excellence.

• Reduces Managerial Burden: Peer recognition allows employees to take part in acknowledging and celebrating each other, which reduces the burden on managers to provide constant feedback and recognition. This doesn’t mean leadership recognition should be eliminated, but peer recognition supplements it by ensuring that employee appreciation happens more frequently and organically. 

• Promotes Inclusivity and Diversity: Peer recognition programs promote inclusivity by giving everyone in the organization an opportunity to recognize and be recognized. It creates a level playing field where contributions, regardless of hierarchy or department, are celebrated. This type of recognition encourages diverse perspectives and voices to be acknowledged and appreciated, fostering a positive work environment that values the unique strengths of every individual.

Conclusion

Peer recognition is an invaluable way to strengthen relationships, boost employee satisfaction, and improve employee engagement across the board. Whether it’s a simple shoutout or a creative recognition program, giving employees the chance to recognize each other will foster a more connected and motivated team.

The holiday season offers companies a unique opportunity to encourage collaboration, engagement, and fun through team-building activities. These activities not only break up the routine but also bring employees closer together during a festive time of year.

If you’re searching for creative holiday team building ideas for your team, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll explore five of the best holiday team building activities that can ignite team spirit while providing opportunities for engagement, laughter, and connection.

1. Holiday Recipe Sharing

One of the most universal traditions during the holidays is sharing delicious food. Tapping into everyone’s love of food can be fun and meaningful way to bring festive cheer to the office.  There are two ways you can approach this:

Option 1: Virtual Recipe Sharing

If your team is hybrid, distributed, or remote, you can use Kudoboard to create a digital space for employees to share their favorite holiday recipes. Kudoboard allows team members to post their favorite dishes, photos, personal stories, and tips on a holiday recipe board. It’s a great way to learn more about your colleagues’ cultures, traditions, and cooking skills. Plus, it sparks team engagement and conversation, encouraging employees to try new recipes at home.

All it takes to set up is to create a dedicated Kudoboard and invite employees to share their recipes, photos of the food, or even videos of them making the dish. For a fun added twist, have employees vote for the most creative or appetizing recipe and award the winner a small prize. Or print the board as a company cookbook to share with all employees as a holiday gift.

Option 2: In-Office Potluck

A holiday potluck is a classic way for in-office teams to get everyone involved. Each team member can bring a dish representing their holiday tradition, whether a main course, dessert, or even a signature holiday drink (non-alcoholic if needed). To enhance the team-building element, you can pair people up and have them share their story behind the dish, then rotate.

Why It Works:

Food has a natural way of bringing people together. As your teams share the stories behind their favorite dishes, you are encouraging personal connection and cultural appreciation. It’s a way to bond over a universal love of food while celebrating your employees’ diverse experiences. Recipe-sharing or potluck setups also create moments for collaboration and fun outside the regular workday.

2. Holiday-themed Office Costume Party

A holiday-themed office costume party is a playful and interactive way to celebrate the season. Whether it’s dressing up as reindeer, snowmen, or even holiday movie characters, this fun activity encourages employees to get creative while adding a festive touch to the office or virtual meetings.

How to Set It Up:

• Choose a holiday theme for the costumes, such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Classic Holiday Movies,” or “Ugly Sweater Extravaganza,” and encourage employees to dress up accordingly.

• If you’re hosting the holiday party in the office, you can decorate the space to match the theme, offering a backdrop for photos and a runway for costume parades.

• For remote or hybrid teams, invite employees to dress up during a virtual meeting and participate in a costume contest online.

• Use Kudoboard to create a space where employees can post photos of their costumes, vote for their favorites, and leave fun comments.

Why It Works:

Dressing up in costumes allows employees to express their creativity and sense of humor. It brings fun and competition to the workplace, creating shared experiences and inside jokes for the new year.

Whether in person or online, the costume party will lighten the mood, reduce stress, and create lasting memories, enhancing overall employee engagement during holidays.

3. Gratitude Board

The holiday season is an ideal time to reflect on what we are thankful for, and creating a team-wide gratitude board is an effective way to foster positivity and team bonding. This activity encourages employees to acknowledge each other’s contributions, celebrate wins, and highlight things they appreciate about their colleagues.

How to Set It Up:

• For in-office teams, dedicate wall space where employees can write down what they are grateful for on the provided paper and post it on the wall.
• For remote or hybrid teams, create a dedicated Gratitude Kudoboard and invite your team to post messages of gratitude.
• Encourage employees to express their appreciation for anything they appreciate, whether it’s a peer who helped with a project or the company culture as a whole.
• At the end of the season, you can compile the posts into a printed keepsake or a digital summary to share with the entire team.

Why It Works:

Acts of gratitude lead to higher morale and a stronger sense of belonging. Creating a gratitude wall strengthens interpersonal relationships and the company’s overall culture. Gratitude-focused activities help employees remember the good around them, which reduces stress, increases happiness and creates a more cohesive team environment.

4. Holiday Office Decoration Contest

A holiday office decoration contest is a simple but effective workplace holiday activity that encourages creativity, teamwork, and a healthy dose of competition. Whether your office is fully decorated in holiday lights or just a few desks are spruced up with seasonal flair, this activity brings a festive atmosphere to the workplace.

You can extend this to a remote team by encouraging employees to decorate their home office spaces and share pictures on a digital platform (such as Kudoboard) or during a virtual meeting.

How to Set It Up:

• Choose a theme (e.g., winter wonderland, gingerbread house, classic holiday movies) and let teams get creative.
• Divide employees into small groups to decorate their office spaces or desks. 
• Assign judges or allow employees to vote for their favorite designs at the office holiday party, or collect votes virtually.

Why It Works:

Decorating spaces allows employees to collaborate on a lighthearted project while expressing their holiday cheer. Creative activities like decorating contests brighten and bring energy to the workplace, enhancing the holiday mood while boosting morale. It also fosters friendly competition, leading to fun banter and lots of laughs.

5. New Year’s Resolution Sharing 

As the holidays wrap up, thoughts often turn to the new year and the goals we want to achieve. Whether displayed on a bulletin board or a virtual app, sharing new year’s resolutions is a great way to bond with your coworkers and motivate each other as you enter the new year. 

A simple way to share new year’s resolutions is by creating a virtual resolution board on Kudoboard. Team members can post their goals for the upcoming year and find accountability buddies. Whether personal or professional, sharing resolutions helps create accountability and allows team members to support each other in their goals.

How to Set It Up:

• Set up a Kudoboard or Slack channel dedicated to new year’s resolutions.
• Ask team members to post their goals or something they want to accomplish in the coming year.
• Use comments for employees to offer words of encouragement or suggestions on how to help each other reach their goals.

Why It Works:

Sharing resolutions builds a sense of community and accountability within the team.

It opens the door for colleagues to support each other, whether offering advice or simply cheering each other on throughout the year. Additionally, this holiday team building activity fosters a future-oriented mindset, encouraging growth and collaboration. It also strengthens bonds as employees become more invested in each other’s success.

Bonus: 5 More Workplace Holiday Activities Ideas

Okay, you know that there aren’t just five top holiday activities for the workplace—there are many. An activity makes it to the top because it works for your organization. So, if the above list didn’t inspire you, here are five more holiday team building ideas to consider.

Holiday Talent Show

A holiday talent show is a fun and engaging way to celebrate the holiday season while showcasing your team’s unique talents. Whether your employees sing, play an instrument, perform comedy, or have other hidden talents, this activity allows them to step into the spotlight in a lighthearted, non-work-related way.

How to Set It Up:

• Invite employees to sign up for the talent show and encourage creativity. They can perform holiday songs or showcase a hobby. Or host a “minor talent show” and encourage everyone to come with something small but impressive, like whistling or juggling.
• If your team is remote, host the event using a virtual platform like Zoom or Teams, or have an in-person event if your office setup allows it.
• Incorporate a panel of judges (or let the entire team vote) to award fun categories such as “Best Holiday Spirit,” “Most Creative,” or “Most Entertaining.”
• Optionally, create a Kudoboard to collect videos or pictures of each performance so employees who couldn’t attend live can still enjoy the talent show afterward.

Holiday Charity Challenge

The holiday season is a time of giving, making a charity challenge an excellent way to boost team spirit while contributing to a good cause. This activity combines friendly competition with social responsibility, as teams compete to gather donations, volunteer time, or collect items for a charity of their choice.

How to Set It Up:

• Divide employees into teams and assign each team a charity or cause they want to support. The charity could be a local food bank, toy drive, animal shelter, or other charitable organization.
• Set a timeframe for the challenge and encourage teams to raise funds, donate goods, or volunteer for their chosen cause.
• Track the team’s progress in a central location, where each team can post updates, photos of their contributions, and motivational messages.
• At the end of the challenge, celebrate the team that made the most impact by making an additional company donation in their name.

Holiday Trivia Game

A holiday trivia game is an exciting and interactive way to engage employees in friendly competition while testing their knowledge of all things related to the festive season. Questions can include holiday traditions, movies, songs, and global celebrations, making it a perfect activity to add to a virtual holiday party for a diverse workplace.

How to Set It Up:

• Create a trivia game with questions on various holiday topics, such as holiday history, famous festive movies, holiday music, and traditions worldwide.
• Use platforms like Kahoot, Zoom polls, or a simple slideshow for in-office settings.
• Organize employees into teams to promote collaboration or let individuals compete for prizes.
• Include a mix of easy and challenging questions to keep it fun and engaging for everyone. Keep it inclusive by ensuring not all questions are about one holiday.

Holiday-themed Virtual Escape Room

A holiday-themed virtual escape room is an exciting way to engage your employees in a problem-solving activity with a festive twist. With many employees working remotely or in hybrid teams, a virtual escape room offers a fun, inclusive option for everyone to participate.

How to Set It Up:

• Several online platforms offer customizable holiday themes, such as solving puzzles in Santa’s workshop or escaping from a winter wonderland.
• Participants can work in small groups to tackle various challenges, unlocking clues as they work together to solve the final puzzle.

Holiday Crafting Workshop

A holiday crafting workshop is a hands-on, creative, team-building activity that lets employees tap into their artistic side while making festive decorations or holiday gifts. With a bit of planning, this activity works well for both in-office and remote teams.

How to Set It Up:

• Organize a crafting session where employees can make holiday-themed items, such as ornaments, wreaths, holiday cards, or even DIY gift wrap. Provide various materials or give participants a list of easy-to-find supplies.
• For remote teams, send crafting kits to employees beforehand or create a list of simple items they can gather from home. Host a virtual crafting session where everyone creates holiday crafts together via video chat.
• Use Kudoboard to display photos of everyone’s finished crafts and let employees share their creative processes or the meaning behind their creations.

Why Incorporate Holiday Team Building Activities?

Holiday team-building activities are essential for maintaining and boosting employee engagement during holidays. During the holiday season, workloads can fluctuate, stress levels can increase, and some employees may feel disconnected due to time off or remote work arrangements. Implementing fun and festive holiday team-building ideas helps counter these challenges by:

• Creating a sense of unity and belonging among employees.
• Offering stress relief through engaging, low-pressure activities.
• Promoting creativity and collaboration in an enjoyable setting.
• Celebrating diversity through the sharing of different traditions and customs.

Final Thoughts

When done right, workplace holiday activities can offer much more than a fun break from the usual work routine. They create lasting connections between employees, enhance communication, and improve team morale while fostering a sense of holiday spirit making them perfect for in-office or virtual team building.

Whether you’re sharing favorite recipes, competing in an escape room, posting on a gratitude board, or sending out a holiday card, these activities will bring your team closer together this holiday season.

Celebrate the holidays with Kudoboard

Increase engagement and connection this holiday season with Kudoboard

Create a Kudoboard

Let’s be honest, the holidays can be a difficult time for HR managers.

Work-related projects often run full steam at the end of the year, which increases burnout. At the same time, most people’s personal lives heat up as they focus on their family members, gift giving, and everything else that comes with the holiday season. These things make the end of the year a whirlwind of stress. If you’re not careful, that stress can have a seriously negative impact.

Fear not! Our 2024 HR Holiday Survival Guide is here to help you manage all of those anxieties with dignity and grace. Keep reading to learn where holiday stress comes from and its consequences. Then discover 10 proven strategies you can use to manage your stress in an effective way, while teaching your employees to do the same. Let’s get started!

What is Holiday Stress?

Understanding holiday stress is crucial to maintaining a productive and healthy workplace. First, let’s define what holiday stress really is.

Holiday stress refers to the anxiety and pressure many people feel as the year draws to a close. In an HR environment, this stress takes on unique importance due to the effects on you AND the people around you.

During the holidays, the combination of heightened expectations, financial pressures, and personal obligations can create a challenging atmosphere. HR managers need to be aware of these stressors to help foster a supportive environment for all employees.

Where Does Holiday Stress Come From?

Holiday stress can come from a variety of sources. Once you understand where stress comes from for your specific team, you can take steps to address it. Let’s look at common causes:

• Social Obligations: From office parties to family gatherings, you and your coworkers suddenly spend a lot of time outside of your normal routines. The time spent managing these commitments, in addition to work responsibilities, can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
• Holiday Traditions: People make a point to visit their parents, siblings, and other family members during the holiday season. But long car rides, days spent at the airport, and the other logistics of travel can increase stress levels by an order of magnitude.
• Financial Burdens: The holidays are expensive. You and your employees might have to buy winter clothes for your kids, or holiday decorations for the house, or plane tickets to see Grandma. And we haven’t even talked about buying gifts yet. These financial requirements often become burdensome, which can definitely cause anxiety.
• Health Concerns: Finally, your colleagues might worry about their health during the winter months. As people start spending time indoors, colds and the flu become more prevalent. The last thing anybody wants is to get sick before their big holiday celebration. 

What Are the Consequences of Holiday Stress?

Holiday stress can have serious consequences—for both employees and the workplace.

For example, stress can lead to health issues that affect an employee’s availability. If your company’s absenteeism rate goes up, its productivity levels will naturally go down. Team dynamics will also suffer, as colleagues won’t have time to grow together as a unit.

Speaking of productivity, stress can make it difficult for employees to concentrate, which will lead to unforced errors, project delays, and a general inability to reach peak performance.

Last but not least, stress can lower job satisfaction. Put yourself in your employees’ shoes: would you enjoy coming to work when your mind is riddled with worry? Of course not. Prolonged stress could lead to a higher turnover rate, which will make your company less profitable. After all, studies show that it can cost up to 213% of a departing employee’s salary to replace them.

10 Ways to Minimize Stress This Holiday Season

To manage holiday stress effectively you need a plan. Here are 10 practical ways you can minimize work-related stress this holiday season—for yourself and your team.

1. Do Your Best to Plan Ahead

The last thing you want to experience during the holidays is more stress. Unfortunately, the time of year often pushes us to the breaking point, as we’ve already discussed.

Here’s the good news: you can avoid much of that stress if you plan ahead.

By creating a detailed to-do list, you can prioritize tasks and allocate your time more effectively. Doing so will reduce the kind of last-minute scrambles that cause anxiety in your life.

Technology can assist with this. For example, a calendar will help you organize personal and professional tasks and ensure you don’t overbook yourself. A project management app can help you communicate with team members and visualize deadlines. These features will keep your team on track towards end-of-year goals.

We suggest that you (and your team members!) make your holiday plans as soon as possible. When you know what your work and social schedules will look like in advance, you can pursue each project or engagement with calm and confidence. Don’t give in to the chaos!

2. Practice Mindfulness Everyday

Mindfulness will help you keep stress at bay as well.

According to the Mayo Clinic, mindfulness is, “A type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment.”

You and your coworkers can practice mindfulness via specific breathing and guided imagery exercises, which relax the mind and body and reduce stress levels. And you can do them in short spurts, like during your lunch break or when you have 10 minutes before the next meeting. The key is to not judge yourself in these times.

While all of this may sound a bit “woo woo” to you, mindfulness is a reliable way to keep yourself in the present moment, improve your mental health, and gain a fresh perspective on challenging problems. These things can elevate team performance. Encourage mindfulness in the workplace and see what happens. You might be surprised by the results!

3. Maintain Healthy Habits

The holidays can wreak havoc on one’s physical and mental well-being. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize your and your employees’ health at the end of the year.

Encourage team members to maintain a regular exercise routine. You can do this by organizing group walks during your lunch break, by purchasing gym memberships, or by providing free resources that underscore the benefits of daily movement.

Purchase healthy snacks for the break room, and making sure each employee has an adequate workload. You don’t want them burning out to get all of their work done.

Lastly, focus on mental health too. Practicing mindfulness will help, as previously suggested. But we also suggest keeping a gratitude journal, which will help you focus on the positive aspects of life. Even when the craziness of the holiday season threatens your calm.

4. Address Financial Concerns and Provide Resources

Financial stress peaks during the holidays.

While most people want to see their friends and family at this time of year, and buy them gifts they’ll truly enjoy, these activities often create a significant financial burden.

How can you help your colleagues overcome this stressor? You can provide them with financial counseling resources. Workshops on budgeting, for example, can teach attendees how to spend their money more wisely. They may feel less anxiety when they have a plan for their money.

If your company has the funds, consider giving your employees an end-of-year bonus at the beginning of the holiday season, instead of at the end of the year. Nothing counteracts financial stress like more money in the bank account. Plus, bonuses make employees feel valued, which will engage them in their work heading into the new year.

5. Grant Your Workers’ Paid Time Off Requests

Your employees will ask for PTO this holiday season. Do your best to accommodate these requests. Why? Because failing to do so will lead to more stress in the workplace.

Think about it. Your colleagues probably feel obligated to visit their parents, or go on an annual ski trip with their siblings, or attend specific holiday-themed events with their kids. These things are difficult to do when they’re chained to their desks. (And they’ll be mad at you for holding them back.)

Allowing your employees to spend more time with family members—and/or participate in the festive activities that are important to them—will help you demonstrate your company’s commitment to work-life balance. When staffers realize their employer wants them to have fulfilling personal lives, they’ll become more engaged at work and produce better results.

Now, we realize that you might not have the power to grant all PTO requests. Instead, talk to department leaders and encourage them to give time off whenever possible. 

6. Stay in Constant Communication With Your Coworkers

Open communication is key to navigating holiday stress.

Regular check-in emails, how-are you-doing calls, and team-wide meetings keep everyone informed, while fostering transparency and collaboration. (All of which you need to succeed.)

Encourage employees to ask for help when they need it, or to voice their concerns when something doesn’t sit right with them. And don’t forget to simply express gratitude for everyone’s hard work. This dialogue keeps everyone on the same page and prevents stressful misunderstandings. It also makes the workplace more enjoyable, which is an important perk.

At the end of the day, a collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels heard and supported can significantly minimize anxiety—throughout the year and during the holiday season.

7. Organize Group Volunteer Activities for Employees

It’s easy to stress out when you only think about yourself*.

Volunteering within your community offers a dual benefit: it focuses your attention on the greater good and makes the world a better place. If you volunteer with coworkers you’ll enhance team cohesion too.

Honestly, there are no downsides to volunteering—and plenty of ways to do it. Serve food at a local soup kitchen. Help organize a charity run or walk. Sing carols at the retirement community down the street. These experiences provide a sense of purpose and lift spirits, while reducing stress.

*We’re not suggesting you never think about your problems and needs. But directing your focus to other people can help realign priorities and alleviate anxiety. Give it a try!

8. Host Holiday Parties for Your Team Members

A stellar holiday party will help your team relax and celebrate wins throughout the past year. So, hosting one (or two or three!) is a great way to reduce stress in the workplace.

These kinds of parties also generate holiday spirit, which makes employees feel good. The better they feel, the more productive they’ll be. The more productive they are, the better results they’ll achieve. In other words, holiday parties can have a major impact on company success.

The question is, how do you host a holiday party people want to attend? Follow these tips:

• Choose a Theme: How does your team want to celebrate the holidays at work? You might go for a throwback 80s theme. Or a winter wonderland theme. It’s up to you. 
• Serve Delicious Food: Good food makes everything better. Hire a respected catering company or local restaurant to cook a memorable meal. Or take the potluck route and have your employees bring their favorite Christmas dishes to share. This will not only be fun, but build bonds between coworkers as they try each other’s top dishes.
• Host a Few Fun Activities: Finally, select activities to entertain your attendees. For example, you could host a secret Santa gift exchange, create a holiday craft table, or play board games. Consider your coworkers’ unique personalities. T​​hen choose party activities that align with their interests.

9. Focus on Employee Appreciation

Recognizing employees’ efforts during the holidays is more important than ever.

Simple gestures of appreciation, like personalized notes or small gifts, can have a dramatic effect on overall team morale, employee engagement levels, and retention metrics.

Embrace the holiday spirit and show your team some love. Then encourage your colleagues to do the same, as peer-to-peer recognition can improve company culture by 250%.

If you really want to excel at employee appreciation, use Kudoboard. Our platform was specifically designed to help companies recognize and celebrate each other. Create a gratitude board and encourage the team to share messages of appreciation for each other.

10. Commit to Managing Holiday Stress at Work

Finally, make a commitment to stress management this holiday season.

The tips above will help you and your employees manage anxiety throughout the holiday season. But only if you commit to implementing them on a daily basis.

Decide, right here and now, if you’re going to take stress seriously or not. Then act accordingly. While it will take work to plan ahead, provide financial resources to your team, host a holiday party, and do the other things we recommend, each will prove their value many times over.

As previously mentioned, by creating a calm, refreshing, and enjoyable work environment for your company, you’ll increase employee engagement, performance, and retention. Since these things are the pillars of business success, they’re definitely worth chasing.

Level Up the Holidays With Kudoboard

If you’re in HR, the holidays might feel like the Hunger Games. You’re just trying to survive until the holiday break. Then you’ll be able to finally enjoy some downtime with loved ones.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be this way. The HR tips for the holiday season that we outlined above will help you and staff manage stress effectively at the end of the year. 

So, do your best to plan ahead, encourage mindfulness, and foster open communication between team members. Then take time to appreciate your employees, provide resources for financial planning, and honor time-off requests to keep morale high.

Tools like Kudoboard make it easy to spread appreciation and holiday joy this season. Our platform was explicitly created to help you recognize your team for their hard work, increase connection between staff members, and have fun. It’s also easy to use, which means you won’t have the stress of a new platform on your plate this time of year. (Save that space for more pie.)

Forget about stress this holiday season

Use Kudoboard to recognize employees, deepen relationships, and make the holidays more enjoyable

Get a demo

Remote and distributed work is incredibly common these days. Even if you work in an office, there’s a good chance that you either work for or manage a distributed team. If that’s the case, a virtual holiday party is a must.

Virtual holiday celebrations aren’t just about having fun—though, that’s an important part too! They’re also about boosting workplace culture and connecting teammates who might not have much interaction with each other. In this sense, a virtual holiday party is essential to team success.

The question is, how do you host the best virtual holiday party for your staff?

This post is here to help! Keep reading for 15 virtual holiday party ideas you can use to bring remote employees together, level up morale, and ultimately, improve work performance. From creative games to thoughtful team building activities, we’ve compiled a wealth of strategies for you to consider this holiday season.

15 Virtual Holiday Party Ideas to Try

These remote holiday party ideas are sure to bring joy and connection to your team.

To help you get the most out of this article, we’ve separated our remote holiday ideas into four categories: games, food-related activities, team-building exercises, and themed digital boards.

Play Virtual Holiday Party Games

Spice up your virtual holiday parties with an interactive game or two. These activities will help remote team members bond, while creating memories that last the whole year through. Here are some ideas:

1. Virtual Secret Santa

A Secret Santa gift exchange is a welcome addition to any holiday party. Good news—you can play a virtual version with your remote team. You just need to make a few adjustments.

Here’s how to make it work: set a budget for gifts. Then use an online platform like Elfster to create wish lists and draw names. That way every employee knows who to buy a gift for and what to buy them. Said employees then purchase and send gifts directly to each other’s homes. When your virtual holiday party rolls around, the gifts are finally opened and enjoyed.

This activity not only spreads holiday cheer but also fosters a sense of closeness as staffers exchange thoughtful presents and messages. It’s a great way to strengthen team bonds.

2. Virtual Escape Room

Bring the thrill of adventure to your remote holiday party with a virtual escape room.

These online experiences offer a perfect blend of teamwork and excitement as participants solve puzzles to escape a specific scenario. If you choose a holiday-themed escape room, the activity will also promote holiday spirit, which will make your entire event feel more festive.

At the end of the day, escape room activities teach teammates to collaborate and sharpen their problem-solving skills, while having loads of fun. As such, they make for excellent team-building exercises in addition to being a fun holiday game. (More on team building later.)

3. Digital Holiday Trivia Match

Holiday trivia is a fantastic way to engage your employees.

This is important because virtual parties are naturally less engaging than in-person ones. After all, attendees can easily text a friend, surf the internet, or watch Frasier reruns—and the other people at the party won’t even know. Because of this, you need to hold your team’s attention.

A fun trivia game will help. Brainstorm questions that center around holiday movies, winter activities, traditions around the world, etc. (Pro tip: AI platforms like ChatGPT will help you come up with dozens of questions in seconds, though you may want to fact check the results.) To make your party inclusive, make sure that the questions don’t rely exclusively on one holiday or tradition.

Once you have a list of questions, present them to your team and track who answers them correctly. If you want to take a more formal approach, consider using a platform like Sporcle or Kahoot! Both will help you host a better trivia game. Whatever you decide to do, know that trivia games spark friendly competition, allow participants to learn interesting facts, and are super fun.

4. Festive Decorations Competition

Encourage creativity with a holiday or New Years decorations competition.

Ask your remote employees to decorate their home office or desk, then share what they’ve come up with during the virtual event. You can create different categories such as “Most Festive” or “Best Use of Lights” to reward different decorating attempts and make the contest more fun.

Decoration competitions have a few benefits for distributed teams. First, they help teammates get to know each other, as they allow a glimpse into each other’s holiday traditions and styles. Two, they can be quite entertaining—both if the decorating attempts are amazing and if they’re less than stellar. And three, they spread holiday cheer!

Engage in a Virtual Holiday Food Event

Food brings people together—even if they’re thousands of miles apart. Use your virtual holiday party, or any of the other virtual events you host this holiday season, to capture the magic. Here are four culinary-related activities to consider for your team:

5. Virtual Happy Hour

Host a virtual happy hour to unwind and connect over your favorite holiday drinks.

Encourage your employees to purchase a festive beverage like eggnog, hot apple cider, or mulled wine. Then ask them to pour a glass and sip it throughout your team’s holiday get-together.

If your video-conferencing tool of choice allows it, consider using the breakout rooms feature to split your team up into smaller groups. This will enable more intimate conversations that foster deeper connections between coworkers.

Speaking of conversations, what should everyone talk about? Let your employees talk about whatever is on their mind. If the dialogue dries up, provide conversation starters or ice breakers. For example, encourage them to ask about their holiday plans or what they’re most excited about in the new year.

6. Digital Dinner Party

Here’s a wild idea: host a digital dinner (or lunch!) party for your team. You can do this by giving each of your employees money to order a favorite takeout meal. Then have them dig in after they join your event.

As the event progresses, ask each attendee what they chose to eat and why. This will give your team plenty to talk about and bond over. It will also help them learn about their colleagues. They’ll think, “Wow, I didn’t know Sheila liked tofu. We have more in common than I thought.”

One more thing: play holiday music in the background. This will help set a festive mood for your digital dinner party. There’s never a bad time to spread holiday spirit!

7. Online Wine Tasting Event

Want to provide your team with a truly unique experience? Host an online wine tasting event during your virtual holiday party. Doing so will add an air of sophistication to your holiday bash.

We know what you’re thinking, “That sounds great, but I don’t know anything about wine.” Not to worry. You can hire a wine expert to attend your event and guide the tasting. All you have to do is send the wine they suggest to each of your employees before the party starts.

If your team is more of a cocktail or mocktail crowd, you can send mixology kits to everyone to mix up the same drink. Invite an expert on the spirit used (bourbon, gin, etc.) to give an educational talk about it.

There’s a good chance your team has never attended a virtual wine tasting before. So, the activity will stick in their minds and give them something to talk about for months afterward.

8. Virtual Gingerbread House Contest

Channel your inner architect with a fun gingerbread house contest.

Provide teammates with kits or ask them to purchase their own supplies before your shindig starts. Then set a time limit and encourage everyone to craft their best gingerbread creations. As the clock ticks down, check in with each participant to see how they’re doing and to jumpstart conversation. You definitely don’t want to suffer through silence as your team works.

When the clock hits zero, ask participants to showcase their work. Each person can then vote for a winner in different categories like “Most Creative” or “Best Use of Candy.”

After the event, encourage everyone to share a photo of their final house.

Contests like this are entertaining, allow people to unleash their creative prowess, and stimulate friendly competition. In other words, they’re great holiday activities for remote employees.

Host Holiday Team Building Activities

Teams that work together succeed together. That’s why team building activities are so important—they teach employees how to interact in positive ways. Add a little team building magic to your next get-together with these fun virtual holiday party ideas:

9. Digital Christmas Movie Night

Watching holiday movies is a timeless tradition that can easily be adapted for virtual parties.

First, allow your team to vote on the movie they want to watch. You can include some shorter classic specials to be aware of time. Then use a platform like Teleparty to watch the chosen movie together. Finally, host a discussion afterwards. What did your employees like/dislike about the film? Who was their favorite character and why? If you were to cast your team to act in the movie, which role would each team member get?

This shared experience is a fantastic way to bond over the holidays. And it will give your staff a chance to reminisce about favorite scenes and quotes from classic movies, or ones new to them! 

10. Online Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Everyone loves a good scavenger hunt. But remote teams hardly ever get the chance to participate in this exercise. Change that with an online scavenger hunt this holiday season.

Create a list of holiday-related items for participants to find in their homes. Then set a time limit and award prizes to those who find the most items. Alternatively, have your team work together and offer escalating prizes for the number of items they find as a collective group. For example, they each get a $5 gift card if they find 10 items on the list, a $25 gift card if they find 30, etc. 

This activity is both fun and interactive. It also encourages team members to think on their feet and has the potential to produce a lot of laughs!

11. Matching Ugly Sweater Party Game

We all have heard of ugly sweater parties, but have you heard of ugly sweater team building? Build team camaraderie with a matching ugly sweater contest.

Here’s how it works: split employees into groups before the virtual party and challenge them to make or find the ugliest holiday sweaters they can. Every group wears their matching sweaters to the party. The results are then modeled and voted on. Winners get prizes (and year-long bragging rights).

This team-building activity is super fun, fosters creativity, and builds memories. So, if you’re looking for a way to strengthen team bonds, you can’t go wrong with ugly sweaters.

Create Holiday Themed Digital Boards

Digital boards are a great way to share favorite traditions, cherished memories, and more between employees. They’re an easy way to increase employee connection throughout the holiday season.

(Note: A digital board is an online platform that allows companies and/or employees to share messages, photos, and even videos. Tools like Kudoboard will help you display digital boards and cards at virtual events to increase attendee participation and build stronger bonds.)

12. Favorite Holiday Traditions Board

Invite team members to write about their favorite holiday traditions on your board. Or, if they don’t have much to say on the topic, share a picture or video to illustrate a beloved tradition.

Doing so will help coworkers get to know each other on a deeper level. It can also spark meaningful conversation between colleagues and foster mutual respect. All of these things make this digital board idea a wonderful addition to any virtual holiday party.

13. Delicious Recipes Board

Create a “Favorite Holiday Recipes” board so that your employees can post about the prime ribs, creamed spinach, and spiced punches they serve every holiday season.

Encourage contributors to explain why they love the recipe, too. Does it just taste good, or does it hold a special place in their heart because their grandma always made it when they were growing up? The stories behind the food will connect employees on a personal level.

This board gives team members something to talk about during your virtual holiday party and you a collection of recipes to experiment with. You can even print it as a company recipe book. Who knows, you might just find a new dish that your kids will look forward to eating every year!

14. New Year’s Resolutions Board

Ask team members to add their New Year’s resolutions to your board.

What do they want to achieve over the next 365 days? Maybe they want to run a marathon. Or finally go on that family vacation they’ve been dreaming about. Or learn to bake the best croissants.

After everyone posts about their goals, take time to talk through them. Why does each person want to achieve these specific things? Just make sure you create a judgment-free zone!
Revisit the board throughout the year to track progress and offer support. This is a great way to build a workplace culture of accountability and encouragement.

15. Rockstar Employee Board

Finally, dedicate a digital board to recognizing the contributions of your team. You can call it the “Rockstar Employee” board, or the “Team Love” board, or something that resonates with your company.

Start by writing a message for each person on your team. These messages should acknowledge your employees’ hard work and reinforce their value to your organization. Once done, ask your staff to contribute by writing their own kind words about three to five of their coworkers.

Employee recognition, both top-down recognition and peer-to-peer recognition, will help boost morale and engagement, leading to a better, more positive work environment.

Tips to Host a Company Holiday Party Online

A virtual holiday party will bring your team together—assuming you plan and host it correctly. Here are three practical tips to ensure your virtual party is a big success.

Set Your Budget

How much do you want to spend on your digital shindig?

A virtual holiday party will almost always be cheaper than an in-person one. But you’ll still need to pay for things like food, activities, and prizes depending on your event. You might have to spring for virtual conferencing software too, if your company doesn’t already have it.

A clear budget will help you plan an enjoyable virtual holiday celebration without breaking the budget. Who says you can’t be fun and financially responsible?

Pick a Date and Time

When will your virtual holiday event take place?

You need to choose the right date and time to maximize participation. Do your best to accommodate different time zones if your team is spread across multiple regions. Also, consider a mid-week event to break up normal routines without encroaching on personal weekend plans.

Before deciding on a specific date and time, however, talk to your employees to gauge their availability and preferences. This will make sure everyone feels included—and actually attends.

Choose Holiday Party Activities

What will you do at your virtual holiday party?

You need to plan fun activities to ensure your get-together is engaging. Fortunately, we’ve given you tons of great activities ideas in this article!

Tailor the activities to your team’s interests and culture. That way the event feels personalized and everyone who attends can have an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Level Up Your Next Virtual Holiday Party With Kudoboard

Virtual holiday parties allow remote teams to connect and engage during the holiday season. They often boost team morale and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

The question on everyone’s mind before they host a virtual holiday party is, “What are we going to do at this event?” After reading this article you know the answer to that question! You’re going to play holiday trivia, or share a meal, or participate in a matching ugly sweater contest, etc.

Whatever activities you decide on, make sure to add holiday-themed boards to the mix, which you can do with Kudoboard. Our platform makes it super easy to create digital boards that employees can contribute to. (Pro tip: digital boards are great for an in-person or hybrid holiday party, too!)

The best part is, Kudoboard can be used throughout the year to facilitate employee recognition and engagement. Give it a try this holiday season to see if it’s right for your remote team.

Bring the Holiday Spirit to Your Remote Team

Kudoboards are a fun, easy-to-set up addition to any virtual holiday party

Create a Holiday Board

Tell us if this sounds familiar…

You’ve worked hard to finish an important project before the end of year break. You turn it in, only to receive a quick, “Thanks for sending” email. What? You spent weeks on this initiative. Sure, your boss is busy, what with the holidays and all, but a bit of enthusiasm would have been nice.

Here’s the truth: as the year winds down, employee recognition becomes more important. Your team probably has a lot going on in their personal lives. A kind word at work can do wonders for employee morale, motivation, and retention. In fact, it might be vital to your company’s success.

In this article, we dig deep into why you should take time to recognize and appreciate your employees this holiday season. Then we explore 10 creative ways to do just that. Finally, we end with tips to measure your employee recognition efforts. Let’s get started!

The Importance of Recognizing Employees During the Holidays

The holiday season is the perfect time to show appreciation to your employees. Recognizing their hard work will not only lift their spirits but also lead to better business outcomes.

(But keep in mind: the benefits of appreciation can be felt throughout the year, not just around the holidays. For example, you could celebrate your team on Employee Appreciation Day, during National Mentoring Month, or on any of the other employee recognition holidays. Your team will love it!)

Employee Motivation

Before we really dive in, know that consistent recognition leads to better employee engagement. This is important because engaged employees tend to be more motivated, produce better results, and stick around for longer periods of time. We’ll talk about motivation first.

When employees feel valued, they work harder. Why wouldn’t they? They’re praised for their efforts, which makes them want to continue giving 100%.

Think of your employees like a rechargeable battery. Regular appreciation keeps their engagement and motivation levels fully charged, so they tackle every challenge with vigor. 

Team Performance

Regular employee recognition can level up team performance too.

It’s not hard to see why. When employees are recognized for their hard work, they try harder. Now multiply that out among the whole team. The additional effort will almost certainly lead to higher quality output.

But that’s not all. Recognition also creates a more supportive environment for employees, where everyone feels empowered to contribute. When this happens, collaboration improves. According to recent studies, collaborative teams are five times more likely to be high performing.

Job Satisfaction

A little appreciation can also build long-term loyalty.

Research shows that workers who are recognized and respected for their contributions are more satisfied with their jobs. This satisfaction often translates into higher retention metrics. Basically, employees want to work where they feel valued. (Shocking, right?) Give them this feeling and you’ll have less turnover.

Now, imagine the joyful holiday season you’ll have when your employees are super motivated, perform better, and want to stay on your team. All it takes is a bit of recognition!

10 Employee Recognition Ideas to Try This Holiday Season

Recognizing your team during the holiday season will revitalize morale and build a sense of belonging amongst your employees. And while a simple “thank you” can go a long way, the creative recognition ideas below will make a stronger impression.

1. Host a Holiday Party

Organizing a holiday party is an excellent way to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of your team. These festive get-togethers will help you demonstrate your appreciation in a tangible way. As such, they’re an ideal employee recognition tool that shouldn’t be ignored.

Still not convinced? Consider this: holiday parties can also be a ton of fun and allow staffers to bond outside the usual work environment. When employees connect with their colleagues as people, a stronger sense of community and better morale often follow. These are important elements of your company’s success.

Oh, and a party can add a bit of holiday spirit and get employees in the mood for this festive season too. This will make everyone in your office feel and perform better. Yes, please!

2. Give a Personal Gift

Gift-giving is a staple of the holiday season. Lean into this fact and give your employees personalized gifts to make sure they feel appreciated for their hard work throughout the year.

Whether it’s a favorite book, a hobby-related item, or a gift card to a favorite store or restaurant, these kinds of tangible gifts show that you’ve taken the time to understand each team member’s likes and interests. To learn more about what kinds of gifts your employees like, make it a part of creating an employee profile when onboarding.

This personal touch can significantly boost morale by reminding employees that they are more than just a part of the workforce—they are valued individuals within your organization. Trust us, this distinction really matters.

3. Support a Nonprofit

Volunteering during the holiday season is a meaningful way to recognize employees while highlighting the value of community service. In other words, it’s a win-win proposition.

By supporting a nonprofit or other community organization, your team can strengthen bonds and contribute to a worthy cause at the same time. And if you choose a nonprofit that your team already supports, you’ll show appreciation. After all, who wouldn’t want their company to contribute to their favorite cause?

The benefits don’t stop there, though. When your employees see the impact their efforts have outside of the office, they’ll gain a sense of pride and fulfillment that will likely impact their jobs.

4. Plan a Team Excursion

What do your employees like to do when they aren’t working? And can you incorporate these things into a team excursion to honor your staff members and make sure they “feel the love“?

For example, you could take your employees to a local escape room or theme park. These kinds of activities are interactive and will allow your team to get to know each other better and have a lot of fun. In the case of the escape room, they’ll have a chance to develop problem-solving skills as well. 

Of course, you don’t have to plan something so extravagant. A picnic at the park or a team walk (assuming you live in an area with decent weather during the holiday season) can be just as beneficial. You will still help your team make memories together, strengthen bonds, and support your local community.

Whatever you decide to do, getting out of the office is a refreshing way to acknowledge your staff and show them that you value their contributions to your company.

5. Write a Heartfelt Note

Sometimes, the simplest gestures have the most profound impact. A heartfelt note can convey your appreciation for a team member in a powerful way—especially if it’s handwritten.

Why? Handwritten notes are rare these days because they often take longer to write and send. As such, receiving one packs a bigger punch than an email or Slack message. If you really want your staff to know you care, write them a note with a pen And if you happen to send that note at the end of the year, make sure you write it on a holiday card to make it festive.

6. Book a Catered Lunch

Good food has a magical way of bringing people together.

With that in mind, book a catered lunch to recognize your team’s hard work and dedication. It’s a chance for employees to relax and enjoy a fantastic meal, free from the hustle and bustle (and last night’s leftovers) of the workday. This simple gesture can make employees feel appreciated and valued.

A shared meal also encourages team bonding and creates an opportunity for informal interactions, which strengthen team dynamics. So, catered lunches can serve multiple purposes for your company: recognizing employees and turning said employees into better teammates. Just make sure ask for any dietary restrictions in the group — nothing makes someone feel less appreciated than being left out of an activity because you didn’t bother to accommodate them!

7. Hold an Award Ceremony

Here’s a fun idea: host an award ceremony for your employees.

This is a fantastic way to publicly recognize team members and celebrate their achievements. It also allows for flexibility, which makes it a viable strategy for many different organizations.

Think about it, you could host a black tie affair with catered food; then hand out custom trophies to award winners. Or a more casual event where company leaders give gag awards like “Most Likely to Eat Their Coworker’s Lunch” alongside traditional awards like “Peak Performer”.

Award ceremonies have another benefit: they teach employees about company values. Your team will see a colleague win an award and think, “Huh, I guess that’s what my boss is looking for.” Because of this, award ceremonies can improve team performance in subsequent years.

We should also mention, award ceremonies fit into the “holiday recognition ideas” category because they’re often held at the end of the year, when employee achievements are best recognized. And both in-office and remote employees can participate, making it a great option for all organizations.

8. Hand Out Year-End Bonuses

Year-end bonuses are another way to express gratitude for your team’s dedication.

This tangible reward resonates deeply because it puts more money in people’s pockets—something everybody wants when attempting to buy holiday gifts for loved ones.

Bonuses also acknowledge the value of employees’ contributions and affirm that their efforts have made a significant impact. Such recognition not only sends a clear message that hard work is appreciated but also encourages loyalty. Plus, it adds a festive spirit to the office.

9. Offer More Paid Time Off

If year-end bonuses are off the table, what about more paid time off (PTO)?

Additional PTO is a thoughtful recognition idea that your employees will love. This is especially true when PTO is granted during the holiday season, as it allows employees to spend more time with their loved ones (or to do last-minute shopping). This is hard to do when said employees need to be in the office.

PTO is beneficial for remote workers too. Sure, they don’t have to be in the office every day, but they still have jobs to do. A chance to relax and recharge will be quite welcome for everyone.

So, give your team an extra day off. Call it an “International Day of Rest” or something else that resonates with your team — and make it an annual tradition! Doing so will earn your employees’ respect and loyalty.

10. Create an Employee Appreciation Wall

Finally, create a holiday employee appreciation wall to honor your staff.

This space—whether physical or virtual—allows company leaders and individual team members to recognize achievements in a public way. It also gives colleagues a chance to share kind words. Either way, it will help your company create a culture of gratitude, which will bring individuals together.

When it comes to digital employee appreciation walls, give Kudoboard a try. Kudoboard gives users the important tools they need to power their employee recognition programs—both throughout the year and during the holiday season. 

How to Measure Your Employee Recognition Efforts at the End of the Year

So, did your holiday-themed employee recognition initiative work? You won’t know until you measure the results. Here are three legitimate ways to assess your recognition program:

Talk to Your Team

One of the best ways to measure your employee recognition efforts is also the easiest. Just talk to your team. Revolutionary, we know. Ask them if they feel valued by your company. Their answers will tell you a lot.

You can go about this process in a variety of ways. You can invite individual employees into your office for one-on-one meetings. Or organize small group discussions where employee appreciation is the main topic. Or ask your team to fill out an anonymous survey. This last option is worth considering because it allows workers to truly critique their organization if needed.

Pro tip: don’t just ask your employees questions like, “Do you feel appreciated by your superiors?” and “Do you feel engaged in your role?” You can start there, but also ask your employees for ways the organization can improve. 

For example, you could ask, “How can we make you feel like a valued member of the team?”

Once you receive feedback, take it seriously. You don’t have to implement every suggestion your team gives you. But incorporating their wants, needs, and opinions into your appreciation initiative will improve your efforts in this area and make your staff feel seen and respected.

Track Specific Metrics

Employee opinions are important. But to truly understand the value of your recognition programs, you need to look at a few concrete metrics. We suggest tracking these four KPIs:

• Participation Rate: Have you implemented a standard employee recognition program? Then monitor the number of people who participate in it. For example, you could track the number of managers who send top down appreciation. Or the number of employees who engage in peer-to-peer recognition. Make sure your whole team takes part in your program.
• Employee Satisfaction Scores: Is your team happy? A quick employee satisfaction survey will give you the answer. The good news is, when your staff feels appreciated for their contributions they’ll give you higher scores, leading to many organizational benefits.
• Absenteeism and Turnover Rates: How often do your current employees take time off? Engaged employees want to be at work, so they show up more consistently. If your recognition program is successful, your absenteeism and turnover rate will likely go down.
• Employee Productivity Levels: Lastly, track employee productivity. Does your team get more done than it used to? This is a sign that your employees are engaged in their work—a direct benefit of a solid recognition program. If you want to take things a step further, measure employee performance too. Team members who get more done and achieve higher levels of success for your company are the ultimate goal!

By analyzing the four metrics above, and any others you deem necessary, you’ll get a clearer picture of the effectiveness of your recognition strategy and how to improve it.

Look “Behind the Scenes”

Last but not least, take a look at the intangibles.

Does it feel like your team is happier? Has morale and enthusiasm gone up recently? Do your employees collaborate more, produce more, and/or achieve more? Vibes can reveal a lot.

Looking behind the scenes, AKA the things you can’t really measure but still impact business success, will help you evaluate your recognition efforts. So, don’t be afraid to “read the room” from time to time. Your intuition isn’t infallible, but it can offer a helpful glimpse into the health of your team. Ignore it and you might miss out on a few key insights.

Recognize Your Team the Right Way With Kudoboard

Meaningful recognition during the holiday season will increase employee motivation, team performance, and job satisfaction. Fortunately, recognizing your team is pretty straightforward. You just have to implement one or two (or three or four!) of the ideas we shared in this article.

If you really want to elevate your employee recognition game, use Kudoboard. For the holiday season, you can create gratitude boards and winter tradition boards. Then create peer-to-peer shout out boards to keep the good vibes rolling into the new year.

This will help you build a more connected workforce who care about each other and the success of your company.

Celebrate your team this holiday season

Increase employee recognition and engagement this holiday season with Kudoboard

Get a demo