How to Get Creative This Holiday Season in Giving Thanks to Clients & Employees

“Maybe Christmas he thought doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Mr. Grinch hit the nail on the head!

As much as we all love receiving physical gifts of monetary value, there’s so much more to appreciate and be thankful for during the holiday season. Also, there are numerous ways to say Happy Holidays and by using unique ideas that stay away from the conventional holiday bonus.

In the workplace, it’s common to show appreciation for employees by providing holiday bonuses or gift cards. For clients, sometimes we may want to provide a small gift basket to show our appreciation. However, this isn’t the only road to be taken! A good example of doing something unconventional is how Workplace Harmony is showing our appreciation this year. This year we are donating $100 in honor of every client we work with to the Salvation Army. This embodies the things we value and creates an appreciation that goes beyond just taking care of the client.

Thanking Your Clients

If you’re looking to get creative on how to say Happy Holidays and thank you to your clients, try to consider both yours and their core values and mission. 

Some Questions to Ask

• What does it look like for your company?
• Can you donate to an organization or a cause they care about?
• Is there something unique you can think of that embodies your values and mission?
• What could help build community?
• What impression do you want to leave behind?
• How can you get your employees involved?

Suggestions

• For sustainable-centric clients, consider purchasing gifts from sustainably conscious companies.
• Send an e-card rather than a physical card or send a physical card that you hand wrote.
• Donate to an organization or community endeavor.
• Take the time for face-to-face conversations. Stop on by and say hello or give them a call.
• Highlight their work on social media or your blog.
• Refer people to customers’ businesses.
• Try to consider their values and interests, this is where the best gifts come from!

Thanking Your Employees

Now, looking to navigate from the typical holiday bonus every during the holidays? Maybe being coming up with a new creative way excites you or since so many of us have been struggling due to covid, perhaps the bonus is not in the budget this year!

There are other ways to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays – NYSNC style.

Suggestions

• Consider giving employees some extra time off in recognition of their hard work and dedication to your organization throughout this year.
• Give them some time back to spend with family and friends. This shows you care about their work-life balance
• Reward them with a gift card to a local Spa where they can focus on their well-being AND mental health. 
• Instituting a profit-sharing plan can award your employees at the end of the year.Some employees may be excited to take a class or learn a new skill. Consider programs that can help your staff advance their skills or learn about adjacent roles in your company.

There are so many ways to show you appreciate your employees and clients alike this holiday season. However you decide to show your appreciation, remember to do it with a smile!

Bonus Links

• 9 Ways To Make The Holiday Season Less Stressful For Your Employees
• How to Support Your Employees’ Mental Health During the Holidays
• 5 Ways to Keep Employees Engaged Over the Holiday Season
• 11 Memorable Ways to Connect With Clients During the Holidays

Megan Keough, HR Advisor

Megan Keough is an HR Advisor at Workplace Harmony. She began her career in higher education where she assisted faculty and staff for over three years with various Human Resources needs. In early 2021, Megan joined the Workplace Harmony team as an HR Generalist. She provides support to clients in different capacities, helping rebuild and rebrand their HR departments, creating and implementing new process flows, and much more!,