Simple Ways to Promote Goodwill Among Employees
Posted in Workplace Advice
Everyone feels excited and curious about what kind of Christmas celebration will happen in the office.
It is possible to have some kind of Holiday celebration at work and still be able to do all the work that is needed to be done. In fact, having some kind of Christmas tradition in the workplace can actually boost the productivity in the office.
When your staff has planned Christmas traditions, they want to know what to expect. They also want to know when the actual celebrations happen and when they have to focus on their work. A little Christmas gathering for your staff is also an opportunity for them to prove that a happy employee is an efficient and productive employee.
Try to have one or all of these Christmas activities in your office
Secret Santa
Just like in school, these 'Secret Santa' exchanges work just as well in the workplace. 'Secret Santa' is actually very cost efficient in that it cuts down on the time and expense of getting gifts or writing cards for everyone at work. It's also an activity that everyone participates in so no one is left out. Also a limit on spending controls competitiveness ad expense.
Decorating Contest
A decorating contest is a great way to bring out the competitiveness in your staff, but only up to a certain point. It also brings out your staff's creativity, plus it a great way to have fun and include everyone who wants to join. Your workplace will sure be something of a sight after the contest.
You can have each employee decorate his/her workspace or have each department compete with each other. Set up whatever rules will be comfortable, including limits to the extent of decorations, decorating time, etc. The management can choose the winners and the prizes can anything you like - from gift cheques to an extra hour for lunch.
Christmas Lunch
Christmas lunch in the office is a great way for the bosses and the staff to mingle, catch up a bit on what's going on at work, and maybe even get to know each other better. It could be a casual get together or a more formal gathering. The company can provide lunch for the staff, or the staff can each bring a dish for a more homey and intimate feel. This tradition provides room for growth in the future. It's also a great venue for the 'Secret Santa' exchanges.
Bigger companies may want to hold separate lunches for different departments so it would be easier to manage groups. It's also a great way for the management to perceived value of working with your company. Christmas lunches can help make the employees a bit happier with the company. And since it's a lunch, no one is excluded.
Christmas Party
Finally, there's everyone's favorite - the Christmas party. Your office Christmas party can be a very simple or a very elaborate affair. Setting your Christmas party traditions (where, when, how formal, guests or no guests) helps your employees know what to expect. Also, your employees can plan accordingly, and thus avoid unpleasant blunders that can dampen the Christmas spirit.
One last thing to consider is your holiday hours. It is advisable to put up a policy regarding holidays: who will work, will the business close, will hours be shortened, etc. This way it's more convenient for your employees to plan their Holiday celebrations or their Christmas travel. It's also a smart idea to have a policy on what is to happen if the holidays fall on a weekend.
