This time of year, companies are making hard decisions on where to spend limited budget dollars, especially if they are at the end of the budget year. Some may be struggling to meet payroll. It is especially difficult when your faithful employees have made sacrifices this past year to help keep things afloat, and are looking to the holiday season for some well-deserved appreciation. A holiday party, appreciation gifts, or a coupon for a free turkey are some of the usual ways to show appreciation. When your company is losing money, the prospect of handing out even $10 coupons to 300 employees may just about break the bank.
The “holiday blues” may be a worse epidemic this year than the H1N1 flu. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for this particular malady. Businesses will have to get creative to ward off a HB pandemic at the office or plant. Avoiding the subject and ignoring the holidays won’t do. Here are some ways you can celebrate, appreciate and bring some holiday cheer without breaking the bank:
1. Put a number on our holiday celebration budget. Whether it is $500 or $5000, knowing the number will then allow for some creative thinking within that budget. Looking at options and then turning them down because of cost put defeat in front of possible victory.
2. Have a contest. Let your employees know what the budget is, and then let them submit ideas on how to use the money for an employee holiday celebration. Give them some guidelines, such as not exceeding the budget, everyone must benefit, and it has to be meaningful and represent the company as well. You will be surprised at how creative your employees can be.
3. If your limited funds won’t stretch very far, have employees submit the names of their favorite charities, and donate the money in the name the company employees. Make the check presentation an event with the employees in attendance so they are recognized for their generosity.
4. Give the employees an extra day or half-day off AFTER the holidays. Doing it before only cuts their pay at a time when they could be earning overtime for holiday gifts and meals.
5. Invite employees’ families to join them for lunch in the company cafeteria during the holiday season. If everyone brown bags it, have them in for cake, cookies and some soft drinks instead.
6. Have departments decorate a holiday tree. One year, each department had a tree to decorate in the employee cafeteria. Each team had no budget—they had to use things that were representative of their work area. Some of the most creative trees came from engineering and housekeeping, complete with a toilet paper garland and light bulbs for ornaments! Employees can vote on the best tree, and the winning department gets pizza delivered for lunch.
7. Relax schedules between Christmas and New Years Eve. Children are home from school, families are visiting, and your employees would appreciate a little extra time at the beginning or end of the day to spend together.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a freelance writer, blogger, and consultant. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in "Training" magazine, "Training & Development" magazine, "Supervision," "Pulse" and "The Savannah Morning News." You can read her blogs at www.skirt.com/savannahchick, www.workingsmartworks.blogspot.com/ and on the web at www.mjnhconsulting.com.
The “holiday blues” may be a worse epidemic this year than the H1N1 flu. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for this particular malady. Businesses will have to get creative to ward off a HB pandemic at the office or plant. Avoiding the subject and ignoring the holidays won’t do. Here are some ways you can celebrate, appreciate and bring some holiday cheer without breaking the bank:
1. Put a number on our holiday celebration budget. Whether it is $500 or $5000, knowing the number will then allow for some creative thinking within that budget. Looking at options and then turning them down because of cost put defeat in front of possible victory.
2. Have a contest. Let your employees know what the budget is, and then let them submit ideas on how to use the money for an employee holiday celebration. Give them some guidelines, such as not exceeding the budget, everyone must benefit, and it has to be meaningful and represent the company as well. You will be surprised at how creative your employees can be.
3. If your limited funds won’t stretch very far, have employees submit the names of their favorite charities, and donate the money in the name the company employees. Make the check presentation an event with the employees in attendance so they are recognized for their generosity.
4. Give the employees an extra day or half-day off AFTER the holidays. Doing it before only cuts their pay at a time when they could be earning overtime for holiday gifts and meals.
5. Invite employees’ families to join them for lunch in the company cafeteria during the holiday season. If everyone brown bags it, have them in for cake, cookies and some soft drinks instead.
6. Have departments decorate a holiday tree. One year, each department had a tree to decorate in the employee cafeteria. Each team had no budget—they had to use things that were representative of their work area. Some of the most creative trees came from engineering and housekeeping, complete with a toilet paper garland and light bulbs for ornaments! Employees can vote on the best tree, and the winning department gets pizza delivered for lunch.
7. Relax schedules between Christmas and New Years Eve. Children are home from school, families are visiting, and your employees would appreciate a little extra time at the beginning or end of the day to spend together.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a freelance writer, blogger, and consultant. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in "Training" magazine, "Training & Development" magazine, "Supervision," "Pulse" and "The Savannah Morning News." You can read her blogs at www.skirt.com/savannahchick, www.workingsmartworks.blogspot.com/ and on the web at www.mjnhconsulting.com.
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