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Say Thank You with a Turkey Gift!

 

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. But there’s still time to show your gratitude to hardworking employees with turkey gift certificates — if you act soon and choose gThankYou!

gThankYou offers same-day shipping, so your employee Thanksgiving gifts can be there as soon as tomorrow!

The Thanksgiving Gift Everyone Loves!

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CONGRATS!
You Received a gThankYou Holiday Turkey Gift Certificate!

If this is your first time receiving a gThankYou Gift Certificate, welcome, we know you’ll love your thoughtful food gift!

gThankYou makes it easy to redeem your voucher at major chain grocery stores anywhere in the United States. You choose when and where you want to shop and with gThankYou Certificates you choose any brand, size and preparation of qualifying merchandise.

How does redeeming your gThankYou Certificate in the pandemic change things?  Redeeming through major grocery stores remains the same. We now offer direct reimbursement as an option too. Read on to learn more.

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Nothing says “Thank You” like the gift of a Thanksgiving turkey. And now is the perfect time to give thanks!

November is National Gratitude Month. The month leading up to Thanksgiving is perfectly fitting for us all to embrace the act of gratitude. There are many ways to express our appreciation for those in our lives. After the last year and a half, we especially appreciate being acknowledged and valued.

And, World Kindness Day is November 13. It is a global day that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. The purpose of this day, celebrated on November 13 of each year, is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations.”
There are many ways to celebrate the day, but we encourage you to be creative!
At gThankYou, we encourage gratitude and kindness all year long. But if there ever is a time to show employees, families, business partners, vendors and others gratitude, this is it!

What better moment could there be to distribute your turkey gifts?

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What’s the difference – Gift Certificates, Gift Cards and Gift Checks?

Looking to share the gift of a turkey in your workplace this holiday season? Be sure to understand the differences between Turkey Gift Certificates vs. Gift Cards and Gift Checks to choose what’s best for your employees and customers.

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates allow recipients to choose any brand, size and preparation of whole turkey — Butterball®, Norbest®, Smithfield® or any other brand from major grocery stores in the U.S.

gThankYou Certificates are Manufacturer Coupons which are only good for a specific item (such as a whole turkey), have an expiration date and provide no cash or residual value. They cannot be deposited in the bank or used to buy other merchandise.

Gift cards allow recipients to buy any store merchandise. Holiday gift check programs such as Butterball® Gift Checks, simply provide checks that can be deposited in a bank account or used to buy any merchandise.

If you are looking to restrict your holiday gift to a Turkey, choose gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates.

Companies choose gThankYou Gift Certificates because they are Manufacturer Coupons. If you are concerned with the tax implications of employee gift-giving, please consult with your accounting or tax professional.
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Times have been really tough for both employers and employees. While the last couple of years have been stressful, we’ve also seen people really step up! During uncertain times, it’s important to share your company gratitude with employees. This time of year, we recommend writing a memorable Thanksgiving letter to employees to show how much you care. It’s the quintessential message of, “Thank you for being here and all you have done and continue to do!”

Whether you are part of the over-taxed health care industry, over-burdened supply chain, or another business that is thankful for its hard-working employees, showing appreciation is critical – now and always.

Your Sincere ‘Thank You’ Matters

Thank you is easy to say, yet it’s underused in the workplace. Let’s collectively change that! When in-person, use eye contact, a handshake, fist-bump or other social connection while saying, “Thank you.” We promise, it will be well-received and appreciated.

Why? Because thank-you notes work! (Research proves thank-you notes work even better than cash bonuses, say HR experts.)

A written note or company-wide Thanksgiving letter of appreciation are underutilized gems. A sincere note communicates you care and are grateful for employees hard-work and dedication, especially during these challenging times.

gThankYou has spent years honing the perfect tips for how to express gratitude in a way that is authentic and well-received: in the form of a memorable Thanksgiving or holiday letter. If you’ve never done one for your team or company, it’s a great time to start the tradition!

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Believe it or not, the holidays are just around the corner. Planning ahead is key to avoid scrambling and making the season more hectic than enjoyable. The good news is that we have the tools to help you succeed! Our new holiday appreciation planning checklist can be used year-round, offering ideas for ways to celebrate your employees.

This time of year, we highly recommend ordering your Turkey Gift Certificates and free Enclosure Cards NOW so you can cross it off your to-do list.

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Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and celebrating traditions. Turkey has long-been the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, making it the symbol of the holiday, gratitude for the bounty of the meal, shared history and family and friends.

While every group or family is different, there is something special about time together, gathering around the table, and enjoying each other’s company at the holidays. At gThankYou, we are passionate about what we do because it provides employers a way to celebrate team members in a way that honors gratitude and tradition.

A Thanksgiving turkey gift is so meaningful, it positively impacts both giver and recipient. You may not know this, but turkey gift-giving has been a workplace tradition for over a century.

In an article on MentalFloss.com, Why We Eat What We Eat on Thanksgiving, it shares that even Alexander Hamilton said,

“No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day.”

In general, there are varied historical versions of when and how turkey as the centerpiece all started, but it was deeply rooted in American tradition when it was declared a holiday in the 19^th century.

Looking for a way to thank and celebrate your hard-working team? A turkey for Thanksgiving is a gift that everyone appreciates and values.

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Last year, workplace Halloween festivities took place virtually. Despite the distance — and perhaps the initial awkwardness of dressing up for a Zoom party — events everywhere were successful! Halloween is a favorite holiday for many, offering an opportunity to tap into creativity and kid-like behaviors (candy binge, anyone?). In our current environment, everyone appreciates a chance to relax and have fun at work.

In this new world of work, Halloween may continue to be a hybrid event. Some workplaces will resume all-things-Halloween, with elaborate decorations, cutthroat costume contests and sugar-laden parties. Others are still remote, but with full intentions of celebrating. Either way, the options to have Halloween fun are endless.

Delight hard-working staff with a Halloween activity or celebration this year. You’ll all appreciate the chance to engage over something fun.

“The farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we’ve come to need Halloween.”
– Paula Curan

Spooktacular Ideas for your Halloween Festivities

Last year, we created downloadable Zoom backgrounds for online Halloween festivities. Due to demand, they ARE available again this year (see below). Other possible ideas to bring Halloween to your team members include:

• Host a good old-fashioned costume party – in-person and/or remotely. Provide inexpensive gifts for creative costume categories such as creepiest, most outlandish and best-boss-lookalike.

 

• Put out Halloween snacks and treats in the office. Take a pulse survey to see which favorites are in high-demand. Do a blindfolded taste test! Send all employees Candy Gift Certificates a week early so they can stock up for the neighborhood!

 

• Have a decoration party! Offer to buy seasonal decor so everyone can get into the spirit.

 

• Hold a pet costume contest. Zoom meetings introduced a lot of pets to colleagues. Ask everyone to send in pictures or host a pet Zoom party where furry friends can show off their outfits. Give winners a gift certificate to a local pet store.

 

• Sponsor a local shelter, after-school program or food bank. Volunteer in costume, bring treats and help others in your community enjoy the holiday.

 

• Throw an outdoor family event and offer pumpkins, carving tools, food and drinks. Do you have remote workers? Send them carving stencils and a grocery store voucher to buy the rest of the supplies.

 

• Arrange for fall plants/flowers to be available to take home. It will make the building look festive and serve as a great giveaway! Set up a time for remote workers to pick up their plant gifts at a nearby Home Depot or local nursery.

 

• Hand out Halloween gift bags – fill ’em up with glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark balloons, mini gourds and a gift certificate. Check out See’s Candies for inspiration.

 

• Help each other. Nominate coworkers who could use some help with fall projects. Then go out together to rake leaves, deliver groceries or a home-cooked meal, or decorate team members’ front doors. Provide reusable water bottles as an environmentally friendly memento of the service day.

 

Halloween is unique in that it brings joy in a different way than other holidays. Ask colleagues for ideas and preferences and be sure to include all shifts and remote workers in the fun. If you love spider webs, haunted houses and Halloween candy (or not), there are many people who will revel in the celebration!

Share your Halloween thanks and a sweet treat

If you are looking for something easy to do that works for everyone, why not share a gift voucher for employees’ candy of their choice and a Halloween themed card that reminds them that they are awesome and you appreciate everything they do for the business?

Order gThankYou Candy Gift Certificates online or over the phone at 888-484-1658. They come in affordable $5 and $10 values so it won’t break your budget. Share them alone with a big smile or tuck them in a Halloween basket of fun. Orders ship same day if ordered by early afternoon. You can have yours as early as tomorrow.

All orders come with FREE customizable gift Enclosure Cards for your personal message. You can even send us artwork to customize your spooky card.

Free Halloween Zoom backgrounds

By now, everyone knows how to use a background in Zoom. Spice it up for your team with a Halloween theme! Feel free to use these free Zoom backgrounds below:
 

 

 

 
 

However you decide to celebrate, we wish you a most fun and happy Halloween season!

gThankYou makes workplace Thanksgiving turkey gift-giving easy, convenient and affordable – regardless the size of your organization!

Turkey and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou are redeemable at major grocery chains anywhere in the U.S. for any brand, preparation and size of turkey (or ham). Recipients choose where they want to shop and the perfect turkey centerpiece of their Thanksgiving meal.

One of the perks of working with gThankYou is the ability to personalize Gift Certificates (with recipient names and organization logo) and custom Enclosure Cards. Well-done employee appreciation is all about personal connection.

To learn more about volume discounts on turkey vouchers or how we can help with large distributed workplaces, call us at 888-484-1658 or email info@gthankyou.com and we would be delighted to work with you this holiday season!

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If you’ve ever been curious about why the employee turkey gift tradition matters, the reasons are many: it’s practical, meaningful, affordable and a gift everyone values and enjoys sharing with family and friends!

For decades, company leaders have been giving turkeys to their employees at Thanksgiving as an expression of appreciation. The gesture is a nod to tradition and gratitude. It’s an affordable gift, but one that is truly appreciated. It’s also smart business.

It is already that time of year to think ahead. How will you celebrate your employees this holiday season?

gThankYou makes turkey gift giving easy, regardless the size of your organization. Start planning ahead now and contact us to find out about our simple, easy and personalized process. Visit us online or call us today: 888-484-1658!

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On the topic of “reboarding” employees, take advantage of being outside for social events to celebrate employees returning to the workplace or who have been there all along! Outside, it’s easier to socially distance and still have fun – perfect for summer reboarding activities.

Who needs workplace fun? We all do after more than a year of COVID, societal tension and volatile politics. Social events are great for workplace culture and morale which are as important as ever right now.

Parties and team building exercises may not look exactly like they used to, but with some creativity and agility, the fun committee is back in session!

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Research shows that Americans are facing a mental health crisis. At gThankYou, mental health wellness is close to our hearts. We hope to help organizations make strides in sustaining a safe, welcoming environment. It will be noticed and appreciated.

The Olympics has highlighted how pervasive mental health challenges are when even elite athletes are not immune. Michael Phelps reminds us in a recent article in support of Simone Biles that “…If we’re not taking care of both [physical and mental health], how are we ever expecting to be 100%?” True for all of us, not just the elite few.

As leaders of organizations, we need to understand the poor state of our country’s mental health at this time. Then we can offer ways to help. It’s that simple. Every employee experienced some level of uncertainty and fear that surrounded the pandemic. Current mental health struggles are often related to loss, isolation, or hopelessness. But we CAN collectively address these issues.

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If workplace well-being isn’t on your priority list, now’s the time to put it on the top. Worksite wellness initiatives have been gathering steam for quite a while, but the pandemic wreaked havoc on health in a wide variety of ways. To truly appreciate your team members, be sure to provide a healthy environment where the whole being can thrive.

According to a recent report by Gallup,

“Organizations are responsible for the wellbeing of their employees — alleviating burnout is the right thing to do. And, it is essential for engaging and retaining top talent.”

Burnout is real. And it’s costly. Intelligent leaders are in-tune with the signs are offer ways to address the problem.

An article from SHRM states, “Unsurprisingly, employee burnout levels in 2020—the year of the pandemic—were high, with one major shift from previous years: Fully remote workers are now experiencing more burnout than onsite workers. Before the pandemic, the perks of working remotely—either part- or full-time—led to lower levels of burnout compared with employees who were onsite all the time.

“Burnout has effects on the micro and macro levels. If employees’ well-being suffers, they may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. They may also become less productive and unfocused.”

Workplace well-being is THE priority to keep — if you want to keep employees.

Want to keep your employees during what’s being called by NPR and others as “The Great Resignation”? Not only is workplace well-being a driver of employee happiness and productivity, it helps employees cope with the effects of burnout. In addition, bedrocks of workplace well-being like fitness, healthy eating and financial literacy actively repel the stressors that cause burnout.
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As you reboard, it is a fantastic time to check your overall culture. It is important to welcome back employees back with intention and positivity. But does employee appreciation take center stage in your workplace? If you feel tentative about your answer, this is your chance! Building (or rebuilding) a culture of gratitude begins when employees are valued and appreciated.

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Workforces are trickling back into office buildings and teams are rejoining in person after a long pandemic-related hiatus. It feels a bit like starting over, doesn’t it? While safety is the number one priority, it’s also critical to view this period as an opportunity for employee appreciation.

What is Reboarding? According to HR Daily Advisor,

“Reboarding is the concept of bringing individuals back who were previous employees but away for some period of time. The idea is to modify onboarding for someone who is already familiar with your company but has been away.”

Here at gThankYou, we are extremely optimistic about the potential for reboarding across all industries in businesses of all sizes. While there will be the necessary burden of policies, daily minutia, schedule conversations and so much more, there is also the gift of a restart — and employee appreciation.

What if NOW was the perfect time to shift your leadership mentality? What if you lead all efforts in the “return to normalcy” with a mindset of employee appreciation? We recommend welcoming employees back with a few things in mind that could shape or reshape your culture for years to come.

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As we emerge from the challenging pandemic to some sense of normalcy at both work and in our personal lives, it’s an ideal time to check in on how we are speaking to ourselves. Many of us had extra time alone with ourselves during the pandemic and while some people seemed to flourish, many of us struggled with added loneliness, stress, grief, and anxiety. Often our own internal voice during this time was our toughest critic and harshest judge. The transition back to an office or to a job can be rough right now.

There is no better time to show ourselves some compassion and grace.

The Language of Affirmation

Affirmations are based in a belief that the frequent use of positive words (affirmations) can motivate, build self-esteem and replace negative thought patterns.

If affirming self-talk doesn’t come naturally to you, we thought we’d share some quotes from Tess Hayes’ book “May You Shine: Love Letters to the Hurting, Healing, and Growing Heart.” In her intro Hayes describes the intent of her book, “May this book remind you of just how special you are, how wildly capable you are of letting your light shine.”

If you’re feeling like your light has been dimmed during the pandemic, you’re not alone. A CDC study found worsening anxiety and depression, especially for young adults, during the pandemic, so it’s no surprise that you could benefit from some positive affirmations.

Hayes shares this wisdom:

“Bathe yourself in self-compassion. Shower yourself in grace…Remind yourself that you are not alone in this journey, that you have never messed up too badly to begin anew.”

After or during a particularly challenging day at work this gentle message from Hayes might be helpful:

“It’s so easy to be hyper-aware of the annoying or difficult parts of your day. It’s even easier to gloss right over the incredible things happening all around you. But there is always a reason to celebrate — if you only look for it.”

Those celebrations can come in all sizes:

* Celebrate getting through the transition from remote work back to your office space
* Celebrate not procrastinating
* Celebrate knowing you lightened a coworker’s load
* Celebrate opting for a healthy snack during that afternoon energy lull
* Celebrate finally getting a good night’s sleep
* Celebrate speaking up in a meeting when you typically wouldn’t have

Want more? Listen to podcast interviews with Tess!

Self-Compassion is for Everyone

Speaking of self-compassion, if you’ve read our blog posts or referred to our 2022 Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar, you know we are fans of Dr. Kristen Neff, whose research and guidance on self-compassion, is both inspiring and practical. A good introduction to Dr. Neff is her website. Neff has a new book, “Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindess to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive,” out June 15th and we are always eager to learn more from her expertise.

McKinsey & Company’s Author Talks recently featured an interview with Neff in which she discusses how “women can balance tender self-acceptance with fierce action to claim their power—in the workplace and beyond.”

This quote from Neff sums things up perfectly,

“With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend.” Try being a better friend to yourself!

We are also fans of Barb Schmidt. We first discovered her gentle yet thought provoking posts on her aptly named Instagram account @peaceful_barb. She is the co-founder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life (another good Instagram account to follow). Her frequent messages are an excellent reminder to be kind to ourselves – complete with strategies and quick tips that always seem reasonable and do-able. In fact, we’ve clicked play on their tips on ways to say no without actually saying no several times. Her book, “The Practice” is a fast read and is full of helpful insights to help you, as the book cover suggests, manage stress, find inner peace and uncover happiness.

Schmidt wrote this about affirmations in her book,

“With all the negative chatter going on in the mind, sometimes an affirmation is exactly what is needed to get the mind to change course. In order to calm down, the mind might want that added verbal assurance that everything really is fine.” She shared her affirmation for stressful situations: “Barb, you are strong and capable; all is well.”

Next time you catch your internal voice and thoughts being especially critical, demeaning, unforgiving or sarcastic, take a deep breath and without scolding yourself for thinking that way, move on to a more gracious and kinder manner of self-talk. You wouldn’t talk to a colleague, friend or loved one that way so try to get out of the habit of speaking to yourself like that.

Affirm your worth, celebrate your resiliency and remind yourself of all of the amazing things you have to offer this world — in both your work and personal life.

Share Your Kindness with Peers

We are all in this transition together. As we ease back into the workplace, be intentional with your kindness and compassion with staff and peers. Don’t expect everything to be the same overnight. Fact is, it won’t ever be the same. Together, though, we can work to make it better. Download our Calendar Guide to celebrating employees year-round for inspiration on how to re-start.

Employers across all industries are facing major decisions about their policies for vaccinations. If it’s important or required that your employees get the vaccine, we have the perfect incentive – grocery gift certificates! Good for any combination of food-only products, redeemable at grocery stores nationally.

At gThankYou, we work closely with organizations to ensure they have the right tools to engage and reward employees. Decades of experience have shown us that food is met with gratitude and is an excellent driver of positive action.

This last year and a half have been extremely challenging for us all. However, now we are starting to regain some normalcy and gratitude towards our employees is more important than ever. While we are asking people to come back to work (or even if they were essential all along), there are a variety of ways to show thanks and even incentivize behavior.

If you request or require vaccination for employees, we suggest a grocery gift certificate as a thoughtful gesture in return. As the workforce revs its engines again – in a new way – people may feel overwhelmed with tasks, time and transitions. We are here to help!

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On-the-spot recognition = instant results. When you recognize employees right away, the benefits start right away. It’s simple and pays off. Try it today!

According to Indeed.com, “When people are offered consistent, actionable feedback, they can gain better insight into their successes and opportunities for improvement. Positive feedback is especially important because it increases morale, encourages good work and helps provide a sense of purpose.”

A once-a-year party is great for tradition, but it doesn’t ultimately affect day-to-day performance. Shift your paradigm from celebrating at the end of the year or on an anniversary to how can we keep appreciation and a culture of celebration alive all year-round?

It’s time to make recognition an ongoing, everyday activity. Read on to find out why on-the-spot recognition is so effective — and easier than you think!
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We are here to remind you: Recognize employees for small wins regularly. Doing so results in a confident, productive workplace.

Praise for specific acts of excellence builds employee self-confidence and increases engagement.

Employee recognition is one of the most important responsibilities of leaders. It’s smart business, directly affecting productivity, retention and overall culture.

According to Quantum Workplace,

“Organizations with formal recognition programs have 31% less voluntary turnover than organizations that don’t have any program at all. And they’re 12x more likely to have strong business outcomes.“

The best employee recognition fulfills a “core emotional need” in humans: to feel important. Your employees want to work for leaders who value them. Unfortunately, too many well-meaning employee recognition programs don’t make this emotional connection with employees.

Ensure that your workplace leaders recognize employees effectively. Invest time and structured training so managers understand recognition expectations, and teach them how to effectively recognize people. We have put together some expert tips on what to do and what NOT to do when recognizing employees.
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Workplace Burnout Has Worsened During Pandemic

NPR’s Life Kit recently addressed the growing problem of workplace burnout.  They shared results from a survey supported by Harvard Business Review from the fall of 2020 which indicated that burnout is a global problem (respondents were from 46 countries) that has gotten worse during the pandemic.

Here are some statistics:

• 89% of respondents said work life was getting worse.
• 85% said well-being had declined.
• 56% said demands had increased.
• 62% of those struggling to manage their workloads experienced burnout “often” or “extremely often” in previous three months.
• 57% of employees felt that pandemic had a “large effect on” or “completely dominated” their work.

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