What the Holidays Teach Us About Employee Appreciation

Now that the last of the holiday leftovers are gone, the lights down and parties over, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what we can learn from the season about employee appreciation going forward and throughout the year.
Your employees could be craving appreciation now more than ever, in fact.
Research into the psychological and physical side effects of the holiday season suggest many people start the New Year burdened by the excesses and stresses brought on during the weeks between Halloween and Christmas. Forbes contributor Alice G. Walton finds that we commonly run into one or more of twelve problems after the holidays, including depression, debt, weight gain and worry over New Year’s resolutions — and that’s if we survive the hangovers, family arguments and catching a cold.
Those most at risk can be people with unrealistic expectations of the holiday season.
“People who go holiday-crazy can feel a kind of anticlimax or emotional emptiness during or after,” she writes. “Remembering what the holidays are actually about – family, love, togetherness, re-centering (and other things, depending on your religion) – is important in making through the season in one piece.”
Walton suggests that individuals under the grip of post-holiday blues try “practicing a little gratitude about the good things in your life,” no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
Similarly, you can help your employees adjust back to normal during this time period by expressing your gratitude to them, even if it’s just a quick “thank you” for a well-written email to a client, a thoughtful question during a meeting or for coming up with a good idea for a project. The holidays feel special to so many people because of the heightened emphasis on gratitude and togetherness — keep that vibe going, minus the pre-holiday pressures and fattening eggnog!
Think as well about what kind of tone you’re setting at work. The holidays can be incredibly hectic for many, and creating an atmosphere of calm, support and focus in your company in the weeks after the New Year will help cultivate appreciation.
Besides being the nice thing to do, showing appreciation goes a long way in helping to boost employee morale and retain quality employees, according to a Glassdoor study recently discussed in another Forbes article about employee appreciation during and after the holiday season.
In addition to saying “Thank you,” Forbes staff writer Jacquelyn Smith suggests showing appreciation in the workplace by sharing small gifts, taking employees out and using social media sites to honor their work publicly.
The best part about taking the time to show your appreciation post-holidays is that it won’t be expected. Gift-giving and other tokens of gratitude are practically obligatory during the holidays, but afterward the same gestures can feel like a surprise treat and therefore more meaningful, thoughtful and special.  Take advantage of upcoming events such as the Super Bowl or Valentine’s Day to delight employees with your gratitude and appreciation.  It will keep the whole workplace happier and healthier!
Wishing you the best for a happy, healthy and productive New Year!

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
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