Wonolo
The holidays are upon us, and regardless of what we are celebrating in the office, everyone appreciates a little holiday spirit in the workplace. Check out these 12 ideas to increase holiday cheer in the office!
- Festive contests
- This can be anything from an ugly sweater contest to an apple pie-baking contest. They bring out the competitive side of your team members, which can in turn bring out camaraderie (unless you have any sore losers).
- This can be anything from an ugly sweater contest to an apple pie-baking contest. They bring out the competitive side of your team members, which can in turn bring out camaraderie (unless you have any sore losers).
- Decorate, decorate, decorate!
- No matter how cheesy or cheap the decorations are, the fact that you put any up at all immediately creates a sense of holiday spirit in the office and shows your team members that you care about spreading the cheer.
- Keep it classic – a gift exchange.
- Whether you choose Secret Santa or White Elephant, gift exchanges add an element of excitement and surprise to the workplace and can make for really fun events. Just make sure you’re ready for things to get heated in White Elephant.
- Spread holiday cheer through the community.
- One of the best ways to get into the giving season is by giving back to the community where you work. Organize a day of service for your team; this can include anything from helping out at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen to picking up trash around local parks. Getting into the giving spirit in this way can bring out the best of the holiday spirit in everyone.
- Sign up to be part of a festive local event.
- Many communities host events during the holiday season where all are welcome, and they are the perfect opportunity to get your team some bonding time outside of the office. 5ks and “Fun Runs” usually happen around this time and are hits with everyone.
- Food brings people together.
- Host a holiday potluck! Have members of your team bring in their favorite holiday dish to share with the office. This is a great way to learn about different cultural holidays and foods while bonding with your team in the spirit of sharing.
- Be flexible with days off.
- The holiday season is often the only time of year when many people get to see loved ones who are home for the holidays. Take this into account when one of your team members asks for some extra time off during this time of year; it will make them respect and appreciate you more, and will contribute to the spirit of giving in the office.
- Overtime = more gift money!
- Many of your team members may also be asking for extra time instead of time off, in order to have a little extra money to spend on gifts for the holidays. Offer overtime to your team members to show them that you care about spreading the holiday spirit beyond just the workplace.
- Turn on the holiday tunes.
- Having background holiday music playing in the office can put people in a better mood and get them more excited for the holidays. Make sure you clear this idea with your team before doing it, though, as some people may find it distracting.
- Add some holiday flare to your emails.
- Adding something as simple as a holiday-themed gif to your emails during this time of year can create a more relaxed and fun atmosphere in the workplace.
- Have holiday-themed dress-up days.
- Choose a few days to have different themed days in the office where your team can dress up! Some theme ideas include ugly sweater day, candy cane day, Santa day, etc.
- Show your team how much you really appreciate them.
- The holidays are a time for reflection, appreciation, and gratitude. Have a tangible way to show your team members how much you appreciate what they do. Ideas for this can be a slideshow, cards, or personalized emails.
