Jordan’s company had a thoughtful recognition strategy in place leading into the holidays. Leaders were prepared, managers were equipped and the experience felt personalized and genuine from start to finish.
The Holiday Recognition Plan
BrightPath Tech is a midsize software company with a hybrid workforce and a strong culture of employee appreciation. With around 500 employees, they’ve built their success on collaboration, innovation and a people-first approach. Recognition is a year-round priority — and during the holidays, they double down to ensure employees feel valued and connected.
Apex Systems Co. is a logistics company with over 700 employees, most of whom work on-site in frontline roles. While the company prides itself on operational excellence, recognition often falls to the bottom of the priority list, especially during busy end-of-year periods. Communication from leadership is sparse, and managers are rarely given direction or resources to recognize their teams.
The Power of
Positive Recognition
The Consequences of
Negative Recognition
Holiday Recognition: What to Do
(and What to Definitely Avoid)
The Right Way: Meet Jordan at BrightPath Tech
What They Did to Recognize Employees
Managers received a holiday recognition guide with tips and templates for recognizing their team
Each employee received a personalized, branded holiday eCard as a token of appreciation from the company
Leadership sent a heartfelt holiday message to all employees, recognizing their contributions and dedication
Employees were able to redeem a meaningful gift of their choice within a set budget
Team meetings included time to reflect on the year’s achievements and express appreciation for the team’s hard work
End-of-year awards recognized standout performers and team achievements
A holiday party brought employees together to celebrate, connect, and close out the year on a high note
The Impact of
Their Approach
Jordan felt proud to work at a company that truly walks the talk on recognition. Team morale was high, turnover risk was low and engagement scores spiked in the post-holiday pulse survey.
As you can see, the difference between a thoughtful recognition plan and a missed opportunity is huge for morale, retention and overall engagement.
Before you dive into planning your own holiday recognition efforts, use this quick checklist to make sure your approach lands on the ‘nice’ list.
The Wrong Way: Meet Travis at Apex Systems Co.
A single, generic holiday email was sent from the CEO with no personalization or specific acknowledgments
No team-based or peer-to-peer recognition moments were encouraged or facilitated
Frontline employees received no recognition, no communication, and were left completely out of the holiday messaging
Managers weren’t given any guidance or reminders to recognize their direct reports
No end-of-year awards were hosted to spotlight employee achievements
No budget was allocated for holiday gifts, rewards, or small tokens of appreciation
No time was set aside in team meetings or communication channels for appreciation or shoutouts
A holiday party was canceled due to “timing conflicts” and never rescheduled
How They Chose to Recognize Their Employees
There wasn’t much of a plan. Aside from a last-minute holiday email, employees received little to no acknowledgment for their hard work during the year — and it showed.
The Holiday Recognition Plan
Travis felt forgotten. Frontline teams grumbled about feeling invisible. Several high performers started updating their resumes by New Year’s. HR noted a major dip in morale and a spike in exit interviews.
The Impact of
Their Approach
Your Holiday Recognition Checklist
Before the season gets too busy, make sure your holiday recognition plans check all the right boxes:
Equip managers with tips, templates, and reminders to help them deliver timely and meaningful recognition.
Send personalized, branded eCards to employees and managers to thank them for their contributions.
Host end-of-year awards to spotlight top performers and celebrate standout team achievements.
Provide inclusive recognition that reaches remote, hybrid and frontline employees.
Avoid last-minute scramble by planning recognition moments in advance.
Recognize dedication and team achievements by celebrating hard work, big wins and standout contributions in visible ways.
Include a thoughtful gift to each employee that aligns with your budget and their preferences.
Share a company-wide message from leadership that includes a heartfelt thank-you and happy holiday wishes from the executive team
Bring people together with a holiday party or team celebration.
Create a festive recognition activity, such as hanging notes of appreciation as ornaments on a holiday tree or building a wall of gratitude in the office.
Recognize managers for their leadership and support throughout the year with a personalized message and/or small token of appreciation.
Download the Holiday Recognition Checklist and make
this holiday season one to remember!
Don’t land on the naughty list this year. Inspirus can help you create a holiday recognition experience your employees will appreciate (and remember for all the right reasons).
Spread Holiday Cheer with Inspirus
