Question: What sort of things (parties, white elephant exchanges, etc.) does your office do during the holidays? Why (or why don't you) do them?
White Elephant Exchange
"Around Christmas, we throw a Christmas party. Instead of bringing gifts and things like that, we give away a white elephant gift valued at under $10. This allows people to show a side that you typically don't see. It also allows the business to be a little cheaper and not give gifts. Everyone leaves happy and you can reward others in different ways."
@johnrampton
Thanksgiving Gratitude Party
"December is always a cranking time, party and event-wise, so my team elected to do a Thanksgiving breakfast party. Every member of our "BAMily" brings a little gift of thanks for everyone else on the team, be it a personal note, a trinket, flowers, whatever. This type of gratitude party celebrates one another, as well as our team's accomplishments of the year."
@BamComm
Remote Employees
"Our organization is comprised of remote workers, so traditional holiday celebrations don't work for us. And I wouldn't feel right in scheduling a virtual event, as my team spans different time zones, from coast to coast."
@moneycrashers
Secret Santa
"We don't do an elaborate holiday party, but always make sure to do a Secret Santa. While it's a small thing, it brings employees together and makes everyone get to know one another a bit better."
@joshaweiss
Extended Time Off
"Instead of a big fancy party or gifts that no one really wants, we give our employees extended time off. It shows them that we recognize their hard work throughout the year. Productivity usually goes down around the holidays anyways -- why not let them re-energize and come back after the holidays with a refreshed spirit?"
@abnsave
Engaging Events
"We usually do a party that brings everyone together. A few years ago, we did a cooking a class; it turned out to be a great team-building exercise and amazing entertainment."
@vgendelman
Customer-Centric Holiday Parties
"For the past few years, we have had holiday parties in our office. But these are about our customers, not our team. Everyone is invited (we had folks from out of town last year!). It's not fancy, but it's our way of saying thanks. Our company is built on customer engagement -- fans vote for our watch designs and advise us on new products, so meeting face-to-face is the best party option there is!"
@MosesOfWatches
Winter Wishes
"Every employee at ZinePak selects a child, teen or adult from the New York Cares Winter Wishes program during the holiday season. We shop, decorate cards and then wrap presents as a team for our holiday activity. Being able to help others who wouldn't otherwise receive gifts during the holidays not only brings our team together, but it reminds us to appreciate what we have."
@kimkaupe
Field Trips
"Last year, some of my staff and board members traveled with me into a disaster zone -- post-typhoon in the Philippines. Nothing is more unifying than working together to save peoples’ lives. This allowed us to see our work in action, connect with international team members and learn so much about one another. Now we have a shared understanding that carries us through challenging times."
@MinaChang
