The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and for me, that always feels like more than just another date on the calendar. It’s a chance to pause, reflect on the past year, and recognize the people who made the journey possible. As a leader, I’ve learned that one of the easiest places to find gratitude is in your workforce. And what better way to express that than by exploring thoughtful holiday employee appreciation ideas?
Showing your appreciation for employees isn’t just a kind gesture. It’s actually one of the smartest business moves you can make. Recognition directly impacts retention and productivity. In fact, 83% of employees feel that recognition affects their motivation to succeed at work, and 82% of workers report being happier when they’re recognized on the job.
Going Beyond the Mass “Thank You!” Card
For years, I thought sending a company-wide holiday card was enough. But let’s be honest: your employees dedicate far too much of their lives to your organization’s goals for a generic greeting to really cut it. They deserve more. And when they get the recognition they deserve, the payoff can be incredible for them and for the company.
Showing appreciation for the sacrifices your workforce makes each year is inevitably going to improve employee engagement. According to NectarHR, 78% of employees would be more productive if they were recognized more frequently. In other words, one of the most practical holiday staff appreciation ideas is also one of the simplest: find meaningful ways to thank your employees.
The question is: how do you move beyond the generic holiday thank you message to employees and create something that truly sticks? That’s where the ideas below come in.
How to Write a Holiday Appreciation Message to Employees
The days of mass holiday cards for employees are behind us. I’ve found that employees want something much more personal: they want to be seen and valued for the unique skills and traits they bring to your organization. Here are some tips to write your personalized holiday thank you note to employees:
- Highlight their impact: Use the employee’s name and mention specific contributions or achievements that they’ve made this year. Be as detailed as possible, emphasizing how their work influenced the team or company’s success.
- Be timely: Prepare and send the thank you notes during the holidays or soon after the holiday season while the sentiment is still fresh. If they’re sent out late, it seems less genuine.
- Handwrite, if possible: A handwritten note adds a personal touch that’s often appreciated and shows employees that you thoughtfully crafted each card.
- Keep it concise: Aim for 3-5 sentences to maintain impact without overwhelming the reader.
- Express genuine gratitude: Be sincere in your appreciation for their work and dedication. It’s easy to spot the difference between a mass send-off or an AI-generated sentiment and a heartfelt holiday thank you message to employees.
- Look forward: Include a brief, positive statement about the coming year for that specific employee and the company as a whole.
- Proofread carefully: Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors to avoid employees thinking you rushed the card.
- Acknowledge personal sacrifices: If applicable, recognize any extra hours or special efforts during busy periods. The holidays are the best time to thank employees for their commitment to your company.
5 Meaningful Activities as a Holiday Thank You to Employees
When I think about holiday employee appreciation ideas, I always come back to one thing: impact. The best gestures don’t just check a box: they make life easier, more joyful, or more meaningful for your team. With that in mind, here are five simple but powerful ways to express gratitude this season and inspire employees to feel more engaged in the year ahead.
1. Monetary Recognition
Perhaps the simplest and most direct way to give thanks to your workforce during the holiday season is by giving them some extra money. At the end of the day, employees come to work to make a living and provide for their families. Offering financial recognition is a straightforward way to say “thank you” and make that responsibility feel a little lighter.
Monetary gifts to consider include:
- Year-end bonuses
- Profit shares
- Gift cards
- Cash
The holiday season may be the time of giving, but it’s also a time when financial hardships are the most glaring for many Americans. This is why it remains one of the most practical Christmas staff appreciation ideas. Even a little extra at year’s end can make a bigger difference than you might realize.
This past holiday season, I made the experience a little more fun for everyone: When holiday bonus time came around, I sent a personalized email with a QR code for my team to scan, which led to a card for them to scratch and reveal their bonus amount. It added an exciting element to the usual yearly antics!
2. Offer Awesome Holiday Perks
There are plenty of other perks you can offer your employees during the holiday season. A festive holiday party, for example, can be more than just fun. It can bring your organization closer together and strengthen company culture.
You may also consider getting them a thoughtful gift. Cash is always appreciated, but sometimes a personalized gift feels more meaningful when offering holiday thanks. Employees notice when you take the time to choose something that fits them.
Today’s workforce also enjoys flexibility in the workplace, and there is no better time of year for a bit of flexibility than the holiday season.
Whether it’s leaving early, coming in late, taking an extra day off, or taking a break from a regular workday for some holiday fun, employees will always appreciate when you loosen up the normal schedule during this busy season. This is one of those holiday employee appreciation gifts that costs you very little but gives back in loyalty and motivation.
3. Make a Charitable Donation in Their Name
Giving money to your employees is certainly a meaningful way to express your gratitude, but it may be even more meaningful to them if you give a charitable donation in their name to an organization of their choice.
Suppose that you were to speak personally to your employees about what kind of charities are meaningful to them. Not only would you be giving back, but you’d also learn more about who they are outside of work. That kind of connection matters. If you were to donate to those charities in their name, you can build a stronger connection with them.
You could even hold a charitable holiday event for your team. Events like these are powerful ways to combine giving back with team bonding. These events spark engagement, strengthen relationships, and spread the holiday spirit.
4. Unique Holiday Team Bonding Events
One of my favorite holiday employee appreciation ideas is bringing the team together through shared experiences. Adding team bonding to your holiday checklist isn’t just fun. It’s a proven way to boost morale, engagement, and connection.
Virtual Holiday Happy Hour
Allow your workforce to let loose, connect with coworkers, and learn a thing or two about making a mean mixed drink with a Holiday Happy Hour & Mixology event. It’s a lighthearted way to celebrate while building stronger relationships across the team.
Gingerbread House Building
Try a unique twist on a traditional holiday activity with Gingerbread House Hunters. Employees break into teams and attempt to build the most fantastic gingerbread house of them all. It’s festive, creative, and a great example of how Christmas staff appreciation ideas can double as team building.
Ultimate Holiday Party
The Ultimate Holiday Party is full of laughs and fantastic holiday memories. Your team cycles through 30-minute rounds of creative, engaging, and challenging team building activities. Each round is designed to spark collaboration, strengthen relationships, and deliver plenty of holiday cheer.
5. Offer Interesting Learning Opportunities
Money and physical gifts have their intrinsic value, but some of your employees might prioritize a learning experience above either of them.
Allowing staff the opportunity to take a course of their choosing to expand their knowledge and skills may be the perfect way to let them know that their contributions to your organization are appreciated. This is one of those holiday staff appreciation ideas that continues to pay off long after the season ends. Investing in their growth sends a powerful message: you value not just their work today, but their future as well.
Give A Warm Holiday Thank You to Employees In 2025
There are countless ways to give thanks to your employees this year, from cash, to thoughtful gifts, to holiday team building activities.
The key is remembering that the best holiday employee appreciation ideas aren’t one-size-fits-all. The most meaningful gestures are the ones tailored to the individuals themselves. What would matter most to each person on your team? A bonus? Flexibility? A shared experience they’ll never forget?
If you can answer that question, then you’ll know exactly how to give your employees the credit they deserve this holiday season and set the stage for a stronger, more engaged team in the year ahead.
