12 Creative Ways to Engage Employees During the Holidays

As the holidays approach, workplaces buzz with excitement, planning, and a sense of togetherness.

It’s the perfect time to reflect on achievements, express gratitude, and strengthen bonds across your organization. For internal communications professionals, this is an opportunity to ignite holiday cheer while building meaningful connections with employees. 

Here are 12 creative strategies to ensure your holiday season is filled with joy, appreciation, and engagement for everyone in your organization. 

1. Personalized Messages

Sending a heartfelt, personalized “thank you” can make a world of difference during the holidays. Encourage leaders to craft tailored e-cards or emails that mention specific contributions of individuals or teams. If a team delivered a crucial project ahead of schedule, highlight their efforts. According to Gallup, employees who feel recognized are 63% more likely to stay at their job. This small gesture fosters loyalty, morale, and a sense of being valued—perfect for ending the year on a positive note. 

2. Peer-to-Peer Recognition

Peer-to-peer recognition is a powerful strategy to boost employee engagement during the holiday season, creating a culture of appreciation and camaraderie. Using an internal communications platform, organizations can enable employees to easily celebrate each other’s contributions, whether through shoutouts, virtual kudos, or digital badges. According to Gallup, employees who feel adequately recognized are 4.6 times more likely to be engaged at work. This season, consider launching a holiday-themed recognition campaign—such as a “12 Days of Gratitude” initiative—where team members highlight colleagues' accomplishments or acts of kindness. Featuring these recognitions on a shared platform not only uplifts individual morale but also strengthens team dynamics, creating a ripple effect of positivity throughout the organization. 

3. Festive Polls and Surveys

Engage employees with lighthearted holiday-themed polls like “What’s your favorite holiday dessert?” or “Which holiday movie character best describes your boss?” Incorporate these on your internal communication platform and offer small prizes, like coffee gift cards or festive merchandise, for participation. Polls not only create interaction but also promote inclusivity by encouraging employees to share personal traditions and preferences, making everyone feel more connected. 

4. Virtual Holiday Hangouts

For remote or hybrid teams, organize creative virtual celebrations to bring everyone together. Ideas include hosting a holiday-themed trivia game, virtual cookie-decorating sessions, or storytelling events where employees share their favorite holiday memories. Use an internal communication platform to promote these events and share photos or highlights afterward, ensuring that even the most geographically dispersed team members feel part of the festivities. 

5. Year-in-Review Highlights

A “year in review” is a thoughtful way to celebrate collective achievements and express gratitude. Use videos or interactive infographics on your internal communication platform to highlight milestones, major wins, and employee contributions. You can include shoutouts for employees who went above and beyond, or spotlight departments that achieved remarkable results. Acknowledging these moments creates a sense of pride and belonging as employees reflect on their impact. 

6. Surprise Giveaways

Delight employees with unexpected giveaways like holiday gift boxes, e-gift cards, or bonus time off. Use an internal communication platform to announce these surprises through a fun, engaging format—like a festive lottery or mystery box reveal. Research shows that unexpected rewards can boost job satisfaction by up to 40%, making this a simple but effective way to show appreciation and lift spirits. 

7. Wellness and Balance Tips

The holiday season can be stressful, so prioritize employees’ mental and physical well-being. Share wellness resources such as guided meditation sessions, tips for balancing work and family, or holiday budget planning tools. Use your internal communication platform to create a dedicated wellness hub where employees can easily access these resources. Demonstrating care for their well-being fosters trust and engagement. 

8. Spotlighting Deskless Workers

Deskless workers often feel left out during celebrations. Use your internal communication platform to feature their unique contributions through videos, interviews, or shoutouts. For example, create a “Day in the Life” series to showcase the essential roles they play in keeping the organization running smoothly. Ensuring inclusivity during the holidays strengthens engagement across the workforce. 

9. Creative Contests and Challenges

Fuel employee creativity with fun, holiday-themed contests like “Best Holiday Desk Décor,” “Festive Sweater Contest,” or “DIY Ornament Challenge.” Promote these competitions on your internal communication platform, allowing employees to upload their entries and vote for favorites. Recognize winners with fun prizes to build excitement and camaraderie. 

10. Gamified Communication

Make internal updates more engaging by gamifying them with holiday-themed trivia games. For instance, include fun facts about the organization’s year or employee achievements in a quiz format. Reward participation with festive perks, like company swag or holiday treats. Gamification not only improves engagement but also ensures employees pay attention to important messages. 

11. Collaborative Music Playlists

Bring employees together by inviting them to contribute to a shared holiday playlist. Use your internal communication platform to gather song suggestions and share the playlist organization-wide. This activity adds a personal touch to celebrations and creates a sense of unity as everyone’s musical tastes come together to set the festive mood. 

12. Equipping Leaders

Leaders play a crucial role in spreading holiday cheer. Provide managers with resources like customizable e-cards, talking points for team meetings, and holiday-themed communication templates. Use your internal communication platform to deliver these resources and share best practices. Empowered leaders can create a ripple effect of positivity and ensure that every employee feels valued during the holidays. 

Sparrow Connected: The Solution to Holiday Engagement Challenges 

Engaging employees during the holiday season can be tough, especially with dispersed teams, busy schedules, and varied communication preferences. Sparrow Connected addresses these challenges with cutting-edge features designed to drive meaningful connections and engagement: 

• Personalized Messaging: Use the platform's dynamic content tools to send custom holiday greetings or thank-you messages directly to employees via their preferred channels—email, intranet, or mobile app. 
• Recognition Made Simple: Leverage Sparrow Connected's Employee Recognition Wall to enable peer-to-peer shoutouts, celebrating contributions in a way that builds a culture of gratitude. 
• Interactive Polls & Surveys: With tools like real-time feedback forms and polls, you can engage employees in fun holiday activities, such as voting on festive playlists or sharing favorite traditions. 
• Mobile-First Communication: For deskless workers, the platform’s mobile app ensures they stay connected and appreciated through push notifications, updates, and tailored announcements—all accessible on the go. 
• Year-in-Review Highlights: Showcase milestones and achievements from the past year through visually engaging storyboards or dashboards, easily created and shared within the platform. 
• Manager Support Resources: Equip leaders with ready-to-use templates, talking points, and toolkits to deliver heartfelt holiday messages that resonate across teams. 

Sparrow Connected’s robust analytics tools let you measure the success of your engagement efforts, providing actionable insights to optimize your strategies. Whether it's creating personalized communications, spotlighting deskless workers, or enabling real-time recognition, Sparrow Connected gives you the tools to ensure no employee feels left out this holiday season. Let Sparrow Connected help you transform your holiday communications into an unforgettable experience for your team!  

A Time to Celebrate Together 

The holidays are more than just a festive season—they’re an opportunity to deepen connections, show gratitude, and celebrate your team’s efforts. By incorporating these thoughtful, creative strategies, you can make this season memorable for everyone in your organization. 

Ready to revolutionize your internal communications? Explore the power of Sparrow Connected through Augmented Reality (AR) on your mobile device. Click here to learn more and end the year strong—start the next one even stronger! 

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