Employee Recognition Program for Christmas

Program Overview

Recommended for: Holiday gifting season such as Christmas

Type: Monetary program where employees can send swag items instead of points

Scope: Local or Global

Eligibility: All employees

Social Feed: Public

Threshold: send and receive 2 swag packs

Budget: None

Points #: None

Approval: Manager Approval

Recognition channels:  Desktop, Email

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Phase 1: Planning

Step 1: Start by setting up program goals

Before designing your recognition program, establish clear goals that outline what you aim to achieve and how you plan to achieve it. This step is essential for creating a program that aligns with your objectives and delivers impact.

Regardless of the program type, we strongly recommend identifying a set of values the company wants to promote through the recognition program. These values should reflect both your company culture and the spirit of the Christmas season, fostering a sense of purpose and alignment.

Example GOAL: Strengthen company connections and inspire employees through meaningful and timely recognition.

Example KPIs:Number of sent recognitions through the Christmas Holiday Program

Example Christmas Program Values:

• Excellence: Celebrating outstanding contributions.
• Selflessness: Encouraging acts of kindness and collaboration.
• Inclusion: Embracing diversity and ensuring everyone feels valued.
• Safety: Promoting a secure and supportive environment.

Setting these foundations ensures your program resonates deeply with employees while enhancing engagement and cultural alignment.

Phase 2: Setup

Here’s how to set up the program within the recognition and rewards system.

Step 1: Create transparent program guidelines and description

Program Name: Share the Christmas Spirit 🎄🎁

Program Description: Celebrate the holidays with Share the Christmas Spirit! This festive recognition program lets you share the joy by selecting and sending up to two Christmas swag packages to your colleagues. Whether it’s a token of appreciation or a surprise to brighten their day, it’s the perfect way to spread holiday cheer and foster meaningful connections across the team. Give, receive, and celebrate the season together! 🎄🎁

Step 2: Define access points

Employees can access the recognition program through various entry points:

1. HCM: Integrated with systems like SAP SuccessFactors or Oracle HCM, employees seamlessly access the recognition program without leaving the HCM interface.
2. Desktop: The most commonly used entry point across our client base is the desktop application.
3. Mobile: Your employees can use the mobile app.  
4. Email: Your employees can receive notifications via email.
5. SMS: For your deskless employees ensure a consistent holiday recognition experience by enabling SMS functionality.

Consider: Before selecting communication channels, evaluate the characteristics of your workforce. For instance, if a significant portion of employees are deskless and lack access to workplace technology like laptops, consider leveraging SMS recognition. This ensures all employees feel included and appreciated, regardless of their access to traditional digital tools.

Phase 3: Communication

Effective communication is crucial for success. Ensure your communication plan covers before, during, and after the program implementation. Tailor it to include a mix of digital and offline channels for maximum impact.

Step 1: Digital Promotion Templates

Before Go-Live Announcement

Subject Line: 🎁 Something Festive is Coming Soon!

Body:

Hey [FIRST_NAME],

Get ready to Share the Christmas Spirit! 🎄

We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new recognition program launching soon, just in time for the holidays. This festive initiative will give you the opportunity to spread cheer by selecting and sending special Christmas swag packages to your colleagues.

Stay tuned for more details—this is your chance to make the season brighter for your team and foster meaningful connections.

The countdown to Christmas joy has begun! 🌟

Cheers,

Your [COMPANY NAME] Team

Go-Live Announcement

Subject Line:🎄 Share the Christmas Spirit is Live!

Body:

Hey [FIRST_NAME],

The wait is over—Share the Christmas Spirit is officially here! 🎁

Now, you can brighten a colleague’s day by sending them a thoughtful Christmas swag package. It’s the perfect way to show appreciation and celebrate the season together.

✨ How it Works:

• Select up to two colleagues and send them Christmas swag packages

• Add a personal note to make it extra special.

• Send and enjoy spreading holiday cheer!

Don’t wait—log in now and start sharing the joy! The program is available until 24th December 2024, so make the most of it.

[PROGRAM LINK}

Wishing you a joyful Christmas season!

Cheers,

Your [COMPANY NAME] Team

After Go-Live Reminder

After the program launch, continuously engage employees, here is one example:

Subject Line:🎄 Share the Christmas Spirit is Live!

Body:

Hey [FIRST_NAME],

Time is running out to Share the Christmas Spirit! 🎄

This is your last chance to select two colleagues and send up to two swag packages as part of this festive recognition program. Show your appreciation and make someone’s holiday a little brighter before the program closes on 24th December 2024.

Don’t miss this opportunity to spread holiday cheer and strengthen connections with your team.

[INCERT PROGRAM LINK: Send Your Christmas Swag Today]

Wishing you a joyful Christmas season!  

Cheers,

Your [COMPANY NAME] Team

Consider: To create a constant and engaging program communication experience, we suggest you also consider implementing an employee communications tool that will enable you to target the right audience, brand the communications, and add interactive elements such as images, videos, CTAs, and quick surveys.

Step 2: Recognition Program Promotion

Offline Communication Ideas

Promote your Christmas recognition program with these offline communication strategies:

• Launch Events: Organize a festive kickoff event featuring flyers, photo booths, and printed recognition cards.

• TV Displays: Use large screens to showcase the program’s social wall, spreading holiday cheer in real-time.

• Kiosks: Set up kiosks for employees to participate in the program, especially in high-traffic areas.

• Posters: Place eye-catching posters in common areas to announce and explain the program.

Online Communication Ideas

Boost visibility with these online communication channels:

• Email Banners: Add a festive banner to emails to remind employees of the program.

• SharePoint Banner: Highlight the program on your internal SharePoint homepage.  

• Platform Announcements: Use your internal communication platform to share updates and details.

• Landing Page Promotions: Feature an engaging landing image inside the recognition system that is linked directly to the program for easy access.

Extra Tip: To add even more fun and festive spirit to the Christmas season, consider incorporating additional recognition tactics. For example, you could introduce a holiday-themed game, such as a scratch card activity where employees can play and earn points as rewards. This interactive element not only adds excitement but also increases engagement during the holiday season.

Phase 4: Measurement

Measure the effectiveness of your recognition program by leveraging the reports within the platform. These reports offer insights into key metrics, such as:

• Most Recognized Company Values: Identify which values resonate most with employees based on recognition frequency.

• Number of Recognitions Sent: Track overall engagement and participation levels within your program.

These data points help refine your strategy, improve engagement, and ensure your program’s success. Use these insights to celebrate achievements and make data-driven decisions for future initiatives.

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