As the weather turns colder and the holiday season approaches, employees have more reasons than ever to be disengaged. According to a recent study, nearly two-thirds of workers believe they are less productive and have trouble concentrating during the colder months. Reasons cited include the stress and attention the holidays require, the emotional letdown afterward (the so-called “holiday blues”), a lack of natural sunlight, and the cold and gloomy weather. With all this working against employees and zapping their energy, it can be a struggle for leaders to keep their teams engaged during the winter months.
However, winter can be a fantastic time for festive and seasonal team-building activities. Effective team-building initiatives can increase employee engagement by up to 30%. Keeping your team involved and feeling good about the workplace culture throughout the hustle and bustle of winter is key to retention and employee satisfaction. Here’s our list of the top 10 winter employee engagement ideas you can implement with your team this year.
Celebrate the Season
At least 17 different holidays are celebrated during this time of year, and all of them are reason enough to connect with your teams. Break out the hot cocoa and candy canes—it’s time for some old-fashioned office holiday fun with these employee engagement ideas:
Host a Holiday Party
A yearly tradition at many companies (LCS included), hosting a holiday party is a great way to let your employees blow off steam, mingle, and enjoy one another’s company in a relaxed setting. Whether you host it at the office or rent out a venue, letting your team Jingle Bell Rock the night away is sure to be a hit.
Have a Happy Hour
In lieu of a full-on party, meeting coworkers for happy hour after work can have a similar festive effect. With a champagne toast to a productive new year, happy hour can be a great option for connection.
Hold Holiday-Themed Contests
There is no shortage of holiday-themed contests to bring camaraderie and friendly competition to the office. Whether you encourage your employees to don their ugliest sweaters, build the best gingerbread houses, or bake the best holiday goodies, the options are endless.
Have a Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift Exchange
Instead of stressing about getting employee appreciation gifts for your whole team, spread the love around and organize a Secret Santa exchange or a White Elephant party to bring the spirit of giving into the office. Keep the gift value low (less than $20) and see how creative your team can get on a budget. You may wind up with some thoughtful gifts that foster lasting workplace friendships.
Get Out of the Office
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up in the office to build team camaraderie. Getting your employees out and about together is a great way to facilitate employee engagement.
Go on a Winter Hike
Staying active during the winter months has a whole host of health benefits, including improved mood, lower blood pressure, and keeping your body strong. Bundle up and take the whole team outdoors so everyone can get some exercise and have fun while doing it. Reward yourselves with some hot chocolate after the hike for an added team-building boost.
Sing Karaoke
Fa-la-la-la-la! Whether you’ve got the pipes for Broadway or only sing in the shower, taking the team out for a karaoke night will surely be a fun excursion.
Go Ice Skating
Encourage your employees to lace up their skates and host an outing for some after-hours ice skating! Circling the rink is a classic wintertime tradition that your team is sure to appreciate.
See Some Holiday Lights
Whether at the zoo, downtown, or just in the neighborhood around the office, holiday light displays are everywhere at this time of year. Encourage your team to slow down, take a walk, and see some lights that are sure to put a smile on their faces.
Whether at a local food pantry, nonprofit organization, or school, volunteer opportunities are everywhere this time of year. Encourage your team to sign up to volunteer around your community and get your company name out there as a force for good.
Host a Charity Drive
You can also do good in the community without leaving the office! Host a charity drive and collect donations of canned goods, clothing, holiday gifts, or school supplies for people in need. You can even make the drive a competition for some added incentive for your team.
Year-Round Employee Engagement Ideas Abound at LCS
At LCS, we believe in cultivating a collaborative, involved company culture that includes team-building activities all year long. From the highly-anticipated LCS Olympics in the summer to our annual holiday party every December, our team strives to create as many opportunities as possible for us to connect and have fun with one another. And all that hard work has paid off! Voted a Top Workplace in Cincinnati for 13 years and counting, our robust employee engagement culture is one reason we’re a great place to work. Check out our open positions today and apply to find out for yourself.
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