A Guide To Thanksgiving For Remote Teams: How To Show Your Gratitude
With Turkey Day right around the corner, we are certainly all gearing up for the delicious Thanksgiving feast. But we should also keep in sight the real purpose of this special day, which is to share and give thanks to those around you—friends, family, life partners, and, of course, your employees! Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to show your team that you are grateful for the hard work they put in to keep your business efficient and successful. This is especially important for remote teams who don't interact with supervisors as much as in-office teams do. In this article, you will find 5 ways to get Thanksgiving for remote teams right by showing appreciation and keeping your employees satisfied and engaged.
5 Ways To Show Your Appreciation To Your Remote Employees
1. Send Thank-You Messages
You might think that this is unnecessary or even corny, but your employees will appreciate it more than you might expect. In a world of 24/7 connectivity, we often forget to say the things that mean the most. So, take some time out of your day to handcraft a few messages that express how grateful you are for the unique contributions each one of your employees brings to the team. Mention a specific achievement or value that makes you feel thankful for them. Don't worry if you can't send handwritten cards to your remote team; an email with a personal touch will go a long way.
2. Personalized Gift Baskets
It's common practice among businesses to give their employees a gift basket during the holiday season. But more often than not, they are packed with generic gifts, such as wine or chocolate. Wouldn't it be much better if these gift packages contained things that are customized to your remote employees' interests? For example, if someone likes reading, you can send them a book or a few new yarns if knitting is more of their thing. Making an effort to learn about everyone's hobbies and passions to gift them something that they will truly appreciate and use will make your employees feel appreciated and valued.
3. Give An Extra Day Off
A great way to give thanks to your remote teams is to give them a much-needed break from work. You could give them Black Friday off or an extra day that they can use as they wish. There's no doubt that they will be delighted to have a long weekend, especially after taking on a larger workload than usual as they gear up for the end of the year. An extra day off will not only prove how thankful you are for their hard work but also allow them to unwind so that they can return rejuvenated and refreshed to their responsibilities.
4. Offer A Cash Bonus
Thanksgiving is a time of many expenses for all. There is grocery shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, buying gifts for loved ones, traveling to spend time with family, and more. Therefore, there is no better way to express your gratitude than a monetary reward. This could be a salary bonus or a gift card they can use to buy the turkey or snatch a Black Friday deal. Whichever direction you choose to go, such rewards are a great way to engage your employees and boost their productivity by reminding them that their work doesn't go unnoticed.
5. Plan A Virtual Thanksgiving Get-Together
Even though Thanksgiving gatherings look different for remote teams, they can still be as effective in bringing the team together as face-to-face ones. You can organize a team meeting the day before Thanksgiving to play fun games, share favorite holiday traditions and stories, and get to know each other a little better. These virtual get-togethers are also a great opportunity to reflect on the successes of your company in the past year and give shout-outs to specific employees for their accomplishments. In addition, they will make employees feel appreciated and more aligned with their colleagues and the mission of the company.
Conclusion
Showing your appreciation and gratitude for your team's accomplishments and hard work can increase their engagement, boost their productivity, and improve morale company-wide. For these reasons, it's essential that you give thanks to your employees more often than once a year. Consistently acknowledging their achievements and rewarding their efforts is what will keep your business thriving in the long run. Follow the tips we shared in this article to create a festive Thanksgiving for your remote teams and foster a supportive and positive work environment.
