Celebrating the holidays with your team is an integral part of building morale. BusinessCollective and YEC recently asked me and ten other startup founders what our best tip was for celebrations. I personally love white elephant gift exchanges—and it’s completely up to you what the rules may be. For Due.com, the gift can’t cost more than $10, and “re-gifting” is highly recommended. It’s a way to keep costs in check, have fun, and show off your quirky side.
Other ideas include taking a field trip or a winter wishes project (“adopting” a child, teen, or family to contribute gifts to as a team). Field trips don’t have to be costly and in fact many can be free, such as touring the best holiday lights together.
You might also try a prize wheel or simply giving a different sized bonus than normal. Remember that bonuses aren’t a promise unless built into the employees’ contract, so don’t feel obligated to stick to the same amount each year (or to keep one upping yourself!). When it comes to the holidays, there are many ways to celebrate.
