How to keep your remote team engaged before the holidays

This article provides some strategies for boosting team spirit and strengthening bonds to make the holidays more festive for remote employees.

Celebrate Successes Together

At the end of the year, employees usually reflect on the things they have achieved. Praise is essential for workers because kind words motivate them to work harder in the future. Also, it is important for many people to feel like part of a team and realize that they are doing something worthwhile. Recognizing different milestones, such as meeting deadlines, coming up with innovative ideas, and contributing to sales growth, can significantly boost morale.

Holding an online meeting with remote employees is important because, for many employees, receiving kind words in front of their colleagues is a pleasant experience. This meeting could be made more engaging by including photos, graphics, and other visual elements. Digital certificates and financial rewards would be highly appreciated.

Note even small contributions. To do this, it is important to notice even small successes of the employee throughout the year. Recognizing these small achievements shows that every effort is valued and encourages continued engagement. Celebrating incremental progress can boost morale and strengthen the sense of belonging within the team.

Obviously, employees love incentives. According to Blackhawk Network, remote workers overwhelmingly prefer prepaid and gift cards as incentives, with 84% naming them their most desirable form of reward. Physical cards (52%) and digital cards (48%) were nearly equally favored. Furthermore, 84% said receiving rewards would increase their loyalty to the company. 

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Host a Virtual Holiday Gathering

The remote team cannot be physically present, but this doesn't mean they have to miss out on celebrating. A virtual gathering can create an atmosphere of joy and happiness.

When organizing such an event, there are several things to keep in mind:

1. Themed Dress Code. The festive dress code adds excitement to the virtual party. It is suggested to choose the dress code ahead of time to give employees enough time to prepare, so they can get involved and show their creativity. Topics such as ugly sweaters, festive hats, and winter wonderland can be chosen. Don't forget to take pictures while having this event.
2. Holiday Games. For remote teams, online-friendly games are a great way to bring everyone together. Here are some games that employees can play during such a meeting:

• Holiday Trivia. Create a festive holiday quiz with different categories like Christmas traditions, holiday movies, or winter fun facts. 

To create a holiday trivia about your company, combine festive questions with fun company-specific facts, milestones, or inside jokes. Add a small prize or recognition to make it engaging for remote employees.                  

• Zoom Scavenger Hunt. Prepare a list of holiday-related items (candles, lanterns, stockings, holiday treats) and challenge employees to find and show them on camera within 60 seconds.
• Name the Holiday Tune. Play famous holiday songs for a short period and have others guess them. Divide people into teams, or play individually.
• Holiday Show and Tell. Each team member brings something meaningful from their home (favorite ornament, festive treat, or cozy decoration) and shares a short story about it. This tradition sparks warm conversations and allows colleagues to know more about each other. This also strengthens bonds across the remote team.
• Virtual Secret Santa Guessing Game. Organize a Secret Santa gift exchange among your employees and add excitement with a guessing game. During the reveal, everyone can try to guess their Secret Santas before the giver reveals their identity. This activity will help remote employees feel more connected to the company.

How to organize a Secret Santa Gift Exchange for the remote team?

To organize a Secret Santa gift exchange for remote workers, start by using an online tool that automatically assigns gifts and keeps them secret. One such tool is the free Secret Santa app, MySanta App, which allows everyone to create a wish list to get gift ideas. Discuss with your team members whether they want to participate and set a budget for gifts.

Gifts should be affordable and suitable for everyone. Consider digital gifts like e-cards, online subscriptions, or local delivery. This activity adds a touch of surprise and laughter and brings the team together.

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Organize Fun End-of-Year Challenges

Usually, it is hard to keep employees motivated at the end of the year. However, some entertaining challenges can help lift their spirits and increase their competitiveness, as well as give them a sense of belonging.

Here are some ideas:

1. Step Count Challenge. One month before the celebration, invite remote employees to participate in this challenge. This encourages more fitness activity in the cold season, serotonin production, and helps to feel more energized. Plus, employees will be seduced by receiving a prize for this challenge.
2. Photo Contest. Choose a topic for the photo contest and ask participants to submit their favourite picture. Others will vote for the best one.
3. Desk Decoration Contest. It is a creative activity for everyone. Employees should decorate their desks in a festive style, adding elements they like. To make it more engaging, schedule a virtual tour where participants can show off their creations during a team call. Colleagues can then vote for the most festive, original, or funny setup.
4. Year-in-Review Quiz. This activity is a fun way to review company milestones and remember memorable moments. Simple questions are chosen to allow employees to answer quickly. The fastest employee who demonstrates deep knowledge of the company wins a small prize, which is a great way to celebrate success while strengthening team spirit ahead of the holidays.

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Prioritize Wellness

The holiday season is usually stressful with its looming deadlines and the need to finish all tasks before vacation. Therefore, workers become exhausted and their mental health deteriorates significantly. 

Here are some statistics on workers' mental health:

76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition, with 84% indicating that workplace conditions contributed to these challenges.  Source

38% of remote employees experience burnout due to increased work hours and lack of support. Source

82% of remote workers feel pressured to work more hours, and 67% use personal devices for work, contributing to stress. Source

Managers can take measures to help remote workers feel better. Some of these measures include:

1. Letting workers take some time off before the holidays start, so they can prepare for the holidays in a relaxed way and not think about work.
2. Introducing a flexible working schedule a couple of weeks before holidays, so employees can go shopping or do other personal things when there aren't many people around.
3. Sharing wellness resources, such as online courses, meditation apps, and fitness programs, to support employees' mental and physical well-being.

When employees feel that leadership respects their well-being, they are more likely to remain motivated and engaged.

Conclusion

Some weeks before the holiday should not be overwhelming for remote workers. With some deliberate actions, such as festive online events, organizing virtual meetings, and introducing a Secret Santa exchange, you can create a positive and relaxed atmosphere for workers. Even a small effort can help remote workers feel included, valued, and appreciated.

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