Celebrating Thanksgiving in the Workplace
The fourth Thursday in November is an occasion to give thanks and enjoy a feast with family, friends, and loved ones. Most offices are closed for Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the holiday in the workplace. We’ve put together some tips for making the fourth Wednesday in November – or whichever day you choose to celebrate – an occasion to thank your employees for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
Giving Thanks in the Office
Thanksgiving isn’t all about turkey and pumpkin pie. Its real meaning is right there in the name: giving thanks. Showing your employees how much you appreciate them will go a long way toward helping morale. It doesn’t have to involve a big feast – they’ll have plenty of food the next day! Instead, try the following:
- Organize a team activity. Put together something fun that involves the whole office. This might involve a potluck, a gift exchange, or a festive game that celebrates the season – think “pin the tail on the turkey” or something equally creative and fun. Offer prizes to the winners – a turkey, ham, or pumpkin pie are all appropriate.
- Create a “thank you” bulletin board. Hang a bulletin board in a common area, such as a kitchen or breakroom, and adorn it with Post-It notes thanking each employee for their contributions to the workplace. You might mention a big project they were involved on, an idea they had, or even the fact that they show up every morning with a smile on their face.
- Hold a pageant. Thanksgiving pageants are a rite of passage for most grade schoolers. Turn the idea on its head and hold an office pageant, but instead of dressing up as pilgrims and talking about the Mayflower, tell your company story instead! It’s a fun and lighthearted way of educating your employees who might not know the history behind the organization.
- Encourage volunteering. “Thanks” is only half the equation. You can focus on “giving” by setting up an opportunity for employees to volunteer their time at a food bank, homeless shelter, Meals on Wheels program, etc. Provide them with this important time off so they don’t have to cash in PTO hours.
- Sponsor an event. Your company can take the reins and organize a community event, such as an Open House or silent auction, and donate the proceeds to charity. Organizing a canned food drive, collecting donations for Toys for Tots, and adopting a family for the holidays are other excellent ways to involve everybody.