Employee rewards are a great way to boost morale but the usual, predictable, annual “rewards” like the Christmas party are not appreciated as much as you might think they are.
Some of these events are among the most awkward and unenjoyable ever attended in my career. I’ve seen it all; feeling that you’re fulfilling an obligation rather than enjoying yourself; having to make small talk with the boss’s wife; dealing with a drunk supervisor trying to hit on your date; and so forth. Even if your employees think that you’re a good boss, it doesn’t mean that they want to socialize with you.
So, dump the predictable and routine “rewards” and do something unusual and spontaneous. And do it throughout the year; don’t wait for the year end. A day off on their birthday, a gift certificate for a nice dinner with their partner (without you there making it awkward), or tickets to an amusement park for their kids are all better ideas than the usual and predictable employee “rewards.”
But even if you have a staff that really enjoy an annual dinner or some other predictable event, it doesn’t let you off the hook for showing your appreciation with rewards throughout the year.