A Christmas Bonus with all the Fixin's!

Workplaces that pile on the recognition and rewards during the most wonderful time of the year

By John Schofield

Nothing makes the holidays merrier than recognizing employees and clients for their hard work and loyalty throughout the year. And these companies do it right: They’re among the firms named as 2011's 50 Most Engaged Workplaces in Canada by Achievers (formerly I Love Rewards), the Toronto-based company that builds and manages employee recognition and rewards programs. Applicants for the honour are evaluated on eight elements of employee engagement: communication, leadership, culture, rewards and recognition, professional and personal growth, accountability and performance, vision and values, and corporate social responsibility. Here’s how these companies make the season brighter:

Flight Centre Canada
For the holidays, the Vancouver-based, national travel retailer amps up its monthly “buzz nights,” when employees are formally recognized for special contributions during the previous month. Buzz night awards can be converted to gift cards for everything from department stores and electronics to travel, and to fitness classes provided by Flight Centre’s Healthwise internal wellness consultant. Company spokeswoman Allison Wallace says the holiday celebrations are larger events, with 250 to 300 employees in regions across the country teaming up to enjoy food and drinks in attractive venues like the Vancouver Rowing Club or Toronto’s Carlu. In lieu of gifts, employees contribute to a charity. Last year, $20,000 was raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. During the holiday season, Flight Centre also hosts client appreciation nights in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa. Last year’s event in Vancouver brought together about 300 people at the city’s plush Shangri-La Hotel. They danced the night away to a live R&B band, snacked on appetizers and wine catered by the Shangri-La, and enjoyed prizes such as flights, hotel accommodations and parking vouchers.

Speakers’ Spotlight
Co-founder Martin Perelmuter says the holiday party put on by the Toronto-based speakers’ bureau has become “quite an event within the industry.” Traditionally held at the company’s downtown Toronto office, it attracts 300 to 400 clients, speakers, employees and their spouses, making it one of the industry’s largest seasonal social events and probably the only one that brings together a large number of meeting planners and speakers. It will be catered this year by 10tation Event Catering, says Cindy Sheridan, director of operations/event management. The company also hosts a dinner for the 28 employees in its Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary offices at a variety of restaurants including Alice Fazooli’s. Like many firms, Speakers’ Spotlight has traded gift-giving for charitable giving, with a holiday contribution from employees benefiting Pathways to Education, a charity for at-risk youth. The company closes its doors between Christmas and New Year’s, giving its staff an extra week off. Another nice perk: employees receive a year-end bonus, which is tied in part to individual and team performance.

Workopolis
The Toronto-based career website holds an annual New Year’s party in Toronto in late January or early February to honour its 245 employees across Canada for their dedication over the past year and to set the tone for the year ahead, says Nina Rizzi, manager of employee experience. The company also organizes a conference in Toronto for sales staff around the holidays. Workopolis participates each year in the Hope for Children Foundation’s Adopt-a-Family program, buying holiday gifts for up to 10 less fortunate families, and also makes a donation to a Canadian charity on behalf of its clients. Beneficiaries have included Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank, Unity for Autism, Movember and the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Canada.

other articles in this section

Swag-Bag Standouts

Banff, Alberta

Incentive Travel Insights

Gifting Guidance

The Renaissance of Incentive Travel

Promotional products your attendees will love. Really.

Incentive Research in Action

History in the Making

Mindful Indulgences

Dynamic Duos

Status Report

Editor's Choice: 6 Springtime Gifts

Warm up to Winter Ski Incentives

Set to Impress

Expert Tips for Virtual Incentive Events

Party Pivots

Presents of Mind: The Art of Virtual Gifting

A Rewarding Experience

Noteworthy: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda

Cards vs. Cash

Good Times

Value Validation

Trip Trends

Sailing Away

The More, The Merrier

Holiday Angst

Making the Connection

Make an Impact

Mutual Appreciation

Healthy Options for Incentive Trips

A Rewarding Experience

Cruising the Rhone River

Celebrating Employee Milestones

How Do they Do It

Eyes on the Prize

Healthy employees = Healthy company

Measuring ROI

Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida

Good Sensations

How to Design an Effective Gift Card Incentive Program

Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island, Newfoundland

The Case for including Spouses on Incentive Trips

Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

On-site Gifting

Rim to River Hiking in the Grand Canyon

Sparkling Hill Resort, Vernon, BC

Creating incentive trips that appeal to everyone

The Brave New World of Gift Cards

Award Show Winners

Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina

Take me to the river

Click + Praise

The Science of Incentives

Incentive trips go family-style

Knock-their-socks-off gifts for hard-to-buy-for executives

Building a Better Program

Perfect Pampering

Indulge Me!

Customized Recognition Programs

Virtual gift cards, the new reality

Gift Cards that Give

Go with a Pro, in the Spa and on the Greens

Chartering private jets

Offsite Employee Engagement

Behaviour-based Recognition

Canadian tax implications for employee gifts

A Christmas Bonus with all the Fixin's!

Peer-to-peer recognition

Everyday Green Heroes

Recognizing Environmental Actions in the Workplace

Reward and Recognize Every Day!

New Year, New You!

Co-Branded Cards

Last-minute gifts and rewards

Double Pampering Hits the Spot!

Hidden Gems: Cobble Beach Resort

Gamification

Free and Fab Employee Rewards

Incentive Programs Used by the Pros

Think Local for Corporate Gifts

21st Century Gift Cards

Time for an Incentive Travel Update

Reward Best-Practices for the Holiday Season

Small Product, Big Impact

Spa Rewards, Done Right

Staying Motivated

Gift Giving Guidelines

The Pros and Cons of Gift Cards

Eco-Friendly Corporate Gift Ideas

Green Guides

Travel Rewards Strategy

Speaker Gifts that Shine with Gratitude

Tax Treatment of Incentive Travel