8 Festive Ideas To Spark Employee Engagement This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, the air is filled with excitement and the promise of connection. It's a time when we all start to feel the buzz of festivities and camaraderie, and for businesses, it presents a fantastic opportunity to strengthen team bonds, uplift spirits, and show genuine appreciation for one another.

But let’s be real — things aren’t quite like they used to be. With 53% of U.S. workers now splitting their time between the office and remote setups, connecting and celebrating looks a lot different than it did a few years ago. Gone are the days of everyone gathering in one spot; today’s hybrid and remote work models call for creative, flexible ways to bring everyone together and spread that holiday cheer.

That’s where internal communication tools come in. Platforms like Workvivo, Blink, and Microsoft Teams make it easy to connect, engage, and energize teams — no matter where they are. These tools can take everyday communication and turn it into something truly special for the season. Think heartfelt shout-outs, creative challenges, and meaningful interactions that bring out the best of the holidays.

With a thoughtful approach, businesses can create memorable holiday experiences that help employees feel connected, motivated, and genuinely valued. In this blog, we'll dive into 8 creative ways to make the season bright using these powerful tools, ensuring every team member feels inspired, engaged, and ready to celebrate!

In this blog, you'll find:

💡   Engaging Your Team This Holiday Season: 8 Ideas

🎄   Create a Holiday-Themed Community Space in Your EXP

❄️   Secret Santa Surprise

🧣   Ugly Sweater Contest

📸   Holiday Photo Share

🌍   Cultural Spotlights

🥘   Virtual Potluck: Share Your Favourite Holiday Recipes

🎧  Holiday Playlist: Build a Collective Soundtrack

🌿   Wellness and Relaxation Resources

🎁   Wrapping Up The Holiday Season

Engaging Your Team This Holiday Season: 8 Ideas

The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative and make your team feel special. It’s more than just time off or a festive party; it’s about building a sense of community and sparking joy in meaningful ways.

Whether your team is working remotely, in the office, or a mix of both, there are countless ways to engage everyone and make them feel part of the celebration.

Here are 8 fun ideas to keep your team connected, energized, and excited throughout the season:

🎄   Create a Holiday-Themed Community Space in Your EXP

With the holiday season upon us, why not transform your Employee Experience Platform (EXP) into a festive hub? A dedicated holiday-themed community space can serve as a one-stop destination for all things festive, where employees can gather, connect, and engage in a variety of fun activities.

Kick things off with a series of virtual events! Think holiday trivia games where team members can show off their knowledge of classic holiday movies, songs, and more. You could even create teams for a little friendly competition — who doesn’t love a good challenge? Make it fun and low-stakes by offering small prizes for correct answers or creative responses.

❄️   Secret Santa Surprise

Inject some festive fun into your workplace by organizing a virtual Secret Santa gift exchange! Start by randomly assigning participants with a Secret Santa generator and then encourage gift exchanges with thoughtful and lighthearted presents such as e-gift cards, eBooks, or curated playlists that can be shared online.

To keep the excitement going, host a “Secret Santa Reveal” event via a Teams meeting, where participants can share stories about their gifts, guess who their Secret Santa was, or show off their surprises. Add even more holiday cheer by encouraging everyone to use fun, festive Microsoft Teams backgrounds during the reveal, like cozy fireplaces, snowy winter scenes, or holiday decorations!

You can also create a dedicated Teams channel for Secret Santa fun, where employees can drop hints, express their gratitude, or post photos of their received “gifts.” 

This festive activity not only brings people together but also spreads joy and creates lasting memories. Whether your team works remotely or in person, a virtual Secret Santa via Microsoft Teams is a great way to bond and embrace the holiday spirit!

🧣   Ugly Sweater Contest

Who doesn't love a bit of holiday humour? An ugly sweater contest is a fun, low-pressure way to get everyone involved and spark some laughs. Encourage employees to dig into their closets (or online shopping carts) and show off their most over-the-top, festive attire. For virtual teams, employees can upload photos of their favourite or most ridiculous sweaters to internal communication platforms like Blink or Workvivo.

To make it more interactive, host a live vote or create polls where everyone can cast their votes for categories like "Most Creative," "Funniest," or "Most Festive." You can even add a twist by allowing participants to wear their sweaters during virtual meetings or all-hands calls.

For in-office teams, consider setting up a photobooth with festive props and backdrops, encouraging employees to capture their sweater-clad moments. This creates memorable snapshots, adds an extra layer of fun, and boosts team camaraderie in a visual and lasting way!

Beyond the laughs and eye-popping patterns, this contest offers a great opportunity to foster team connection and creativity. It’s a chance for colleagues to share a playful side of themselves, reminding everyone that work doesn’t always have to be serious — a little silliness goes a long way in building camaraderie and lifting spirits.

📸   Holiday Photo Share

Photos make it easy for people to connect visually, and the holiday season is full of moments worth capturing! Invite employees to share their favourite festive moments on your EXP. From “Favorite Festive Sweater” and “Winter Wonderland Walks” to “Holiday Baking Wins (and Fails),” these themed prompts give everyone a chance to spread a bit of cheer.

To keep things inclusive, encourage employees to post photos that reflect what the season means to them — whether it’s cozy evenings at home with the kids, lighting the menorah, celebrating cultural traditions, or simply enjoying time with loved ones. 

🌍   Cultural Spotlights

The holiday season offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity within your workplace. Shine a light on different cultural traditions by featuring stories, articles, or video content on your internal comms platform that explores holiday customs from around the world.

Encourage employees to share how they celebrate — whether it’s Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, Lunar New Year, or other meaningful traditions. This kind of sharing fosters inclusivity and gives everyone a chance to learn, connect, and appreciate the richness of different cultures.

Platforms like Microsoft Teams make it easy to host live or recorded sessions, where colleagues can showcase their customs, share recipes, tell stories, or even lead brief cultural activities. It’s a meaningful way to bring people together, spark curiosity, and celebrate what makes your team unique.

🥘   Virtual Potluck: Share Your Favourite Holiday Recipes

Potlucks are a timeless holiday tradition, but virtual potlucks take it up a notch by making sure everyone — no matter where they’re working — can join in the fun. Encourage employees to share their favourite holiday recipes on your internal comms platform, such as Microsoft Teams, Workvivo, or Blink. They can post photos of their culinary masterpieces, share recipe details, or even record quick cooking demos to give coworkers a taste of their festive favourites!

To keep these cherished recipes accessible year-round, consider storing them in your company's EXP. Platforms like Workvivo and Blink offer handy features like "Document Storage" and "Content Hub," making it easy to create a dedicated space for holiday recipes. It’s a delicious way to connect, share culture, and bond over good food!

🎧  Holiday Playlist: Build a Collective Soundtrack

Music is a universal connector, and what better way to celebrate the season than by creating a collaborative holiday playlist? Invite employees to add their favourite festive tracks to a shared playlist on platforms like Spotify. Encourage everyone to mix it up with a variety of genres and styles — whether it’s classic holiday tunes, upbeat pop songs, or cultural favourites unique to their traditions.

Add a special twist by asking each person to include a short note about why they picked their song. Maybe it’s a tune that always plays at their family gatherings, a childhood favourite, or just a catchy track they discovered this year. By the end of the season, you’ll have a unique, team-curated playlist that tells a story of shared memories, cultures, and personal moments. It’s a heartwarming way to bring everyone closer and keep the holiday vibes going strong!

🌿   Wellness and Relaxation Resources

While the holiday season is often joyful, it can also bring added stress and overwhelm. Show your team you care by using your EXP to share wellness tips, relaxation techniques, and mental health resources.

Take it up a notch by hosting a dedicated “Holiday Wellness Week” with activities like virtual yoga classes, guided mindfulness sessions, or stress management workshops.

You can also provide a practical guide to navigating holiday stress, including strategies for managing time, setting boundaries, and finding moments to recharge. Encouraging your team to step back, breathe, and prioritize their well-being is a thoughtful gift that resonates well beyond the season.

It’s a reminder that your workplace culture values not just hard work, but also personal care and balance.

Wrapping Up The Holiday Season

The holiday season is more than just a time for celebration — it's an opportunity to come together, strengthen team bonds, and create lasting memories. By incorporating engaging, inclusive, and meaningful holiday-themed activities into your internal communications strategy, you can spread joy, show appreciation, and make everyone feel connected, no matter where they are.

Whether it’s through virtual potlucks, cultural spotlights, wellness initiatives, or simply sharing a laugh over an ugly sweater contest, your efforts to engage employees reflect a commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive workplace culture. And as you wrap up the festivities, remember: the connections built and the appreciation shown can linger well beyond the season, boosting morale and strengthening bonds for the year to come.