Creating Inclusive Year-End Celebrations

As 2024 comes to a close, many organizations are planning for celebrations to recognize the milestones they have reached this year. When organizations host end of year celebrations, they are providing an opportunity to show their appreciation for all of the hard work that has been done by their employees; however, organizations need to be cognizant of the inclusivity of these events, and ensure they are reflective of their diverse populations. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of inclusive year-end celebrations, and offer practical tips to help you plan an event that everyone can enjoy.

Creating Inclusive Celebrations

Acknowledge and respect the various cultural backgrounds of your employees, and support the things that make each of your individual teams unique. When companies support D&I initiatives, a whopping 83 percent of millennials are actively engaged in their work. There is much more than just culture to consider when it comes to planning an inclusive celebration. Other things such as dietary restrictions, selecting accessible venues and inclusive drink selections need to be carefully considered to ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy.

One way that organizations can ensure employees feel heard and included during company events is to include them in the planning process. Implementing a committee or small group of employees from different areas of the organization can provide an opportunity for employees to interact with others outside of their daily roles and from varying levels of the organization, while also promoting diversity of thought within the planning process. These celebrations also tend to require an element of creativity, and can allow those involved in planning to express some of their creative ideas throughout the process. Planning committees can be a great way for someone to test their aptitude for a leadership role as well, as they may not have the opportunity to do so in their normal role or team.

Here are some things to take into consideration when creating your year-end celebration:

• Incorporate elements from different traditions, such as decorations and music
• Host various activities that reflect the diversity of your team
• Ensure that there disability-friendly activities
• Provide food for all that may have specific dietary restrictions
• Be conscious of the promotion of alcohol and provide alcohol-free alternatives, such as mocktails

Opportunities for Employee Recognition

Oftentimes, annual awards are also announced during year-end events. For organizations of any size it is important to ensure that various award types and levels are being announced for all levels within the organizations. These recognitions can provide great opportunity to callout each contributor-type within the organization, not just the more public or high-performing roles.

As with all employee engagement events, it is important to gather and consider participant feedback. Sending out post-event surveys are great ways to get honest comments on how employees who attended the event felt about their overall experience. This can also provide an opportunity for those who opted to not attend the event to share if they experienced any participation barriers. Taking this feedback into consideration and incorporating it into future events can help ensure that your employees are feeling heard and valued. End of year celebrations go beyond holiday gatherings - they can be used for building a positive company culture and celebrating the diversity of the organization. There is opportunity for year-round holiday recognition when the organizations makes an effort on diverse celebrations and provides awareness and education to employees to better understand the significance behind each holiday.