How Employers Can Show Employees They Matter This Holiday Season

Bob Dylan sang to us that “times they are a-changin,’” and, wow, he wasn’t kidding. A few days before Thanksgiving 2021, Target’s CEO Brian Cornell announced its stores would be closed for the holiday. Not only that, Target would never be open again on any Thanksgiving to come. Bye-bye to Black Friday sales that begin on Thursday. Bye-bye setting the alarm clock for Friday morning before sunrise to take advantage of doorbuster sales.?

Although companies like Target were first forced to reconsider store closures during 2020 due to the pandemic, the trend of slowing down appears to be taking hold across industries nationwide that are now in the process of re-evaluating the meaning of work-life balance in favor of life-work balance . Part of that means having time to spend with family, even if it means sacrificing sales and getting a jump on one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

With Christmas up next , if I was a betting girl, I would bet that Target, along with other retail giants, will be closing their doors as well and going back to a time when certain days were reserved exclusively for celebrating and spending time with loved ones. When I was younger, I don’t remember ever being able to run to the grocery store if I forgot an ingredient. Or any store, for that matter. Almost everything was closed. I kind of liked it that way, too, because it felt like, at least for a few days each year, my family and I could just enjoy the day without distraction.?

It’s the reason why I’ve always made it a point all year, but especially during the holidays, to show my employees how important they are to me. As an employer, it’s hard to turn work off sometimes. My mind often races about my endless to-do lists. Heading a busy law firm and working alongside my team requires stamina. But to maintain stamina, people, including me, also need rest and time to recharge. What better excuse to facilitate some much-needed rest and relaxation than the holidays??

Thankfully, I’m in a position to help. As a law firm owner, this is how I choose to honor my employees and express my gratitude to them during the holidays. ??

Firm-wide Holiday Closure

The best gift you can give an employee is the gift of time. It's why every year, we close for two weeks between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The extended break gives my team time with their families and an opportunity to recharge. This isn’t a common practice anymore, at least in the U.S., but each year I do it, the more I think companies should bring it back.?

I’ll admit that taking off at this time can be challenging, especially when you’re trying to close your books for the year and bring in as much revenue as possible. But I’m so passionate about it that I work it into my yearly plan. My team and I are worth it. ?

Flex Time

I also understand that not everyone uses time the same way. I have some employees who like to take advantage of the firm closure to work, given the quiet it offers them. It’s why I offer flex time.?

This way, employees who choose to work through a firmwide holiday closure (we have another over the Fourth of July week) can take off time during a different part of the year when doing so would work better for their lifestyle.?

Holiday Party

Every year, we hold a holiday get-together. Even though we’re virtual, it’s always a fun time. Although I’m not hosting it per se, and the event is planned entirely by my leadership team, I make sure we have a budget allotted to include everyone at our firm, including contractors, in an activity of some sort.?

Last year, I mailed out a package with a kit and instructions about how to make a specialty drink, which we all drank together over Zoom. Then we had a company host us in a virtual escape room. In addition to the festivities we have planned, this year, we are doing an optional gift exchange for the first time.

Holiday Gifts and Messages

I’m a big fan of expressing my gratitude throughout the year to my team for all of their hard work via gifts and messages, but even more so during the holidays. I’m also a big fan of the element of surprise, so enough said there.

Collaborative Planning

I know how stressful the holidays can be for employees, especially if they don’t know what’s around the corner in the new year. To minimize anxiety and prioritize mental health , I have already begun planning for the new year. But it’s not just my plan; this is a collaborative process that leaves a lot of room for idea-sharing and information exchange to make the upcoming year better even than the one before it.?

Kick-off Meeting

After everyone is rested and has spent quality time as they choose, we will have an all-team meeting to discuss our firm's goals and kick off the new year on our first day back. It’s quite exciting, really. But what I’m most excited about is kicking off a new way of running a law firm — a firm where everyone knows I care.?

If you're interested in learning more about Elise Buie Family Law Group and the possibility of joining our team, please check out our current job openings .

Elise Buie, Esq. is a Seattle-based family and divorce lawyer and founder of the Elise Buie Family Law Group . A champion for maintaining civility throughout the divorce process, Elise advocates for her clients and the best interests of their children, helping them move forward with dignity and from a position of strength.