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Holiday Recognition Programs (Legacy)

Updated

This is a Legacy article. If you are using the current Awardco 2.0 Interface, please search for the updated version to ensure accuracy.

This guide is designed to help you prepare for a successful holiday season of employee recognition and rewards.
 

The holiday season is a great opportunity to show appreciation for your employees through your recognition platform. We recommend starting your holiday award preparations early, ideally three months in advance, to ensure a smooth process and create meaningful recognitions. Your thoughtful preparation will make this festive season one filled with appreciation.
 

To help you feel confident and ready to lead this effort, we’ve outlined key steps and best practices for preparing your holiday recognition programs!
 

Download our Holiday Playbook to have this guide in PDF format.
 

  1. Key Preparations
    1. Adding a Holiday Recognition Program
    2. Prefunding Your Account
    3. Crafting Email Templates
    4. Planning Bulk Recognition
  2. Notes & Best Practices
  3. Example
  4. Contact Information


Key Preparations

Adding a Holiday Recognition Program

Create a holiday recognition program in recognition program settings to ensure clean reporting. Here’s how:

  1. Access Recognition Program Settings in the Admin portal.
  2. Click Add Program.
  3. Name the program, select a start date, and click Create Program.
  4. Select Holiday Program from the Type dropdown, then click Next to save.
    No further adjustments are needed for this program.

 

Prefunding Your Account

Ensure your account is adequately funded to handle holiday recognition awards.

  1. On the Billing Page, use the Request an Invoice button to pre-fund the awards.
  2. Enter the requested invoice amount, click Continue, and specify if the invoice is for pre-funding a program. If yes, select the appropriate program or budget. 
  3. Fill in any additional details like email address, PO, or notes.
  4. Review the payment breakdown, then click Submit Request.

Note: Prefund the full holiday award amount. If your redemption account balance reaches $0, orders will stop. Credit card payments are instant (with a fee), while ACH payments take 3-5 business days without a fee. You can expect your invoice within 24-48 business hours.

Once processed, funds will appear in the “Deposits” line of the Funding Summary. To deposit the points you will award for the holiday recognition:

  1. Click Add Points on the Billing Page.
  2. Enter the desired amount of points (equal to the funds deposited). 
  3. Enter a note and click Add Points.
  4. Select Confirm. 

The deposited points will appear in the “Company Account” line in the Points Summary section. We recommend creating a separate holiday budget for clearer reporting. The Managing Budgets support article provides detailed instructions on budget creation and point allocation.

 

Crafting Email Templates

Use the Email Template Easy Editor to design customized holiday recognition emails.

  • Choose from a variety of holiday-themed images available in the Holiday Email Template support article.
  • Include warm holiday wishes and redemption instructions.
  • Test your email templates by sending a recognition to yourself using the Bulk Recognition Builder to ensure everything looks perfect.

 

Planning Bulk Recognition

Distribute holiday awards using the Bulk Recognition Builder.

  • We recommend having the recognition come from either the general recognition account or the head of your organization.
  • Before sending, double-check that sufficient points are allocated in the correct budget.
  • Attach the appropriate email template and program to your bulk recognition.
  • Set the visibility to “private” if needed.



 

Notes & Best Practices

  • Plan ahead! We recommend starting three months in advance to ensure all steps are completed. Some items may require a minimum of one month’s preparation.
  • No extra license fees: Holiday programs are free to implement and do not count toward additional license fees.
  • Wider redemption options: Allow employees to redeem holiday points on all available redemption options. This flexibility lets them combine points from the holiday program with their existing balances.
  • Avoid implementing catalogs: This could extend the setup process. If necessary, custom catalogs start at $300 per year, with additional costs for further customization.
  • Points are preferred over physical awards: Points give employees more choices and allow them to pair holiday awards with existing points in their wallets.
  • Consider the Award Amount: While a simple message or nominal points (around 10 points) shows appreciation, larger awards can have a greater impact.
  • Track success: Use platform reporting tools like Recognition Details and Points Redeemed to measure the effectiveness of your holiday recognition program.

 

Example

Here’s an example of an email template created in the Email Template Easy Editor for a holiday program:
 



Here’s an example of a bulk recognition created in the Bulk Recognition Builder for a holiday program:
 

 

Contact Information

For assistance and inquiries, please reach out to the Technical CSM Team.

Remember, the holiday season is a time of gratitude and celebration. With Awardco, you have the tools to make your employees feel valued and appreciated during this festive time. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Happy Holidays!

 

If you have any questions, please contact Awardco Admin Support.

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