Let’s face it, January can feel like the Monday of months — the festivities are a distant memory, the days are still too short, and everyone is walking around like they’ve just been hit with a post-holiday hangover. For HR teams, this makes it the perfect time to step in as morale boosters. By taking a few proactive steps, you can help uplift your team’s spirits, spark motivation, and set a positive tone for the year ahead. Leveraging incentives is a particularly brilliant strategy to turn this challenging month into an opportunity for growth and connection.
1. Set small rewarding goals
The start of a new year can be daunting for employees with big organisational goals or personal resolutions looming. As an employer, why not break these down into smaller, achievable milestones for your team? Celebrate every success along the way with meaningful rewards. For example, offer a team lunch for meeting a weekly target or provide personalised shoutouts for completing training modules. Recognising these smaller achievements keeps the momentum going and helps employees feel appreciated and motivated to achieve more.
2. Use incentives at work
For employers, January is an ideal time to motivate teams. Post-holiday fatigue and bleak weather can make productivity suffer, but a well-thought-out incentive programme can reinvigorate your workforce. Recognise achievements through personalised rewards, offer gift cards for meeting targets, or organise team-building activities. These not only help combat the blues but also foster camaraderie and drive.
Our Digital Select Code solution is a perfect tool for streamlining incentives and rewards. It allows you to effortlessly distribute personalised, meaningful rewards to employees and customers, making it easier than ever to boost morale and engagement during the challenging month of January.
3. Create a culture of recognition
Fostering a culture of recognition is essential for boosting morale and engagement. Our social recognition platform, Encore, is a powerful tool designed to align employee recognition with company values, culture and vision. Here’s how Encore can help:
- Social business recognition: Achievements and rewards are linked to your company's vision and values which are showcased via live feeds.
- Gamification rewards: Custom virtual badges linked to rewards help to strengthen and engage your company's core values and strategic behaviours. Delivered instantly, our meaningful rewards ensure employees feel valued when it matters most.
- Global coverage: Provide rewards in over 120 countries, ensuring your efforts support diverse teams worldwide.
- Personalised experiences: Customise messages and branding for a tailored recognition effort that resonates deeply.
- User-friendly interface: The platform is mobile-friendly, intuitive, and designed to ensure a seamless experience for all users.
4. Embrace physical and mental wellness
Exercise and mindfulness practices such as yoga or meditation are proven mood-lifters. Why not add an incentive twist? For example, workplaces can host wellness challenges where participants earn rewards for steps tracked or minutes meditated / being active. At home, set fun rewards for family fitness goals, like a movie night for meeting a shared step count.
5. Plan something to look forward to
One of the biggest contributors to the January blues is the lack of anticipation after the holidays. As an employer, you can help by organising small, enjoyable events for your team, such as coffee catch-ups or themed office days. Additionally, consider offering incentive schemes like travel discounts or vouchers for personal milestones. Creating moments of excitement and giving employees something to look forward to can make all the difference in countering the post-holiday slump.
Final thoughts
By incorporating rewards into daily routines, you can turn January into a month filled with motivation and excitement. Whether through a formal employee recognition program or personalised incentives like small treats or experiences, rewarding employees with meaningful recognition and appreciation can spark positivity, increase engagement, and create a sense of connection. These well-timed incentives not only keep morale high but also encourage productivity and set the tone for a successful year ahead. With the right rewards, January becomes more than just the start of a new year - it becomes an opportunity to boost motivation and celebrate achievements from day one.
Contact us today for more ideas on how incentives can help you beat the January blues!