With employees spread across 16 different countries, including significant operations in India and the US, taking an inclusive approach to the festive season is non-negotiable for financial services outsourcer Equiniti. Lesley Alexander, senior reward manager, says: “We don’t shy away from celebrating Christmas, but we celebrate many other festivals too, under the banner of ‘seasonal cheer’.”
The year-end period kicks off with a leadership conference culminating in an awards ceremony. Those shortlisted for the awards come via the organisation’s peer-to-peer recognition scheme. Every month, a global employee forum votes for four winners against the firm’s values, and these winners are whittled down via an independent judging panel for the end-of-year shortlist.
The recognition platform includes options for e-cards during the festive season based on multiple faiths and beliefs. There is also a general congratulations card available for those who want to thank their colleagues for a job well done over the year, without linking it to a specific cultural marker. Microsoft Teams is updated to include seasonal backgrounds, which can open up cultural discussions. Samantha Taylor-Howell, engagement partner at Equiniti, says: “It’s a good conversation starter, if you go to a meeting and someone has a Diwali-related background, for example.”
Teams are given budgets to decide how they want to celebrate the end of the year, with an increasing focus on activities, says Alexander. “People like the freedom of getting that money per head, rather than feeling like it’s enforced fun,” she adds.
In December, a 12 Days of Seasonable Cheer campaign encompasses a range of activities. A particularly popular one last year was ‘Paul on a Wall’: pictures of chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Lynam were posted up in every office, with colleagues encouraged to find the pictures and post selfies with them on the employer’s social media channels. In addition to the fun, there is also a focus on wellbeing and financial inclusion, such as advice on saving money and keeping healthy over the festive seasons.
“It is a time of goodwill and joy, but it’s important to recognise that it’s not joyful for everyone,” says Taylor-Howell. “It can be a tough time of year, so we remind people to look after themselves.”
