The winter holiday season is here…

and it’s arguably the most celebrated and anticipated time of the year, especially in the U.S. Even those who may not celebrate major end-of-year holidays still likely look forward to the few days they’re given off at the end of each year. The only issue for some of us is actually getting there because coincidentally enough, the holiday coincides with one of the most stress-inducing and critical periods for organizations everywhere.

Ah yes, Q4, a scramble to tie up any loose ends that may have come about in the last 11 months, prep for the swiftly approaching first quarter, and for employees, a battle to fight the inner-urge to check out early. Why? Well, because they’re typically exhausted by now. The past two years especially have forced the organizations and their workforces to face and somehow surmount the unique challenges posed by the seemingly endless pandemic.

That said, it’s safe to say that your employees might be in need of a little bit of gratification beyond a few days off, after which they’re expected to return fully refreshed and ready for another unpredictable year. Luckily, there’s a new way to internally kick off the celebration a bit early, keep your employees engaged, give them the morale they need to finish strong, and gratify the accomplishments they achieved this year. Introducing virtual, employee-generated, celebrations. And with a user-generated content platform like Cinebody, it’s never too late to launch.

The Power of Employee-Generated Celebrations: Gilead Sciences Case Study

Gilead Sciences is no stranger to a heavy workload thanks to its bold mission. An innovative biopharmaceutical company with a goal of “creating a healthier world for everyone,” Gilead has a seemingly tireless and uniquely communal workforce behind the wheel. With 2021 being one of the most challenging years for the organization to date, Gilead has remained unbelievably productive and forward-facing thanks, in part, to its dedicated Human Resources team and their unwavering effort. But the heads of Gilead’s HR knew that after a year like 2021, a cheerful memo and a few days off weren’t sufficient in acknowledging and celebrating the obstacles overcame and milestones achieved by the rest of the HR team.

So, using Cinebody, Gilead turned to these members of the HR team to share their thoughts about 2021. The shot list prompted employees to discuss how they would sum up the year, what the year taught them, what achievements they are proud of, who are they thankful for, and what they’d like the greater Gilead org. to know as they transition into the new year. This was a chance to be heard.

The engagement was unprecedented for Gilead. Globally situated employees from as far away as Hong Kong joined the Cinebody project with the click of a link to not only reflect upon but also to celebrate 2021. In a matter of days, the project was flooded with hundreds of smiling faces, culminating in hours of automatically uploaded footage that was edited into a global montage glowing with community, appreciation, and optimism for what’s to come. The edit was used to open Gilead’s 2021 end-of-year town hall, putting the individuals behind the scenes and responsible for the HR department’s success in the spotlight. Now that’s what we call gratification. 

Celebrating Success on Any Scale: Manna Tree Partners' Example

Don't be mistaken into thinking that this strategy is limited to massive multinational corporations like Gilead. Even smaller organizations can adopt this approach to strengthen internal communications and celebrate achievements. Ask Manna Tree Partners, a food and wellness-based private equity firm out of Vail, Colorado who became one of the pioneers of this strategy last year. The Manna Tree strives to improve human health through nutrition, and they chase that goal with just 15 core employees. While they may have the luxury of living and operating in a small mountain community like Vail, Manna Tree and its small team felt the full impact of COVID on both an organizational level and an individual one. But as a financially impactful organization that strives to carry a uniquely authentic and human presence in the private equity space, Manna Tree virtually opened its doors last Christmas to discuss, but more importantly to celebrate the challenges behind them and those to come as 2020 came to a close. 

Manna Tree’s small team was able to quickly and affordably create the perfect ‘happy holidays’ video from their own homes, connecting with each other, filming themselves, and sharing footage via Cinebody. The in-app shot list prompted the team to reflect on the previous 12 months and provide individual insight on what’s to come for the organization. The resulting two-and-a-half-minute cut was an authentic and, at times, cozy way to wrap up 2020 and to wish health and happy holidays to partners, investors, and community members alike, providing a much-needed change of tone after such a year.  

Let Your Employees Speak for Your Organization's Achievements

Don’t let the accomplishments of your organization speak for themselves or let them become camouflaged by next year’s initiatives. Let the employees responsible for such achievements do the talking and end this year with a celebratory bang that unites your organization and makes them feel as appreciated as they are. 

Happy Holidays!