Inclusive Holiday Recognition Ideas That Bring People Together

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It’s the end of the year, the lights are up, the hot chocolate is brewing, and your team is winding down. But instead of the usual holiday party, secret Santa and team dinner loop, you want something more — a moment that really says, “We see you. We value you. We belong together.”

That’s the heart of inclusive holiday recognition. It’s not just about a festive toast — it’s about building a culture where everyone is celebrated, no matter what  holiday they observe (if any), what culture they come from, or how their identity shapes their experience at work.

The U.S. workforce reflects a wide mix of backgrounds, with employees identifying as White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, and multiracial, representing the most culturally diverse labor force in U.S. history. In Canada, people reported over 450 different ethnic or cultural origins in the 2021 Census.  

Let’s dive into what inclusive holiday recognition looks like, why it matters (especially during this season), and how you can bring it to life at your organization. Bonus: we’ll weave in recent data, company culture insights from Kudos, and practical tips you can implement today.

A Holiday Story: When Recognition Misses

Imagine two employees, Maya and Sam.

Maya celebrates Diwali in late October, then Christmas in December. She’s excited when the company decorates the lounge for Christmas — but she wonders: “What about the light of Diwali? Or that brief moment in between when I’m just working hard and feeling overlooked?”

Sam doesn’t observe any religious holidays; he’s bookmarked the end-of-year break for family time and reflection. He’s unsure if the company’s holiday email is meant for him. He wonders if the “holiday message” is just for those celebrating Christmas.

Now imagine a third employee, Malik, whose family observes Kwanzaa, and whose culture embraces community and reflection differently from a typical December office party. He comes into the break feeling slightly distant from the company’s “holiday cheer” because the theme doesn’t feel like his story.

When we build recognition and celebration programs that assume “everyone celebrates Christmas in the same way”, we risk leaving people like Maya, Sam, and Malik on the outskirts. But when we intentionally design recognition that embraces all stories — cultural, religious, secular — we create belonging.

Why Inclusive Holiday Recognition Matters

Recognition has shifted from a nice-to-have to a strategic necessity. Employees who feel seen, heard and valued are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to stay. From a recent Kudos survey:

• 84% of organizations reported stronger employee engagement after implementing recognition platforms.

• 67% saw measurable productivity gains.

• Nearly half saw improvements in profitability.

• 90% now track outcomes from their programs.

• 40% are actively running ROI analyses to measure the business value of culture investments.

The end-of-year season is a time of reflection, wanting connection, and acknowledging “we made it through another year”. If your recognition efforts overlook the diversity of employee backgrounds, you risk the sense of “this isn’t for me”.

Inclusion matters: companies prioritizing inclusive practices report greater innovation, stronger retention, and higher performance. Inclusive holiday celebrations at work send a clear message: every employee’s identity matters.

When inclusive recognition becomes part of that strategy, it ensures you’re not just recognizing faces you see first, but the full spectrum of your workforce.

Our family just celebrates New Year's – we decorate a Christmas Tree, but it's called New Year's (Fir) Tree. Relatives gather on the night of the 31st, eat, drink, and at midnight; everyone celebrates the new year, congratulates one another and lights sparklers. - Farkhod Fayzullaev, Marketing Operations Manager, Kudos.  

How to Make Holiday Recognition Truly Inclusive

Let’s shift from “why” to “how”. Here are practical, fun and meaningful ways to build inclusive holiday recognition into your end-of-year culture.

1. Map the holidays and observances with intention

Start with an inclusive holiday calendar. It’s not just about major holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah — it’s about acknowledging them and the many others (Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, Diwali, etc), as well as secular moments like “Year-End Reflection”.

Tip: Using a broad, inclusive recognition calendar (cultural observances, heritage months, etc.) helps support diverse teams. Having a diverse calendar handy can help you stay on top of your recognition and culture initiatives throughout the year, so no holiday gets missed.  Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to get the Kudos 2026 Celebrations Calendar sent right to your inbox when it's ready.

‍2. Craft recognition messages that invite every story

While your holiday email might say “Happy Holidays!”, inclusive recognition goes deeper. Here’s how you can tweak your tone:

• Use general, positive language: “As we reach the end of the year, thank you for every story, every contribution, every unique way you bring your whole self to work.”

• Celebrate milestones and contributions beyond the formal reward: Recognize someone for being a cultural connector, for bridging remote and in-office teams, for supporting a colleague.

• Highlight inclusive values: Show that recognition isn’t just for the “big deliverable” but for behaviours that foster belonging — empathy, mentorship, cultural awareness.

For example: “Thank you, Maya, for always bringing curiosity and openness to our team — your willingness to share your Diwali tradition opened up a whole new connection for the team.”

And: “Sam, your calm presence in December helped anchor the team as we wrapped year-end. Your contribution matters, holiday or not.”

Find more holiday message examples in: Holiday Messages Your Team Will Love

3. Give every employee a voice in recognition

Inclusive holiday recognition doesn’t work if it’s top-down only. Encourage peer recognition, contributions to the recognition program, and let employees nominate their colleagues.

This year, invite your team to share a “holiday recognition moment” — whoever they want to appreciate, for whatever reason, big or small. Then feature a “holiday recognition wall” (virtual or in-office) where those messages appear.

4. Keep it global, remote, and hybrid-friendly

In inclusive recognition, geography, time zone and work model matter. For distributed or hybrid teams, ensure recognition works across time, place and culture. Ideas:

• Virtual recognition eCards tied to the end-of-year season (“Thanks for bringing your true self in 2025”).

• Slack or Teams channel dedicated to end-of-year shout-outs — invite team members to post appreciation messages tagged with values.

• A “holiday moment” prompt: ask employees, “What’s one thing someone did this year that made you feel seen? Give them a shout-out.”

• Recognize employees whose “holiday season” is different — e.g., those observing non-December holidays — by spotlighting their experience and voice.

5. Measure and reflect — don’t let this be just a moment

Inclusive recognition isn’t a one-off. Use this season to gather data, reflect, and improve:

• Track recognition by department, location, role, demographic if available. Are some groups under-represented?

• Ask: Were all voices recognized? Did recognition reflect your diversity of holidays, cultural backgrounds, work styles?

• Plan for next year: Make inclusive recognition part of your regular rhythm, not just holiday season.

8 Holiday Recognition Inspiration & Ideas

Here are some fun, inclusive ways to bring this to life in your organization:

1. Year-end & reflect recognition board: Rather than focusing on December only, “wrap” the year with invites from all teams. Ask each person to post one recognition message and one “reflection” note.

2. Culture share lunch or virtual event: Invite employees to share one meaningful tradition they observe in the holidays. Pair that with peer recognition for someone who demonstrated “cross-culture curiosity”.

3. Share food recipes: Across all holidays and celebrations, there’s always one thing in common: food. Create a space where people can share recipes of their favorite dishes or share more about the history and culture of certain foods and traditions.  

4. Recognition across cultures wall: For remote and hybrid, create an internal channel (or use Kudos!) where employees can post their name, the tradition they observe (if any), and one thing they’re grateful for. Encourage colleagues to recognize them for that “one thing”.  

5. Inclusive eCards: Ensure your eCards say “Season’s Greetings”, “Thanks for making 2025 brighter”, etc., instead of the more traditional “Merry Christmas.” Avoid overly religious iconography unless you’re offering multiple options tailored to different traditions.

6. Lead messages with an inclusive tone: Instead of “Merry Christmas everyone”, try something like: “As we close out 2025, thank you to everyone — to those who celebrate holiday traditions, to those who don’t, to our global and hybrid colleagues — you bring so much to the story of this company.”

7. Recognition values as part of the holiday message: Highlight your company values and connect them to inclusive recognition. For example: “In the spirit of [company value], we recorded 10,000 peer-to-peer recognition messages this year across 15 countries. Every voice matters.”

8. Global time-zone recognition wave: Kick off a “recognition wave” that starts in one time zone (e.g., APAC) and moves through the Americas, then EMEA — so everyone sees that recognition is global and continuous, not just one region’s holiday.

Checklist: Inclusive Holiday Recognition Done Right

Follow this quick checklist to ensure your holiday recognition strategy is inclusive:

• Created or referenced an inclusive holiday calendar (covering multiple traditions/cultures).

• Framed recognition messaging in a way that welcomes all employees (holiday traditions or not).

• Empowered peer-to-peer recognition and let employees nominate/recognize each other.

• Adapted recognition for hybrid/remote teams (eCards, channels, global time zones).

• Included measurement: who’s being recognized, by whom, across culture/teams — identify gaps.

• Aligned recognition with core company values and ended the year with momentum (not just as a “nice extra”).

• Provided resources or education (e.g., explaining lesser-known traditions) to build cultural awareness and belonging.

Why This Holiday Season is Your Moment

Because this time of year feels different. People carry reflections: “What did I accomplish? Who noticed? Where do I belong?”

By leaning into inclusive holiday recognition, you’re doing more than handing out gift cards or hosting a party. You’re creating a moment of connection, of seeing, of thanking. When employees feel that their whole story matters, they show up more fully, trust more deeply, and stay longer.

And this sets everyone up for success in the new year: your team feels connected, the value of appreciation is embedded, and the culture momentum is strong. That’s the payoff.

The Holidays Feel Better When Everyone Belongs

Inclusive holiday recognition isn’t about adding more programs or checking the “holiday” box. It’s about embedding the mindset of belonging, seeing, and valuing everyone — especially when the season invites reflection.

With intentionality, data-driven insight, and the right mix of heart and practical execution, your organization can use this holiday season not just to wrap up the year — but to launch a more inclusive recognition culture that carries into 2026 and beyond.