This past year at the 2015 SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition and WorldatWork Conference, we talked with more than 2,000 HR Managers about employee recognition, engagement, retention, and culture.

Research and experience tells us that the way your employees interact with one another has an enormous impact on company culture and retention. And, based on what we heard from the attendees, 59% of HR Managers reported positive employee-to-employee relationships. Of those (and we we’re particularly surprised) 40% have a peer-to-peer recognition program in place!

Guess what? 2016 is coming! And, with it, a feeling that it’s time to make a fresh start. If you’ve got “new” on your mind, but don’t know quite what to focus on, here are my best ideas to get you going!

Happy holiday season, everyone! I wrote this post last year around this time, and had so much fun writing it that I decided to share it with you all again. So, grab yourself some hot cocoa (with extra marshmallows, I hope) and give it another spin…

In an ideal world, you’ve finished your decorating, holiday planning, and are well on your way to wrapping up the end of your holiday gifts! That last one, though… The one thing that takes a little more time and thought than the others and generally overstays it's welcome on my list of to-dos. Gifts!  If you’re anything like me in that regard, last minute shopping is something I promise myself won’t be the case each year.. But somehow, here I am!

In the midst of the frantic season that it is, sometimes it gets down to the wire and laziness sets in. It might sound easier to grab a gift card for each of your employees or co-workers and be on your merry way - but the truth is, that lacks effort and that directly correlates with feelings of appreciation – especially in the workplace.

The holiday season is upon us full force, and the reality is that we spend most of it in the workplace. It is a season of balance – there are gifts to be wrapped, decorations to hang, and family to spend time with… But there is also work to be done! Although we can’t leave work to celebrate the holidays just yet, there are still ways to bring the fun & festive into your office so that you can enjoy the holiday season and spread some cheer! Below are some quick ways to get festive in your workplace: