Why? First, doing good feels good. Acts of kindness are meaningful opportunities to connect with your team, your customers, and your values.

In addition, it’s good for business! Companies that share comfort and joy around the holidays appeal more to new and returning customers. 

By giving back, your business actually receives many benefits, such as:

●      Organically building brand awareness

●      Allowing you to connect directly with the market you serve

●      Strengthening your community ties

●      Fostering lasting relationships and trust with your customers

●      Cementing your brand’s reputation for being relevant, responsible, and essential

Here are some inspiring ways your company can make a difference over the holidays:

1.   Donate your company’s services to a meaningful cause. 

Businesses can directly support their communities during the season of giving.

There are many ways to give to others — offering your time, skills, service, products, or part of your profit are great places to start! Provide what you can to make a difference, using your business’ resources and within your company’s means.

Donating is an excellent opportunity for your brand to get linked with the causes you care about most, and is a simple way you can help others during the holidays. You support those who need it most, while cementing a solid reputation for your company and promoting a culture of giving among your employees.

Approving time off for your staff to engage in charitable work is a win-win situation. It’s been shown to boost employee mental health and can build your teams’ leadership skills. Around this time of year, there are so many meaningful and festive ways to volunteer as a group effort. (Think Christmas tree donations, or even carol singing for the extroverted among us!)

2.   Host charitable activities.

Connect your business to the community by organizing fundraising or donation-collecting activities at your location.

A donation drive is an easy way to encourage giving for the children and families in your community. Items like food, clothes, and toiletries can go a long way, in addition to toys and gifts. 

Encourage your employees and involve your customers in contributions, offering small incentives or discounts.

Bringing your team into the fold with charity work can improve employee engagement and satisfaction, too. Christmas bake-offs or gift-wrapping parties are great opportunities for your team members to bond while fundraising for a cause.

3.   Support neighboring small businesses.

Your purchases of goods or services from your fellow small businesses will touch the lives of others like you and contribute to the livelihood of your local community.

You can also help other local businesses by building them up within your network and spreading the word. Leave positive reviews on their pages! Promote them online (and offline!) – more brand awareness is always a good thing.

4.   Reward your team.

Giving back this holiday season isn't only for the public good. You can also make your employees feel valued, happier, and more engaged by showing some extra generosity.

Here are several ways you can reward your employees and recognize their continued hard work and loyalty:

●      Providing a holiday bonus

●      Hosting a staff Christmas party

●      Offering additional time off over the holidays

●      Giving personalized gifts

Gestures like these can really make your team feel appreciated, which is a win-win all around.

Gifting wrap up

Christmas is a perfect time to give back – both to your community and within your organization.

This year, you can give your team members the gift of wellness with comprehensive health, dental, and optical coverage that will help them stay healthy and happy.

HealthChoice of Michigan supports small businesses and communities of all kinds in Oakland and Wayne Counties, offering Small Business Plans with medical benefits from Metro Detroit's most respected physicians and hospitals.

With a flat rate of $240 per month per team member (regardless of age or gender), you can finally afford the best coverage for your team with minimal out-of-pocket costs.

Visit https://healthchoiceofmichigan.com to learn more and enroll in the right plan for you and your team.