The holiday season is a great time to show your employees some appreciation and inspire them for the year ahead. Beyond a cash bonus, you can show your team members heartfelt gratitude in many ways. Author Deb Boelkes says infusing a sense of gratitude and caring within the workplace is instrumental.

If you're looking for ways to show genuine gratitude for your employees' hard work, creativity and dedication, read on. We share Boelkes's suggestions on ways to show your employees you care in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

1. Make the holidays easier for your team members. Life can get busy and stressful this time of year. Boelkes encourages leaders to look for simple ways to take some of the pressure off. For instance, announce the holiday schedule in advance and communicate it several ways so they can plan. Also, keep the schedule flexible and light. Let people leave work a few hours early or work from home.

2. Don't send a bland corporate holiday card. Instead, Boelkes recommends sharing a heartfelt (and customized) thank-you message. She says successful leaders make sure the people working above, for and with them know they and their contributions are appreciated.

3. Help employees connect to purpose and meaning. Boelkes says "wow" workplaces are infused with meaning. People don't just go through the motions; they know that their work touches people's lives in real and often profound ways. Remind people of the larger calling behind their job. At a holiday lunch or party, consider reading thank-you letters from customers or invite one to speak at your event on how your company made their lives better.

4. Don't skimp on the holiday party. According to Boelkes, workplace celebrations are deeply important. Not only does it give everyone a chance to relax and socialize, but it's a way to say thank you to employees. Make it special.

5. Declare a moratorium on after-hours emails. For the last two weeks of the year, declare email-free evenings and weekends. It's a small way to give employees their personal time back.

6. Designate a volunteer day to spread goodwill. The holidays are about giving, so find a way for your organization to give back to the local community, says Boelkes. Choose a nonprofit and select a day or partial day to volunteer as a group. You might decide to walk dogs at a local shelter, serve lunch at a soup kitchen or play with children at an orphanage.

7. Challenge employees to make a holiday connection with customers. Ask workers to brainstorm ways to connect with customers around the holidays. Then set them free to implement their plans. A customer service representative might send freshly baked cookies to the clients she normally assists, or a group of workers might decide to make a funny holiday thank-you video to send to their clients.

8. Give the gift of (positive) year-end feedback. Boelkes says encouraging feedback is a great way for leaders to send employees off on the right foot to enjoy their holiday breaks. Focus mainly on what employees are doing right and ask them to share their ideas for making next year even better.

When you genuinely show appreciation to your workers, it's a gift that lasts all year long. Take some time this holiday season to show your team members you care. It pays off for you, your employees and your clients.

Source: An authority on creating best places to work, Deb Boelkes has more than 25 years working in Fortune 150 high-tech firms, leading superstar business development and professional services teams. She's author of The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture.