Stadium for Holiday Gifting
Launching a Holiday Peer-to-Peer Recognition Campaign
Launch a peer-to-peer campaign with Stadium & automate your holiday gifting this year.
Employee recognition programs are more than a trend; they’re a proven strategy to boost morale, improve team cohesion, and help employees feel valued.
According to Gallup, employees who receive regular recognition are 4x more engaged and 5x more likely to stay at their company. Yet, only 1 in 3 U.S. workers have received praise in the last seven days.
That’s where a holiday-themed peer-to-peer recognition program can shine. The festive season offers a golden opportunity to foster camaraderie, amplify appreciation, and create tangible memories that make your workplace thrive.
And when you pair it with thoughtful holiday gifting or themed shoutouts, it turns everyday appreciation into something truly memorable.
Whether it’s a Slack message, a physical reward, or digital kudos, a little holiday recognition goes a long way.
Implementing a peer-to-peer recognition campaign this holiday season is one of the most effective, low-effort, and high-impact ways to elevate your culture, and we’re here to show you exactly how to do it.
No monthly fees.
No contracts.
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Benefits of peer-to-peer recognition during the holiday
Let’s get personal for a second—consider this from an employee’s point of view. Peer acknowledgment hits differently than a generic manager shout-out. Here’s why:
It feels more real
Recognition from a coworker feels authentic because it’s not driven by policy or evaluation; it’s from someone who truly noticed your effort.
It’s personal, specific, and heartfelt. That “you saw me” moment makes employees feel truly valued, validating their presence and daily contributions in a more genuine way than top-down praise.
No performance filter
Unlike manager-led feedback, which often involves KPIs or formal reviews, peer-to-peer recognition focuses on the daily, human side of work.
It’s about kindness, support, and effort—not quotas or metrics.
That freedom creates space for meaningful acknowledgment of actions that might otherwise slip through the cracks in traditional systems.
Creates equal ground
Peer recognition levels the playing field. It removes the hierarchy from appreciation—junior staff can recognize leaders, and vice versa.
It nurtures a culture where every employee is a giver and receiver of gratitude.
This mutual respect breaks down silos and builds a more connected and empowered workplace.
Stronger bonds
When employees consistently observe and appreciate one another, they form deeper connections.
A compliment from a teammate fosters trust and emotional investment.
Over time, these shared moments of praise can evolve into strong, collaborative relationships that enhance team morale and collective performance across projects and departments.
Inclusive and frequent
Top-down recognition can be slow and selective.
Peer-to-peer systems, however, create a constant, grassroots flow of appreciation that touches every corner of the organization.
This makes recognition more inclusive, accessible, and equitable, ensuring that contributions from every employee, not just top performers, are seen and celebrated regularly.
Be a part of rewards revolution with Stadium
How to Create a Peer-to-Peer Recognition Program with Stadium
Log in to Your Account
To begin creating your peer-to-peer recognition program, head to bystadium.com and log in to your account using your registered credentials. Ensure you're signed in with an admin or manager account with permission to set up programs.
Navigate to the Recognition Page
Once logged in, expand the sidebar by clicking the arrow at the top-left corner if it’s collapsed. Then, locate and click on the “Recognition” tab from the expanded menu. This will take you to the dedicated page to view, manage, or initiate recognition programs.
Initiate Program Creation
Click the “Create Recognition Program” button to create a new program. If there’s an existing program, click the three vertical dots next to it and select “Create New Program” to start fresh.
Fill Out Program Details
Enter a unique name for your recognition program, choose a start date, and optionally select “Start immediately” to activate it immediately. You’ll also need to define the “recognition currency” (default: Kudos) and its conversion rate. Decide how much each user will be allocated and how frequently they’ll receive their allowance—this ensures consistent and equitable participation.
Add and Select Recipients
You can add users to your contact list either manually by entering email addresses or by uploading a formatted CSV file. You can also integrate your HRIS system for automated syncing. Once added, recipients can be selected manually or using filters like team, department, or location.
Assign Custom Amounts
If needed, assign specific recognition budgets to individual users or groups. This allows managers to tailor point distributions based on roles or contributions. You can apply a universal amount to everyone or customize it per employee.
Payment and Confirmation
Choose your payment method, input billing information, and review the entire program setup. Once satisfied, click “Pay Now” to activate the program. Upon successful payment, your peer-to-peer recognition program will be live!
Activate Rewards Redemption (Optional)
To unlock the full benefits of your recognition program, including rewards redemption, subscribe to one of Stadium’s paid packages. Visit their Pricing Page to find the best fit for your organization.
Key Features of Stadium’s Peer-to-Peer Recognition Program
At Stadium, we believe recognition should be as seamless and impactful as your team’s work. That’s why our Peer-to-Peer Recognition Program, also known as the Kudos Program, empowers employees to celebrate one another in real time. Whether it’s a shoutout for a big achievement or appreciation for daily wins, our platform with redeemable holiday gifts makes recognition personal, visible, and rewarding. Fully customizable and HRIS-integrated, it supports peer and manager recognition, gamifies the experience with leaderboards, and ties recognition to tangible rewards. It’s everything you need to build a culture of appreciation, right from your existing workflow tools.
- Fully Customizable Recognition Programs
- Create and name your own currency (e.g., Kudos, Points)
- Assign recognition budgets per employee
- Automated HRIS Integration
- Multiple ways to add recipients (manual, CSV, synced systems)
- Segment users using filters like role or department
- User-friendly dashboard with real-time tracking
- Supports reward redemption through the swag locker or the catalog
- Part of Stadium’s paid package offerings
- Recognition Currency: A token of appreciation (like "Kudos") that employees can give to peers, later converting into redeemable points.
- Peer-to-Peer Recognition: Employees acknowledge and reward each other’s efforts directly.
- HRIS Integration: Sync your HR system to update employee info for seamless program management automatically.
- Custom Recognition Budget: The ability to assign specific points/currency to each employee, depending on your strategy.
A Complete holiday recognition Guide
Complement Your P2P Campaign With These Ideas
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Launch a peer-to-peer holiday campaign with Stadium & automate your holiday gifting this year.
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Holiday Successful Peer-to-Peer Recognition Ideas
1. Secret Compliment Santa
This idea adds a heartfelt twist to the traditional gift exchange.
Instead of physical presents, employees anonymously send personalized compliments to their coworkers.
These notes of appreciation highlight qualities like teamwork, creativity, or reliability—traits often overlooked in day-to-day work.
It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to spark joy and build authentic human connections during the holidays.
Teams can reveal senders at the end, or keep the compliments anonymous for that extra magic.
2. Holiday Cheers Wall (Virtual or Physical)
Set up a “Holiday Cheers” peer-to-peer recognition platform where shoutouts are posted publicly. Whether it’s a bulletin board or Slack channel, this entire peer-to-peer activation allows every employee to recognize achievements in real-time. Effective peer-to-peer recognition goes beyond hierarchy and taps into the power of community-driven gratitude that boosts morale and employee retention during the festive rush.
A LinkedIn post highlights a “Shout Out Wall” used to foster engagement and boost morale.
3. Holiday Playlist Shoutouts
Team members create a shared holiday playlist, each adding one song that reminds them of a coworker and explaining why.
Maybe it’s a song that captures someone’s vibe or an inside joke. When people listen, they feel seen and connected. It’s lighthearted, creative, and perfect for remote teams looking to bond. You can pair it with mini shout-outs in team meetings or on social media.
During a conversation about holiday music, one employee mentioned how they were tired of hearing the “forbidden retail song” (yes, Mariah Carey’s hit) and wanted something fresh—no overplayed pop, but not stuck in the past either.
Their team built a playlist with quirky picks like Barenaked for the Holidays and even included “Hanukkah Blessings,” turning it into a fun tradition everyone now looks forward to.
4. Holiday Badge Awards
Design holiday-themed digital badges, such as “Elf Extraordinaire” or “Kindness Kris Kringle,” that team members can award one another.
Use a peer-to-peer recognition platform to distribute these. These badges recognize achievements based on company values and encourage participation across the board. Every employee feels seen, making it one of the best peer-to-peer recognition tools for holiday engagement.
5. Year-End Highlight Reel
Collect shout-outs and recognitions submitted throughout the year and compile a short video reel or slide deck to showcase during the holiday party.
This is a tangible reminder of employee wins and the effective peer-to-peer acknowledgments that fueled them. Gather feedback to see which recognitions most resonate, and you’ll boost morale and bring out the emotional power of celebration.
6. Stadium Peer to Peer recognition Program
Unlike manager-only recognition, which often focuses on KPIs or end-of-year reviews, peer-led appreciation is more personal and frequent. It celebrates the daily wins, kindness, and collaboration that usually go unnoticed.
With Stadium peer to peer program, you can roll out a well-defined campaign that puts the power of gratitude in everyone’s hands, backed by a clear timeline, smart tracking, and easy ways to share campaign updates and progress.
7. Ugly Sweater Appreciation Post
Ugly sweater contests are a holiday staple—but here’s a twist: tie them into peer appreciation. Host a virtual or in-person day where everyone wears their goofiest holiday attire, then let coworkers leave compliments or shout-outs on a shared post or thread.
It’s a festive way to recognize individual personalities and lighten the mood. Bonus: use photos for a holiday card collage or year-end wrap-up.
One team shared how their holiday week combined everything—ugly Christmas sweaters, a cookie bake-off, volunteering at the local food bank, and even a cozy dinner.
Each activity sparked laughter, gratitude, and meaningful connections, making the holiday spirit truly unforgettable.- Source
8. Gratitude Calendar Countdown
Each day in December, highlight one employee with a shoutout from a peer on a holiday countdown calendar. This peer-to-peer recognition program helps recognize achievements and boost morale daily.
It’s the perfect way to ensure consistent, effective peer-to-peer recognition and create a festive rhythm leading to the holiday break.
10. Personalized Snowflake Notes
Distribute printable or digital snowflake templates for every employee to fill out with messages of thanks to coworkers.
Hang them around the office or in a virtual gallery. The symbolism of each snowflake being unique ties in beautifully with recognizing each individual’s contributions in a tangible, visual way, perfect for an effective peer-to-peer holiday campaign.
10. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign
Launch a peer-to-peer campaign where employees form small groups to raise funds for a cause aligned with your company’s values.
Participants can create team fundraising pages, track goals, and compete with fundraising efforts.
Choose the right peer-to-peer fundraising platform to manage the process. This blends holiday spirit with social impact and cements camaraderie through shared purpose.
Unlock the Power of Holiday Recognition with Stadium
Want to boost engagement even further? Stadium’s platform allows fun gamification features, recognition points, and even peer fundraisers that turn appreciation into collective impact. It’s recognition that not only feels good but also does good.
So if you’re serious about fostering a sense of appreciation and belonging in your team, Stadium gives you the tools to get it done—fast. Launch a fully functional peer-to-peer recognition program in days, not weeks.
Let’s make this season meaningful for everyone.
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