Our December Holiday Challenge: Expressing Gratitude and Giving Back
“I’m thankful for family and friends and, you know, everything,” we recited quickly at the Thanksgiving dinner table so we could dive into our turkey and stuffing while they were still warm. Often many of our sentiments of appreciation are quickly said in the moment and just as soon forgotten. And while brief expressions of thanks certainly have their place, this year at Clearcover, we’re encouraging a deeper examination of thankfulness by carefully considering and expressing gratitude for all of the positive things in our lives.
While in the middle of the frantic holiday season, we can easily get caught up in our “to do lists,” both at work and at home, and miss the chance to slow down and take stock of all that we are grateful for. Multiple psychology studies have shown that expressing gratitude is consistently associated with greater happiness. In the workplace, this directly leads to higher employee morale and improved engagement which boosts overall productivity and innovation. Furthermore, an increased focus on gratitude motivates us to give back to others. So with the goals of promoting happiness during (what can often be) a stressful time of year, increasing productivity, and giving back in mind, we’re presenting Clearcover-ers with the Give Back with Gratitude Challenge.
For one week in December, employees will be encouraged to log one work-related and one non-work related expression of gratitude using the following prompts:
At Clearcover I’m grateful for…
Outside of Clearcover, I’m grateful for…
These expressions of gratitude will be shared with the entire organization and for each employee entry logged, Clearcover will contribute a $2.50 donation (up to $1,000 total) to the Greater Chicago Food Depository which serves the neighbors of our home office in Chicago, and to Forgotten Harvest in Metro Detroit on behalf of our Customer Experience team based in the Motor City. Our decision to donate funds to local food pantries was inspired by Clearcover’s Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Council (EIDC) and their observance of Universal Human Rights Month, which highlights organizations that promote equality by ensuring basic human needs such as food, clothing and housing are met.
At Clearcover, ensuring our employees’ well-being and supporting their mental health is essential to our people-first culture. By allowing each individual the space to reflect on everything they’re truly grateful for at work and at home, The Gratitude Challenge will alleviate some holiday-season stress to inspire a positive state of mind and fuel everyone’s best work into the new year. Outside of our organization, the Gratitude Challenge will work to alleviate hunger and ensure that this basic human need is met in Chicago and Detroit.
If you’re inspired by our Gratitude Challenge and are looking to work for a company that values employees’ happiness and promoting equality in the workplace and beyond, we invite you to apply for one of our open positions at Clearcover.