Celebrate the end of tax season with your team

Whew. You did it! Your accounting firm made it through tax season. And if you’re feeling worn out, that’s understandable. Although the number of firms expecting their staff to work on Saturdays during busy season fell to 34% (down from 40% in 2023), the stress of tax season isn’t conducive to good mental health. And in this blog, we’ll show you how to reward your employees’ hard work and diligence. Let’s dive in.

Get your team’s work-life balance back on track 

You’re not the only one who had to slog through the headache of tax season—your team suffered right along with you. During this time, your employees’ work-life balance endured a bit of a blow as well.  It’s a bit of a no-brainer that burnout occurred. Racing to ensure that you filed the appropriate tax form so your clients received the proper estimated tax credits was no small feat.  So, how do you restore proper work-life balance and show your team that you appreciate the demanding work they put in as you raced towards the end of tax season?  Simple enough—plan a company celebration that truly highlights how much your employees mean to you. 

Host a blowout end-of-tax season soiree 

Between electronic filings, personal difficulties, inflation and other concerns, blowing off a little steam at the end of tax season is a near necessity.  Your team deserves nothing less than the absolute best after striving to meet all the grueling expectations of Tax Day. For this reason, you need to ensure the end of tax season is marked by a celebration to remember. 

Consider, for instance, renting a nice hall with a DJ, band or karaoke host. You can also raffle off prizes like a 4K TV or extra vacation time during the event. 

Other types of party concepts to consider: 

• Awards night: Your beleaguered team faced off against the rigors of tax season, so an awards-style firm event may be just what the doctor ordered. Make sure every employee receives an accolade of some sort coupled with a nice prize. Catering the affair could be the icing on the cake! 
• Game night: A game theme would be equally fun. Style it after a popular TV show or host an amusing escape room. Again, prizes are key here. You don’t have to buy every worker a Keurig coffee maker, but one or two high-ticket items won’t hurt…and it can make for exhilarating competition.
• Sports outing: Taking the team to the ball game could be the perfect way to promote work-life balance. Buying everyone a sports jersey with their names and team numbers would add a nice touch to the festivities. 
• Catered affair: Take your tax season celebration up a notch with a fancy gala. Make it a catered, music-infused function that is family-friendly. Littering a long table with SWAG bags filled with keepsake reminders will surely end the evening with a bang. 

Include remote workers 

Many of the above ideas can be easily translated into a virtual environment for remote workers. For example, employees can access numerous cost-effective online puzzle rooms.  You can even create a hybrid end-of-tax season event, with local teams going to a real-world hall while remote workers enjoy your event via a designated virtual host. Keep in mind that a real-life function must also provide access for disabled employees. 

Host a post-tax season celebration for all 

Work-life balance is the responsibility of both the employee and the employer. After all, the word “work” is contained in the phrase “work-life balance.”  For this reason, accounting firms, large and small, need to be aware of when their teams need to socialize. The desire to enjoy a relaxing social gathering could be especially pressing after an end-of-tax season wipeout.  Tax season can be grueling for your firm and your staff. Take note of this and ensure that every team member who contributed to making this season a success is duly rewarded.  If you’re looking for ways to care for your faithful employees after an intense tax season, contact us today. We’ll happily share some ideas for firm improvement and building your firm’s culture.