We take everyone out (and a +1 if they want) for an Activity and Dinner, then usually meet up for a few drinks and BS’ing / card games (like Cards Against Humanity) after dinner at the store, or at our house.
A bonus equal to about a paycheck, based on how the year has went. I like to do the bonus the week of Thanksgiving as its not a payroll week and gives time for employees to use it for Christmas shopping. We also do small gifts for the employees.
This year we are doing ax throwing for the Activity, going to dinner at a new steak house in town.
We are also thinking of doing a White Elephant gift exchange after dinner, with a $10 limit and a theme of silly or goofy items.
Company of 10 people, counting myself and my wife.
I own a sign / print shop, and we have picked up quite a bit of business by just responding to customers. It really blows my mind. We are being praised for doing the bare minimum - picking up the phone / answering emails, giving quotes and offering basic customer service.
I know in my area there have been a lot of business owners retiring either by closing up shop or selling off their business over the last 3 years. COVID seemed to be the final straw for many people.
I can think of 6 print and/or sign shops that have changed owners and/or closed up shop in the last 3 years, which accounts for about 40% of our competition in the area.
Several of the new owners have irritated long time customers, and those customers have taken their business elsewhere.
So something simpler may be happening in your area.