The holidays are about bringing people together, and in kind, Identity Digital is about bringing its global teams together with its location-specific approach to celebrating togetherness.
With a combination of national, cultural and religious holidays to consider, it can be challenging to include everyone in the celebrations that matter the most. At Bellevue, Washington-based Identity Digital, a people-centric and culturally sensitive approach to the holidays has proven to be a successful way to raise morale and connect team members locally and globally. On top of a companywide shutdown at the end of the year, Identity Digital adapts its holiday observances to the local customs and traditions of its offices, allowing teams to gather when it’s most meaningful for their lives in and out of the workplace.
As People Experience Manager Spencer Ericson put it, “community” is both an overall sense of team unity and something unique to every team and location, and every office has its own special way of teambuilding, volunteering in the local community and helping remote colleagues feel included.
Built In Seattle sat down with Ericson and spoke about Identity Digital’s approach to a successful holiday season and the other ways his team cultivates togetherness year-round.
Identity Digital is an internet infrastructure company that creates unique domains and domain extensions to support businesses’ online brand identities.
Give us an overview of the holiday season at Identity Digital. Are there any companywide celebrations or days off?
The holiday season at Identity Digital is vibrant and joyful, and encourages team members around the world to bring their authentic selves to work. We host holiday parties at each office, giving everyone a chance to connect, unwind and enjoy the festive season with their local teams.
Beyond companywide celebrations, our teams create fun festive experiences. For example, one year we made gingerbread houses together virtually, which allowed our remote team members to participate while creating laughter, creativity and team engagement.
Each year, I am most excited about our companywide shutdown from December 25 through January 1. This period allows everyone to fully recharge and spend time with their friends and loved ones. We come back in the new year refreshed and energized. The holiday season at Identity Digital is a wonderful time that strengthens our connections.
How does Identity Digital make the holidays inclusive?
We strive to make the holiday season inclusive by honoring and celebrating the diverse traditions of our team members around the world. We recognize that our team members come from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds, and we want everyone to feel valued and celebrated. To support this, we tailor our holiday observances to each location, ensuring they resonate with the local culture and customs.
For example, in India, we close our office for Diwali, one of the country’s most significant festivals. We mark the occasion by giving each employee a gift as a token of appreciation and to celebrate the joy of the season.
By recognizing the holidays that are meaningful in each region, we create an environment where employees feel seen and appreciated for who they are and where they come from. This commitment to inclusivity strengthens our company culture and helps us build a more connected, supportive community across our global team.
“By recognizing the holidays that are meaningful in each region, we create an environment where employees feel seen and appreciated for who they are and where they come from.”
What makes the holiday celebrations a reflection of Identity Digital’s values, mission and culture?
At Identity Digital, our holiday celebrations reflect our commitment to teamwork, integrity and giving back to the communities we serve. We organize volunteer events, such as supporting local food banks and volunteering to support animal shelters, which align with our commitment to make a positive impact.
Additionally, local offices choose what’s most important to them. For example, one of our offices participates in a charitable initiative where donations to local nonprofits enter employees into a raffle at the holiday party, reinforcing our commitment to helping others.
Alongside these meaningful activities, we also prioritize fun and connection by hosting festive events where our global team can come together to celebrate, relax and enjoy the season. These celebrations embody our values and bring our community closer, fostering a spirit of joy, connection and giving.
