If you are celebrating Boxing Day, may it be a happy one for you all! This is our fourth and final Christmas instalment, a festive fun take on some of the work we do – North Pole style!
As the holiday season rolls around, Father Christmas (or Santa, as his friends call him) faces the ultimate challenge: ensuring that the North Pole runs like a well-oiled machine. While his jolly demeanour suggests endless cheer, Santa is no stranger to the intricacies of managing a high-performing team under immense pressure – and he called in LACE Partners to help him focus on the ‘helper’ experience and get the ways of working right for his business. Let’s peel back the glittery curtain to explore how Santa applies HR best practices to manage his most precious resource – his elves.
Performance management: Naughty vs. nice metrics
Performance management at the North Pole isn’t your average KPI review. Santa relies on his infamous “Naughty or nice” list—a surprisingly robust performance appraisal tool. Every elf is assigned tasks ranging from toy-making and gift-wrapping to sleigh maintenance. Their efforts are reviewed on a sliding scale of “niceness,” with bonus points awarded for creativity (like that one time Elfred introduced ergonomic candy cane desks).
Santa holds weekly stand-ups to ensure alignment with the Christmas Eve deadline. Using his magical crystal snow globe (a bespoke HR dashboard, developed by LACE Partners workforce analytics team), he monitors real-time productivity. Elves who veer off track are offered coaching, often accompanied by hot cocoa, because nothing fosters accountability like a warm beverage and a candy cane.
Rewards and recognition: Beyond milk and cookies
When it comes to keeping morale high, Santa knows the power of recognition. After all, even the most dedicated elf can feel the strain of 12-hour shifts in a workshop that smells perpetually of peppermint and reindeer hay.
Elves who hit their targets are celebrated during the weekly “Tinsel Team Huddles,” where standout performers are awarded the coveted Golden Bauble of Excellence. For those who go above and beyond—such as inventing a faster way to assemble dollhouses—there’s the chance to lead the Holiday Innovation Lab. (Rumour has it an elf named Sparkle got promoted after inventing self-loading stockings.)
And let’s not forget the annual North Pole Gala, where Santa hands out personalized stockings filled with curated treats. “Recognition is a gift,” Santa says, “and it fits perfectly in every elf-sized shoe.”
Training and development: Sharpening the candy cane skills
Santa understands that even the most seasoned elves need continuous development. The Elf Professional Academy (EPA) offers workshops in everything from advanced bow-tying techniques to conflict resolution (for those inevitable squabbles over glitter allocation). Mentoring programs pair newer elves with experienced hands like Jingles, who’s been with the organization since the gingerbread computer was introduced.
A standout initiative this year has been the “Sleigh Forward” program, where elves learn to pilot drones as Santa explores hybrid delivery methods.
A little magic, A lot of HR
Ultimately, what makes the North Pole a workplace wonderland isn’t just Santa’s magic—it’s his ability to balance structure with celebration. By investing in clear performance metrics, meaningful rewards, and opportunities for growth, Santa ensures his team remains merry and motivated—even during the busiest season.
So, as you sip your eggnog and unwrap your gifts this year, spare a thought for the HR marvel that is Father Christmas. If he can manage a global deadline with a team of elves and flying reindeer, surely we can handle our end-of-year reviews. Watch out North Pole, he may be headhunted by LACE Partners!!!
