Updated: 2/23/21
What is Employee Appreciation Day?
Employee Appreciation Day began as a day to show appreciation to employees everywhere and to strengthen relationships between employers and employees. The first Friday in March marks this unofficial annual holiday, celebrated this year on March 5th.
Not only are recognition and appreciation key for motivating employees, showing your sincere, genuine appreciation for valued personnel goes a long way in maintaining employee job satisfaction. We’ve compiled our favorite 10 ways to show employees how much they’re appreciated. There’s something for everyone!
Put Pen to Paper! Write Employee Thank You Notes
Pen a genuine, sincere, handwritten thank you note for each of your employees expressing your thanks for their dedication and a job well done all year long! A personally penned thank you is more meaningful than a standard email destined for a future in cyberspace!
Personalize Gifts for Your Employees
Give personalized gifts to your employees they’re sure to appreciate. From engraved desk plates to personalized pens, tumblers, and more, they will enjoy putting your thoughtfully chosen gifts to good use!
Enjoy a Team Outing Digital Get Togethers
Prior to the current state of the world, taking your team out for lunch or a team-building event was a great way to show your appreciation. But, now it’s ill-advised.
So, until things return to some semblance of normal, consider digital get togethers.
Maybe set aside a time for your team to a screen-shared movie night. Send digital greeting cards to brighten their day. Or, if you have the means, get everyone together for a digital board game session.
Arrange a Volunteer Day
Giving back to your local community (or creating packages to be shared around the world) is a winner for volunteers and recipients alike. You will not only fulfill an essential need, your team will enjoy strengthening social bonds with one another along the way!
Plan an Extraordinary Treat
Whether it’s a special delivery of warm, freshly baked cookies from a local bake shop or hiring your team’s favorite food truck for a made-to-order lunch, your employees will appreciate you as much as you appreciate them!
Thank Your Staff by Bringing in Temporary Assistance
Share a few temporary workers between employees and departments for a few days or even a week. Catching up on the piles of busywork that have been pushed aside will have employees humming a happy tune all week long!
Enjoy the Local Lunch Scene
Explore your local cuisine by assigning each person on your team a restaurant to visit and write a review about afterward. And of course, have the company pick up the tab!
Order curbside to enjoy a socially distanced lunch.
Elevate Your Employee Break Room and Coffee Stations
Offer complimentary fruit or snacks and upgrade your coffee post with ceramic mugs and spoons, a selection of hot teas, and a variety of creamers, syrups, and coffee toppings. Don’t forget to include weekly Friday treats to start the weekend on a sweet note!
Create an Employee Recognition Campaign
Design a platform where employees can enjoy cheers from their peers! Whether it’s an intranet platform where employees can give a personal shout out to a colleague for a job well done, or actual certificates that are awarded, meaningful gestures of recognition are sure to be appreciated.
Start a Holiday Weekend Early
Surprise employees the morning before a long weekend and call it a day a little early. Whether it’s just before lunch or a little later, this is one surprise everyone will love!
Make employee appreciation an everyday event!
Simple gestures like being polite, saying hello, or flashing a smile to whomever crosses your path are effortless ways to show employees individual respect and appreciation all year long!
