Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated on the first Friday in March and is a day for companies — both big and small — to thank their employees for all of their hard work and efforts. It’s important in any business that your employees understand you care about recognizing their achievements. Showing your appreciation and care can not only help build team spirit but also help build a genuine and inspiring workplace culture. Here are a few creative ways you can show your employees just how much you appreciate them!
1. Take Over Small Tasks
Take a walk in your employees’ shoes for a day and offer to run any errands or take over small daily tasks that they do. This could be anything from answering phones or handling customer orders.
2. Gift of Appreciation
Another way to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day is by awarding them with a thoughtful gift. You can have Zinnia flowers hand delivered to your workplace or gather everyone to hand out individual bouquets of flowers and personally acknowledge each of your team members for all of their hard work.
3. Write Each Employee a Note
A handwritten note is a great way to give a personal, meaningful “thank you” to each of your employees.
4. Surprise Them With Something Everyone Will Enjoy
Think about how you can freshen up your workspace or what you could bring in that everyone on your team would enjoy. Whether it’s a ping-pong table, fresh fruit delivery on a weekly basis, or a new coffee machine, gifts like these can show you not only care about your employees’ work but also their well-being.
5. Do Something Fun Together
Before the day arrives, decide with your employees on a fun activity to do that day that everyone would enjoy. You could offer choices such as a museum visit, mini golf, bowling, going out to lunch, etc.
6. Bring in Treats or Have a Potluck
Coffee and donuts are a classic hit that will make your employees feel loved the moment they walk in the door. You could also organize a potluck or cater in lunch and enjoy a meal all together to show your appreciation.
7. Take Team Photos
Bring in silly wigs, props, and a backdrop and let your employees’ personalities shine with a fun group photo session to commemorate the day. You can also share these on your company social media pages with a message of appreciation!
8. Pamper Them
Who doesn’t love being pampered? Hire a massage therapist, manicurist, aromatherapist or even a shoe shiner for the day to treat your employees. They will feel relaxed and loved after this special treatment.
9. Beach Day
Because Employee Appreciation Day happens to be during one of the coldest months of the year, why not have a beach day to brighten your employees’ mood and show them you care about their happiness? From Hawaiian shirts, beach balls, sunglasses, and refreshing snacks, make it a fun and light-hearted day to remember.
10. Give Them The Day Off
Employee Appreciation Day does fall on a Friday...why not make it a three-day weekend or let your team leave early for the day?!
“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”