Employee Appreciation Day

It’s no secret that employee appreciation is so important (well at least it shouldn’t be a secret). It helps increase morale, engagement, productivity, retention, and overall employee happiness. Recognition and appreciation of employees is so important that there’s an entire holiday dedicated to it! That holiday would be Employee Appreciation Day.

Employee Appreciation Day is a chance for leaders and bosses to show their teams just how much they value them. Because let’s face it, the company wouldn’t be able to do all that it does without the support and dedication of the employees. Employee Appreciation Day is a designated opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all of the hard work that your employees contribute to the organization.

Employee Appreciation Day is a national holiday in the United States that takes place on the first Friday of March each year. Despite the holiday being a US holiday, the day is celebrated in multiple countries abroad. Employee Appreciation Day is observed in Canada and the United Kingdom and has rapidly gained popularity since it first became a holiday in 1995.

The holiday was first implemented in 1995 by Dr. Bob Nelson, a founding member of Recognition Professionals International. Dr. Nelson originally created the holiday as a means to market the publication launch of his book, 1001 Ways to Reward Employees. The book serves as a reminder to managers everywhere of the importance of showing gratitude and recognition to employees when they do good work – a topic that is especially relevant today! Dr. Nelson worked with his publishing company to make the holiday appear prominently on workplace calendars. Today it is recognized as a holiday across companies worldwide.

1. Surprise Breakfast or Lunch Spread

Start the day off right by surprising your team with a delicious catered breakfast or lunch. You could offer a variety of options like pastries, fresh fruit, bagels, or even a taco or pizza bar for lunch. It’s a simple gesture that brings everyone together to relax and enjoy a meal, showing them that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

2. Personalized Thank You Notes & Gift Bags

Nothing beats a heartfelt, handwritten note. Write personalized thank-you messages for each employee, highlighting their unique contributions to the team. Pair these notes with small gift bags containing items like branded mugs, snacks, candles, or even gift cards. This personal touch makes employees feel genuinely appreciated and valued.

3. Office Awards Ceremony

Host a fun and lighthearted awards ceremony to recognize your team’s achievements and personalities. Create humorous and meaningful award categories like "Best Team Player", "Most Creative Thinker", or "Office Comedian". Hand out small trophies, certificates, or fun prizes to add a sense of excitement and recognition.

4. Bring in a Wellness Expert

Show your employees you care about their well-being by inviting a wellness expert to the office. You could organize a group yoga session, a mindfulness workshop, or even chair massages. This not only helps employees de-stress but also promotes a healthy work-life balance, which boosts morale and productivity.

5. Create a ‘Wall of Appreciation’

Set up a board in a common area and encourage employees to write notes of appreciation for their colleagues on sticky notes. It’s an interactive way for the entire team to recognize each other’s efforts and foster a positive, supportive environment. By the end of the day, the wall will be filled with uplifting messages that remind everyone how valued they are.

Check out more ideas to celebrate employee appreciation day

1. Office Trivia Challenge

Put together a trivia game with questions about your office culture, fun facts about team members, or general pop culture. You can play individually or in teams to encourage collaboration. Offer small prizes like coffee gift cards or company swag for the winners to keep the energy high and the competition friendly.

2. Team-Building Scavenger Hunt

Create a quick scavenger hunt around the office with clues related to inside jokes, office landmarks, or work-related trivia. Divide employees into teams to encourage collaboration and problem-solving. It’s a fun way to break up the day and get people moving and interacting with coworkers they might not usually work with.

3. Guess That Baby Photo

Ask employees to anonymously submit their baby photos before the event. Display the photos in a common area or slideshow and let everyone guess who’s who. This activity is always a hit, sparking lots of laughter and nostalgic conversations, helping colleagues connect on a personal level.

4. Desk Decorating Contest

Let your team show off their creativity by hosting a desk decorating contest. You can pick a theme, like "Spring Fling" or "Favorite Movie", and have employees decorate their workspaces accordingly. At the end of the day, have a panel of judges (or a team vote) to select winners in different categories like "Most Creative" or "Funniest Desk".

5. Spin-the-Wheel of Prizes

Set up a prize wheel with a variety of rewards like "Extra 30-Minute Break", "Free Coffee Voucher", "Work-from-Home Day", or even "Leave an Hour Early". Throughout the day, employees can spin the wheel for a chance to win. It’s an easy, engaging activity that brings excitement and gives everyone something to look forward to.

Employee Appreciation Day Gifts have a ton of benefits. But before we get into those, here is some inspiration for some of the best employee appreciation gifts that you can give to your employees on Employee Appreciation Day:

1. Snack Basket

Let’s be real…who doesn’t love snacks?! An employee appreciation snack basket makes a wonderfully delicious gift. Personalize the snack basket as much as you’d like so that it’s just right for your employees. What’s great about this gift too is that it can be given to both in-office and remote employees. Ship this employee appreciation snack basket directly to your remote employee's house, or your in-office employee's desk!

1. Appreciation Gift Box

Give each of your beloved employees a team appreciation full of essentials that they can use in the office with a team appreciation gift baskets. Or if you want to make the gift a little more personal, give your employees a gift box full of home essentials. A home essentials gift box makes an especially great gift for remote employees, whose home lives likely collide with their work lives. This box is a nice reminder to those hard-working virtual employees to take some time for themselves in between putting in so much hard work at the job!

1. Branded Company Merch

Give your employees that chance to rep the company that they work so hard for with custom-branded company merch. This could include a sweatshirt, jacket, hat, t-shirt, or other apparel items with your company logo. Or if you want to get extra creative, customize a coffee tumbler, backpack, water bottle, or another accessory.

1. Gourmet Dish 

Gift your employees the taste of luxury with a gourmet food item delivered directly to them. Select from specialty cheeses, boutique cookies, exotic fruits, seafood & Sauces, unique salty treats, and other gourmet items For remote employees, ship the gourmet dish right to the employee’s house for them to enjoy at their own leisure. If you have in-person employees, consider shipping multiple dishes right to the office and hosting a party for Employee Appreciation Day with plenty of food items for your employees to enjoy. If you host a party for Employee Appreciation Day, consider hosting it early in the day and letting your employees leave early afterward (it’s a nice bonus that they’ll definitely appreciate!)