Employee Appreciation Day Ideas and Gifts

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you have probably heard about the Great Resignation. Due to the pandemic, many employees have been re-thinking their career decisions. This is why it is more important than ever to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day.
 
You might be thinking, how did this day come about? Dr. Bob Nelson, an author and founding member of the Recognition Professionals International, is credited with kick-starting this holiday in 1995. While not considered a public holiday, it is a great way to foster relationships with your employees. The motivation behind it – good people are hard to find!
 
It seems that while there may be many available jobs in the current market, employees are looking for the best value proposition. Training new employees can be costly and timely. This is where retention plays a key role. Exploring a variety of metrics such as time between promotions or training opportunities can potentially alter how an employee feels valued.
 
More importantly, praise and recognition are of even more value! Let’s break this down for a moment. Monetary needs will exist, but once those needs are met an employee’s attention may shift to other aspects of their work life. This is where team building and morale come in. Take the time to recognize, reward, and celebrate successes.

This upcoming year Employee Appreciation Day falls on March 4^th, 2022. Take this day seriously and consider how to engage your employees. Maybe even consider asking them with a survey. One of the best ways to learn their interests is by giving them a vote. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired.
 

­­Plan an Outing

It’s never a bad idea to leave the office. For some employees, it may be more relaxing to be outside the work environment. Depending on your industry or team, you can explore a little bit outside the box. Plan a hike, head to a bowling alley, or visit a new exhibit at a museum. Of course, folks love food and drinks too, but that can always be factored into any of these concepts.
 

Host a Workshop

Similar to the concept of a Lunch ‘n’ Learn, hosting a fun, creative workshop can make a great environment for team bonding. We say skip doing it over lunch and make it a point to host when employees can leave after they are finished. This way they’re not focused on going back to work.

Consider workshops that will make sense for a variety of personalities, like a cooking class, cocktail class, or something centered around plants. It’s known to be therapeutic when folks can get their hands in the dirt. A workshop that always gets people talking is learning The Art of Kokedama by Cotton & Moss. They can even come to you and bring all of the supplies. 

     

Organize a Party

This could be scheduled in the office or outside of the office. Order some snacks and drinks or chat with your employees about whether they’d like to bring in their favorite seasonal food and make a potluck out of it. If this is the case, then it’s a good idea to gift your employees with a special surprise. Who doesn’t love a fun surprise?
 

Share A Gift

This is a great option if you’re tight on time or this day lands during your busiest season. It will let them know that you are thinking of them too. We touched on gift-giving etiquette in this blog and we have plenty of gift ideas here. Try to personalize the gift or write a thoughtful message about what each team contributes to the company.

Allow Paid Time Off

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to overlook. Extending the weekend or even leaving the office a few hours early can have such a positive impact on employees. For them, it can be as simple as getting some errands done early or finally getting a moment to themselves after a long week. It’s never a bad idea to gift time off!
 
Don’t wait too long to plan for Employee Appreciation Day. It’ll be here before you know it. Ask us about customizing any gift set here.