fun and engaging employee appreciation ideas
how to celebrate employee appreciation day at work
This article will feature 20+ national employee appreciation day ideas, including message ideas, gift ideas, team-building events, corporate wellness, happy hour, and virtual offsite!
National Employee Appreciation Day in 2023 will take place on March 3rd. We have compiled a list of employee appreciation and gift ideas to help you show your employees how much you care and value them. Taking the time to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day can be a way to highlight your company values like team building, wellness, learning, and development in a tangible way that supports and uplifts your employees.
Team Building Ideas For National Employee Appreciation Day.
1. Employee Appreciation: ‘Thank You’ Ideas
The central element of employee appreciation is employee recognition. Perks are awesome, but a thank you card and note can go a long way. It tells your employees that you remember them, think about them and that their work/character deserves recognition.
Sending your team member a message, especially at a managerial level, allows you to highlight specific milestones or memorable projects and gives them direct feedback on how this impacts the whole team, the efficiency of the department, etc. The personal relationship you develop as a manager allows this message to be personalized and more meaningful.
To end your note, offer them some time off to unwind and relax, like wrapping up the work day, the upcoming Friday early, or an extra day of paid vacation. This is invaluable!
Employee Appreciation Ideas - Thank You Messages And Notes.
2. Employee Appreciation Ideas - Employee Feedback
Communicate with your team and learn from them directly what things would improve their work-life and work-life balance or support them in a tangible everyday way.
Having a conversation may show you things you did not know and provide insight and ideas on what your team may be looking for. You may find your group is looking for more flexibility, whether due to family commitments, wanting to work from home more, or looking to travel while working. You may be able to support their personal goals if they have hobbies or classes they would like to attend during traditional working hours.
If your team is looking for support with managing their households, your company could liaise with a local organization, subside childcare or pet care, offer a discount on a subscription-like fitness and food memberships, or provide life coaching services. You may be able to solve minor inconveniences for your team and help them with travel expenses like parking tickets or transportation or sponsor a TV or music subscription for the whole team.
Listening to employee feedback on Employee Appreciation Day.
3. Employee Appreciation Ideas - Team Building Events & Games
Bringing your team together is a great way to foster company culture and team building. You can get creative with a two-in-one experience and send your team a craft kit they have fun creating and then enjoy the end result, or connect over a fun virtual game!
A candle, soap, or terrarium-making class can teach your team a new skill while connecting and having fun. If you want to host a family-friendly class, send them a cookie-decorating or chocolate-making kit and encourage them to involve the whole family.
Reenergize your team with a fun virtual game like Team Trivia or Music Bingo which will challenge your teams to inspire a little friendly competition. For small groups, a murder mystery experience or an alien invasion game can work well, as teams will work closely to unmask the suspect, have fun and build memories.
Chocolate Truffle Making Experience For Employee Appreciation Team Building Events.
4. Employee Appreciation Ideas: Wellness And Self-Care
A well-thought-out corporate wellness plan can cover essentials like proper access to mental health services and support and providing resources that can help your team. But are there ways to implement perks to support your team on their wellness journeys? Absolutely.
A gym membership, a spa/massage voucher, or a meditation or yoga experience can provide your team with a tangible outlet to relieve stress and decompress. Additionally, you can send your team a relaxing spa gift set to round up a peaceful day.
Wellness Gift For Employee Appreciation Day.
5. Employee Appreciation Ideas: Food Experiences
Reward your employees with the ultimate treat: food!
Bring out a food truck to cater a team lunch and have everyone take the afternoon off to connect and enjoy a meal together.
For remote or hybrid teas, send out food e-gift cards or a meal-kit service so they can enjoy a meal on you after a long day or save time shopping for dinners for a week!
Employee Appreciation Day: Food Gifts And Experiences.
6. Employee Appreciation Idea: Team Day Out
Treat your team to a fun day out and take them out on the town to enjoy a fun activity that will help them bond and build memories.
Fun activities like bowling, go-karting, paintballing, or mini golfing are great options, or you can organize an escape room or send them on a scavenger hunt to encourage teamwork and problem-solving. You could also host a family-friendly event like a BBQ or a potluck and invite everyone and their families: you can have fun games, get crafty and enjoy the company!
Ask a comedian, a magician, or an illusionist to entertain your team and reenergize them with top-notch shows for a virtual offsite. For a unique team-building experience, invite a professional music producer and vocalist to host a memorable musical session and a music video experience! Your group can learn how to write a song, learn a choreography, record a music video, and enjoy a watch party when their song is complete.
Virtual Offsite Ideas For Employee Appreciation Day.
7. Employee Appreciation Ideas: Learning & Development
A key to employee appreciation is giving your group opportunities for growth in a way that makes sense to them and suits their lifestyles.
Do your research and find out if there are any upcoming learning opportunities your team may benefit from, like training, webinars, e-classes, or expert panels, that they can attend and learn from. Ask your team if there are any new software or tools they’re interested in, and provide them with something relevant to their field and work.
If your team feels decked out with industry knowledge, choose to support them with learning and development with a mental health expert, a life or career coach, or even a Bucket List Coach, who will help them chase more personally and professionally fulfilling lives.
Speaker Events For Employee Appreciation Day Events.
8. Employee Appreciation Ideas: Happy Hour
Celebrate your team and all their hard work with a well-deserved happy hour experience.
Show your team how fun and accessible cocktail-making can be with a mixology experience. A professional mixologist will show them how to pour, shake and stir delicious drinks and give them the skills to make yummy cocktails at home. Plus, they get to enjoy a fun session with their team.
For a deluxe experience, invite an expert, like a wine consultant, and send them on a wine-tasting occasion with a cheese board, cheese and nut board, or a charcuterie snack board. Alternatively, invite a beer connoisseur to introduce your team to this world with a craft beer kit and beer tasting with you!
Virtual Wine Experience For Employee Appreciation Day Happy Hour.
9. Employee Appreciation Ideas: Team Appreciation
Encourage your team to engage in Employee Appreciation themselves and share a little kindness with their team.
An appreciation chain where people-specific compliments are shared, a wall of fame in the break room, or even a virtual yearbook allows your team to share some of their favorite memories, accomplishments, inside jokes, and a sincere thank you
Have a little fun and be inspired by Secret Santa! You can offer a cash gift stipend so your team can send someone else something special, which will make for a unique and personal gift.
Team Appreciation Ideas For Employee Appreciation Day.
10. Employee Appreciation Ideas: Thinking Ahead
Lastly, use Employee Appreciation Day to check in with yourself and reflect on your role as a manager and employee recognition. Check out some easy questions that help you identify some easy ways to show your appreciation that are practical and totally doable all year long!
How regularly are you connecting with your team beyond your one-on-ones and team meetings?
How often are you celebrating your team's wins on social media?
Do you have an updated section on your website about your team members and what they contribute?
When was the last time you held a team-building event?
How well are fun perks received, like a company lunch or a gift card for a coffee break?
Pro Tip: Use Employee Appreciation Day to brush up on your work anniversaries and birthdays. Adding these to your calendar will allow you to connect with your team on other special occasions and not exclusively on Employee Appreciation Day.
Do you need more ideas to help your remote teams connect? Check out some of our favorite tips!
About KraftyLab
KraftyLab is a leading team building events company providing corporate team building activities across the US & Canada. Our focus is on providing fun and engaging activities wherever your team may be!
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