15 Ways To Make The Most Of Employee Appreciation Day
It goes without saying that you should appreciate your employees every day. But once a year, Employee Appreciation Day gives you an opportunity to go all out in a formal effort to show your people some love.
Recognizing your employees' hard work contributes to building a positive workplace culture where people feel they’re valued, boosting morale and fostering loyalty across the organization.
What Is Employee Appreciation Day?
Employee Appreciation Day is an annual event dedicated to recognizing the hard work and dedication of employees. It’s a day for companies to express gratitude for staff contributions to the success of the business.
Remember when Jim Halpert from The Office celebrated Dwight Schrute’s work accomplishments (even in his own quirky way)? It was a good reminder that acknowledging effort—whether large or small—makes a significant impact on team morale.
By an employee recognition plan, employers can reinforce loyalty, engagement, and a sense of belonging within the team.
When Is Employee Appreciation Day?
Employee Appreciation Day is typically celebrated on the first Friday in March each year. In 2025, it falls on March 7th. This date is an opportunity for businesses to plan activities, gifts, and messages that make employees feel valued.
Employee Appreciation Day Gift Ideas
Choosing gifts for Employee Appreciation Day doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Here are some scalable gift ideas that work well across large teams:
1. Customized company swag
Think branded items like water bottles, notebooks, T-shirts, or even cozy blankets with your company logo. Everyone loves practical and personalized gifts.
2. Gift cards
A classic option! Same as when you’ve got to get a gift for a party when you’re on your way to it. Gift cards to popular online retailers or local restaurants give employees the flexibility to choose something they love.
3. Extra time off
Surprise your employees with a "bonus day" off, giving them the gift of time to relax and recharge. At a time when burnout is rampant and employees often don’t feel comfortable taking their PTO, a mandated extra day off is welcome and will help them reconnect with things outside of of work that keep them fresh and happy.
4. Wellness packages
Send wellness kits with items like essential oils, herbal teas, and stress-relief tools to promote well-being and self-care. This is a good way to remind folks about your employee wellness program and tools they can take advantage of to maintain their overall wellbeing and productivity.
5. Charitable donations
For socially conscious teams, consider making donations to charities in the names of your employees. This can have a personal and impactful meaning.
Around 82% of U.S. workers want their employers values to match their own, but if you’re operating a diverse and inclusive workplace, how do you do that? Peoples’ values and motivations can vary greatly, but a simple donation to a charity of their choice can show them a commitment to their satisfaction and help them feel as though they are doing some good in the world.
Appreciation Day Messages
Words of appreciation can go a long way in making employees feel valued and messages should be a part of your appreciation day efforts. Here are examples of messages companies use to express gratitude:
1. Personalized “Thank You” notes
Saying thanks is easy, showing gratitude is another thing. But it can start with the words and a little something simple to accompany it, like a card that reads: "Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our team. Your contributions are vital to our success, and we truly appreciate everything you do."
2. Shout-outs in company meetings
You should be doing this on a regular basis and aligning the shout-outs with examples of the company values in action. Here’s an example:
"We want to give a special shout-out to the marketing team for their creativity and resilience in launching our new campaign. Your efforts are noticed and celebrated."
3. Public recognition via social media
Who doesn’t want their fifteen minutes of fame? Okay, not everybody, but a bit of public recognition can go a long way toward helping someone feel satisfied and appreciated.
Highlighting standout employees on your company’s social media pages shows public recognition and appreciation, like giving a shout-out to the unsung heroes.
Think of Leslie Knope, the beloved character from Parks and Recreation. She was known for going above and beyond to celebrate her colleagues' achievements, recognizing even the smallest contributions. That’s exactly the sort of energy you need to bring to the day.
4. CEO letter of appreciation
A heartfelt letter from leadership goes a long way. While appreciation from managers and fellow colleagues is important, particularly in terms of consistency, a letter from the CEO can help people feel a greater sense of connection to the business outside of their team. Here’s a good example:
"Dear team, your hard work and commitment this past year have driven our success. Thank you for consistently going above and beyond."
5. Messages from the team lead
You’ve heard it said before that people don’t leave companies, they leave managers. Well, whether or not that’s true is open for debate, but one thing is for certain, getting recognition from a manager is always welcome from employees and an important part of feeling a sense of belonging within the team they work with.
Here’s a good example of a manager or team lead message for the employee.
"Your hard work and passion are the driving forces behind our success. Today, we celebrate not just what you do, but the positive energy and commitment you bring every day. Thank you for being an integral part of our team!"
Employee Appreciation Day Celebrations
Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day with a fun event is a great way to boost team spirit. While I’m no party planning committee, here are a few ideas I’ve seen done in a fun way.
1. Office party with food trucks
You can avoid being an HR stereotype showing up with a bunch of pizza and not go through the rigmarole of trying to satisfy everyone’s food tastes and diet restrictions with this solution. Invite food trucks to the office for a surprise lunch break and pick up the tab for your employees. Offer a variety of cuisines to cater to everyone’s preferences.
2. Team-building games and competitions
I once worked at a place where we did a company Olympics. It was a ridiculous mix of costumes and some folks getting a bit too competitive, but in the end, everyone had fun and we still laugh about the photos that were taken to this day.
Think of it as your company's version of The Hunger Games, but without the survival pressure—just fun! Be sure to remind your ultra competitors… it’s just fun.
3. Awards ceremony
Awards don’t always have to be performance related or tied to rewards. It can simply be an act of appreciating the people who make up your organization for who they are. Host a lighthearted awards ceremony, giving out fun titles like "Best Zoom Background" or "Most Likely to Brighten Your Day."
4. Virtual happy hour
For remote teams, organize a virtual happy hour with fun themes, games, and icebreakers. You can send everyone a gift card for a meal delivery service and a cocktail or mocktail kit beforehand for added flair. If you were thinking of doing the awards ceremony, you can tie that into the events of the day.
5. Themed dress-up day
Create a themed day where employees dress up according to a fun theme (e.g., favorite movie characters, sports teams, or "decades day") to spark conversation and laughter. Encourage teams to work together on their attire and give out playful rewards for the best dressed.
Help With Employee Appreciation Day
Tap into your feedback mechanisms and employee resource groups (ERGs) to help you make the most of employee appreciation day. That way, you can fine tune your efforts to fit with not just the wants of your employees, but also their needs.
Whatever sort of path you chose for celebrating the day, consider leveraging employee recognition platforms to streamline public acknowledgment and ensure everyone gets recognized consistently throughout the rest of the year.
These platforms can help with automated shout-outs, peer recognition, and tracking employee achievements.
FAQs
Who should be recognized on Employee Appreciation Day?
Everyone in the company should be recognized, from entry-level employees to senior management. Employee Appreciation Day is about celebrating each person’s contributions, regardless of their position.
How does Employee Appreciation Day benefit the company?
Employee Appreciation Day helps to improve morale, boost engagement, and enhance productivity. Recognized employees are more likely to feel valued, stay motivated, and remain loyal to the company, reducing turnover.
Similarly, employees celebrating boss day lets leaders know they’re appreciated and that the company culture is a happy one.
How can remote teams celebrate Employee Appreciation Day?
Remote teams can celebrate by organizing virtual events like trivia games, virtual escape rooms, or sending care packages to employees’ homes. Virtual shout-outs, thank-you messages, and even video montages from leadership can also make remote employees feel appreciated.
