Remote work has changed how we connect with our colleagues, making finding new ways to show appreciation crucial. How do you ensure your remote team feels valued as Employee Appreciation Day rolls around? You might be wondering about the best Employee Appreciation Day messages or searching for creative Remote Employee Appreciation Day ideas for businesses. This article will guide you through making your remote team feel exceptional, recognized, and motivated.
Giftpack has an excellent solution company-branded swag that can be sent directly to remote employees. It's a simple yet effective way to show appreciation and foster a sense of belonging within your team.
37 Remote Employee Appreciation Day Ideas for Businesses
1. The Power of Saying “Thank You”
Simple, direct, and incredibly effective. A genuine “thank you” at the right moment reinforces that you’ve noticed and valued the effort. This small act can significantly boost morale and foster a culture of appreciation. Gratitude benefits both the giver and the receiver, linking to well-being and positivity.
2. Celebrate Birthdays, Even Remotely
Marking birthdays with a thoughtful gesture shows employees they’re valued as individuals. A personal gift or recognition can make their day special and foster closer connections, whether they prefer a public acknowledgment or a quiet nod.
3. Work Anniversary Acknowledgments
Milestones matter. Celebrating work anniversaries, especially significant ones like five or ten years, underscores the organization’s appreciation of long-term commitment. It’s a chance to reflect on contributions and build loyalty.
4. Public Shout-Outs on Internal Channels
Highlighting achievements on platforms like Slack or Teams magnifies appreciation and promotes a team-first culture. Seeing their efforts acknowledged publicly boosts motivation and can inspire others. A specific and sincere post makes the recognition meaningful.
5. The Gift Card Gesture
Sometimes, the best gift is the one you pick yourself. Asking employees where they’d like a gift card shows you care about their preferences. It’s a small but powerful way to personalize appreciation.
6. LinkedIn Recommendations: A Modern Nod
A LinkedIn recommendation shows appreciation and supports professional growth. Highlighting achievements and positive traits publicly benefits the employee now and in the future and reflects well on the organization.
7. Care Packages With a Personal Touch
Curating care packages based on individual interests shows you know and value your employees as people. It’s a fun way to connect personally and offer a thoughtful token of appreciation.
8. Custom Gift Boxes for Remote Employees
A gift box tailored to an employee’s interests, complete with snacks and company swag, can make them feel connected and appreciated, even from afar. A movie night bundle or coffee lover’s kit can brighten their day and strengthen the bond with the organization.
9. Pop Culture-Inspired Gifts
Knowing your employees’ favorite shows or movies can help you choose a gift they’ll love. Sending a mug or T-shirt inspired by their pop culture favorites shows you pay attention and care about their interests.
10. Houseplants to Brighten Their Day
Plants are known to reduce stress and increase focus. Sending a houseplant is a thoughtful way to bring a little green into an employee’s life and add a touch of nature to their home office.
11. Custom Bobbleheads for a Laugh
Custom bobbleheads offer a unique and fun way to celebrate an employee. A personalized bobblehead, perhaps with their pet, can bring smiles and laughter to the next Zoom call.
12. Feature Stories of Team Wins
Capturing team successes in a feature story gives recognition and can motivate others. Sharing these stories internally highlights valuable contributions and shows that the organization values teamwork and achievement.
13. Virtual Escape Rooms for Team Bonding
Virtual escape rooms provide a fun and engaging way to celebrate team successes. They allow remote teams to bond and enjoy an activity together, even from a distance.
14. Loom Shout-Outs for a Personal Touch
Sending a video shout-out via Loom can be more engaging than an email. It allows you to express appreciation more personally and dynamically, perfect for teams spread across different time zones.
15. Themed Virtual Happy Hours
A themed virtual happy hour can be fun to bring the team together for a celebration. Adding an activity or theme makes the event more engaging and reinforces team appreciation.
16. Surprise Team Lunches With Gift Cards
Sending a gift card for a team lunch is a great way to surprise and thank your team. It offers a break from work and a chance to connect, with the added perk of a free meal.
17. Virtual Scavenger Hunts for Fun
A virtual scavenger hunt offers a break from work and a chance for the team to relax and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. It’s a unique way to show appreciation and build team camaraderie.
18. Calm and Headspace Subscriptions
Offering a subscription to Calm or Headspace shows you care about employee well-being. These tools can help employees manage stress and improve mental health, a meaningful gesture of appreciation.
19. Trivia Hours for Team Building
A virtual trivia event can be fun and engaging, helping to build team spirit. It offers a chance for friendly competition and a break from work, fostering a sense of community and appreciation.
20. Half-Day Fridays: A Crowd Pleaser
Giving employees a half-day off on a Friday shows you value their time and well-being. It’s a simple gesture that can go a long way in fostering a positive work-life balance.
21. Professional Development Opportunities
Offering professional development opportunities shows you care about employee growth. It’s a valuable way to support employees’ career paths and demonstrate appreciation for their contributions.
22. Home Office Upgrades for Comfort
Providing funds for home office upgrades shows you value employee comfort and productivity. It’s a thoughtful way to support remote work and show appreciation for their efforts.
23. Choose-Your-Own Incentives
Giving employees the chance to choose their own rewards ensures meaningful recognition. It offers a sense of autonomy and personalization, making the appreciation effort more impactful.
24. Virtual Volunteerism for a Cause
Offering virtual volunteering opportunities shows you support employees’ interests and values. It’s a meaningful way to connect remote employees with causes they care about.
25. Volunteer Grants for Community Support
Volunteer grants support employees’ community involvement. They offer a meaningful way to recognize contributions outside of work and reinforce the organization’s commitment to social responsibility.
26. Charitable Giving Stipends
Providing a stipend for charitable donations empowers employees to support causes they care about. Connecting appreciation with personal values and community impact is a meaningful way.
27. Virtual Mentorship Programs
Establishing virtual mentorship programs shows that you value employee development. They offer guidance and support, fostering long-term success and appreciation for their contributions.
28. Personalized Playlists for Fun
Personalized playlists show peer appreciation and can boost morale. They’re a thoughtful way to connect with employees and celebrate their contributions.
29. Virtual Offsite for Team Building
Virtual offsite events offer remote teams a chance to connect and collaborate. They provide a break from work, an opportunity to build team spirit, and a way to show appreciation for their efforts.
30. Virtual Experience Days for Relaxation
Offering virtual experience days shows you value employee well-being. They offer a chance for employees to relax and enjoy an activity of their choice, a meaningful gesture of appreciation.
31. Fitness Challenges for Health
Virtual fitness challenges encourage healthy living and team spirit. They offer a chance to celebrate milestones and show appreciation for employees’ efforts.
32. Company Swag for Connection
Sending company swag helps employees feel connected and valued. It’s a simple way to show appreciation and build a sense of belonging in the organization.
33. Family Activities for Recharge
Providing family activities shows appreciation beyond the workplace. It offers a chance for employees to recharge and connect with loved ones, a thoughtful gesture of gratitude.
34. Meeting Pass for a Break
Giving employees a meeting pass shows you value their time and focus. It offers a break from meetings and a chance to concentrate on work, a simple yet meaningful gesture of appreciation.
35. Vacation Expense Subsidies
Subsidizing vacation expenses shows you value employees’ time off. It offers a chance for them to enjoy a break and recharge, a thoughtful way to show appreciation for their efforts.
36. Celebrity Video Messages for Fun
Sending a personalized video message from a celebrity shows you know and value employees’ interests. It’s a fun and unique way to show appreciation and celebrate their contributions.
37. Workplace Anniversary Celebrations
Celebrating workplace anniversaries shows you value employees’ long-term contributions. It’s a meaningful way to recognize their loyalty and build a positive work environment.
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Why Employee Appreciation Matters for Remote Workers
Does it surprise you that two-thirds of the working population feel undervalued, reporting that they had not received recognition for work they felt deserved in the past week?
If this is news to you, recognizing employees could be a fantastic low-cost, high-impact investment for your business. Recognizing your workforce could position yourself ahead of 66% of your competition.
Below are some reasons why recognizing the work of your remote employees is vital to company success.
Retain More Employees
Studies show that employees who feel undervalued are often disengaged. This is a concerning state of mind for your workforce, as disengaged employees are 12x more likely to leave.
Turnover is expensive. With recruitment and training costs, it’s estimated that businesses spend 33% of an employee’s annual salary to replace them. When you consider that [25% of the U.S. workforce quit their jobs in 2021[(https://www.visier.com/blog/trends/four-things-we-learned-about-the-resignation-wave-and-what-to-do-next/), that is an enormous outgoing expense.
To improve employee retention, focus on the health and wellness of your employees, including their mental health. Dedicating more resources toward retaining high-quality staff should be a priority, not an afterthought.
Recognizing the work of your remote employees and making your business one they wish to work for is one of the many tactics business owners need to investigate to retain more employees. We will dive into effective recognition methods for remote workers later in this article.
Foster a Healthier and More Innovative Work Environment
Setting up an environment that fosters employee appreciation is one of the most brilliant things a leader can do.
Leading by example, a great manager should privately and publicly congratulate team members on work and non-work-related milestones, give thoughtful gifts and bonuses when appropriate, and offer an avenue of career advancement within the company's hierarchy whenever possible.
This will create a positive feedback loop. If workers feel like they are part of a remote ecosystem that values recognition, they will be more likely to recognize the work of their peers, which is when positive company culture begins to blossom. A healthy environment is one in which all inhabitants thrive.
Productivity Will Increase
It’s no secret that employees who feel valued and motivated will be more productive toward the company's goal. Reports show productivity can increase by 20% when employees are happy at work.
Although happiness is subjective, we know what contributes to employee satisfaction. Factors such as room for growth and opportunities, a healthy work-life balance, purposeful work, peer recognition, and management recognition are repeatedly cited as reasons to stay or leave a workplace.
Employee recognition can be an entirely free exercise, making it a low-risk, high-reward investment.
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What Makes Providing Appreciation Different in a Remote Environment?
Remote work has changed how we show gratitude. Forget about office perks like parking spots or catered lunches. Those don't work when your team is scattered across different places. You need new ways to make appreciation matter, no matter where everyone is.
Connection: The Core of Remote Appreciation
Remote employees sometimes feel isolated, so appreciation efforts should focus on bringing the team together. Virtual celebrations, personalized shout-outs, and digital rewards can help bridge that gap.
Nailing the Execution
Organizing a global appreciation strategy takes more coordination than a quick office gesture. But it’s worth it for employees who feel valued to stay engaged, motivated, and loyal to the company.
Appreciation That Hits Home
With the right ideas, remote appreciation can be as impactful as in-person recognition. It’s all about making employees feel seen, no matter where they work.
Take the First Step with Giftpack
Try Giftpack's client gifting service for free today and see how easy it is to show appreciation to your remote team.
When is Remote Employee Appreciation Day?
Mark your calendar, September 22 is Remote Employee Appreciation Day. This day recognizes the efforts of the 22 million remote employees who keep businesses running from home offices, coffee shops, and coworking spaces around the world.
With remote work becoming more common, it's more important than ever to show appreciation for the people who contribute from a distance.
Whether it’s a heartfelt thank-you, a virtual celebration, or a thoughtful surprise, taking the time to recognize remote employees makes a big difference in keeping them engaged and valued. If your team works remotely, use September 22 as a reminder to show them some extra appreciation.
How to Celebrate Remote Employee Appreciation Day
There are many ways to celebrate Remote Employee Appreciation Day. Here are a few ideas:
Host a virtual celebration
Organize a virtual meeting to celebrate and recognize each other’s achievements.
Send a thoughtful gift
Show your appreciation with a small gift showing your care.
Write a heartfelt message
Take the time to write a personalized message that acknowledges your remote employees' hard work and dedication.
Give them the day off
Give your remote employees the day off to relax and recharge if possible.
Why Remote Employee Appreciation Day Matters
Remote Employee Appreciation Day is important because it acknowledges the unique challenges that remote workers face. Working from home can be isolating, and it’s easy for remote employees to feel disconnected from their colleagues and the company as a whole.
By taking the time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of remote employees, you can help them feel more engaged and valued. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.
Showing appreciation for remote employees can help build a positive company culture. When employees feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to be loyal to the company and stay with it long-term.
Related Reading
• Employee Appreciation Day Ideas for Large Companies • Employee Appreciation Day Ideas for Small Companies
Build A Meaningful Employee Recognition Program With Ease with Giftpack's Client Gifting Service
Giftpack is transforming the corporate gifting scene by making it easier and more impactful. Our custom AI algorithm crafts unique swag box options tailored for any scenario. We handle global delivery and have a user-friendly platform. With a catalog of over 3.5 million products, we curate gifts based on demographics, preferences, and digital footprints, ensuring a personalized experience whether the recipient is an employee, a client, or a friend. Our approach makes meaningful connections possible worldwide. Try Giftpack's client gifting service for free today.
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