Since the emergence of Covid-19, the world has changed, and so have our lives. Some businesses are having difficulty adapting to new methods of working. Employees are concerned about getting laid off owing to a variety of issues. Many of them stated that they began looking for a new job when they learned that the company would be making some changes.
After all, no one wants to be left jobless.
What companies need to do is to make their employees feel reassured. And there is really no better way than recognizing and appreciating them.
Friday March 3rd is Employee Appreciation Day. – the best chance to show your employees that you appreciate their hard work and that you care about their wellbeing.
On this day, companies usually take the chance to thank their employees for everything they have done.
Are you stuck for ideas for Employee Appreciation Day? Check out our ultimate Guide to creating a successful Employee Appreciation Day. We've also chosen 5 greatest gift ideas for you to express gratitude to your colleagues.
In this article, we will go through 10 Employee Appreciation Day Ideas for you to consider before the actual day arrives.
10 Best Appreciation Ideas
1. Allow your employees to work from home (WFH).
Many large tech firms have announced plans to let employees work remotely after the pandemic. It’s safer for all of us to work remotely in this situation, although essential business activities have been reopened in some parts of the country. Just don’t forget to make the transition as smooth as possible so your employees won’t feel it’s a challenge but rather an act of appreciation from the company. A training program for WFH, therefore, is recommended.
2. Hold virtual games to gather remote workers.
This new working culture might be unknown territory for many. A lot of companies have started remote working for months since the COVID-19 outbreak. Have your employees been able to gather and have fun ever since? If not, it’s a good time on Employee Appreciation Day for you to hold a virtual game where everyone can join and meet virtually. Did you know… there’s even a way to play party games like beer-pong virtually! Use online meeting platforms such as Google Meet, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. Have some fun and say “cheers!” to all your accomplishments and boost your team's spirit!
3. Plan a peer-to-peer appreciation activity.
When all other companies are doing programs where managers recognize employee’s hard works, why not let employees themselves do the same for each other? Recall the time when you were back in school. Weren’t your fondest moments created by your classmates and friends celebrating together? Plan an activity where you encourage your team to share positive feedback and appreciate each other's work. Imagine how big of an impact will it make in your working environment!
4. Grant your employees access to educational content/learning resources.
Fun fact: most of the employees leave companies in December and March. Apparently, many workers feel the most unmotivated in these two months. They are thinking of concerns including, no future, no monetary support, no sense of achievement, no sparks staying in the company, and the list goes on. Good leaders know employees have the desire to learn new things and broaden their horizons. While they may not have the resources readily accessible, it’s best for you to offer some help. Spend some money on giving subscriptions to educational content platforms and offer new learning resources to refresh their motivation.
5. Give them a 4-day weekend.
Employee Appreciation Day is on a Friday. While most of the companies might be giving their employees 1 day off, why not be just a little bit more generous and make it 2? If your company is having a day off on Employee Appreciation Day, you know employees might not be working very efficiently on Thursday. Make the next Monday a day-off too and let your employees either travel around or spend some quality time with their families. You’ll receive more appreciation than the amount you give.
6. Give a public appreciation speech in the company.
Dale Carnegie mentions in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, that 1 of the 6 ways to make people like you is to give them a sense of importance. As a leader, you have to tell your employees why they matter to this company, the department they’re in, and the relationship between you and them. Highlighting their positive contributions and traits never goes wrong. Think about their achievements in this past year. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you to come up with how to thank them. Make it a public speech. You won’t regret it.
7. Greet their families with heart-warming messages.
Work-life balance has been prioritized more than ever in recent years. Why is that? Let’s suppose it’s because people find themselves working too much, and don’t get to spend time with themselves, friends, and family. Sounds reasonable, right? As a manager, what you can do to show how much you care about them, is to extend your greetings to your employees’ family members! When work is not just work, but another home where people take care of each other, working becomes less stressful and more favorable for your employees. This is how you cultivate relationships.
8. Have a chat with them and talk about their future.
In times of uncertainty, it’s easy for employees to feel anxious about the stability of their future. Spare a day to have individual in-depth talks with each of your team members. Let them talk about their future. Guide them with your personal experience and insights. Employee Appreciation Day will become the most meaningful day in their career path.
9. Send a personalized gift tailored to each of them.
Gifting sounds like a cliché, but it’s a physical representation of how impactful they are to the company. Make sure you’re choosing a gift that’ll meet their needs instead of typical swag items. Employees don’t want to receive T-shirts or name tags with the company’s logo on them. If you are sincere about showing your appreciation, send each of your employees customized gifts according to their preferences. If you’re struggling to find the time, contact Giftpack and they will help you take care of it.
10. Just say “thank you.”
Last but not least, remember to say thank you. Make it a habit. Every time your employees finish a task, show your recognition by saying “thank you!” These two simple words are somehow neglected by most of us, and yet we don’t realize how powerful they are! They don’t cost you anything, while at the same time are priceless to somebody else. Make it a habit starting from Employee Appreciation Day.
Some of these ideas cost you money, some don’t. What’s important is that on this special day, show your appreciation with sincerity and genuineness. Remember: employees are your greatest assets. You could not have made it this far without them. They are the screws that keep the company together. Never forget to recognize their time and efforts!