Ultimate Guide to Employee Appreciation Day
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Ultimate Guide to Employee Appreciation Day

Maintaining employee loyalty and boosting morale is crucial to every business. As Employee Appreciation Day is approaching, it is a good time to stay engaged. Utilize this guide for tips on successful celebrations and appreciation activities, as well as gifts.

David Chen

David Chen

Feb 22nd 202312 min read

Did you know that showing appreciation to your employees can have a huge impact on your employee retention? In fact, a study from the Ladders found that 83% of employees feel being appreciated and recognized by their boss or manager is even more important than a pay raise! So, if you're noticing a drop in employee retention, it might be time to focus on showing some love and appreciation to your team. It could be the little extra boost they need to stick around.

Therefore, the question is: Do you recall the last time you properly thanked your employees? And when was the last time you made an effort to let them know how much you value them? How did you make them feel special?

A company's success depends on its employee appreciation, which is also a key indicator of its culture.

Recognizing and appreciating an employee's accomplishments and effort is known as employee appreciation. It can come in a variety of shapes, such verbal compliments, rewards, presents, or unique occasions and activities. By demonstrating to skilled employees that they are valued and appreciated, employee appreciation programs aim to promote morale, improve job satisfaction, and retain them.

It's basically "whatever you do to demonstrate your appreciation to your staff," to put it simply.

Even though it seems so easy, doing it is quite difficult. How come? Because it might be challenging to determine what each and every one of your staff wants from you.

We shall discuss what Employee Appreciation Day is and why it is significant in this post. Additionally, we will provide you a guidance on how to give your employees a memorable experience that will help you build a stronger bond with them.


Employee Appreciation Day

Recognizing what your staff have done for you might occasionally be hindered by the business of daily living. Employee Appreciation Day, however, is a fantastic opportunity to reestablish contact with them, particularly with those who are giving of their time and energy and working tirelessly.


What is Employee Appreciation Day?

Employee Appreciation Day is a unique occasion set aside to recognize and express gratitude for employees' dedication and efforts to a business or organization. It is traditionally observed on the first Friday in March each year and might include a variety of expressions of gratitude, including presents, bonuses, special occasions, or just verbal and nonverbal expressions of appreciation. Employee Appreciation Day is intended to increase employee motivation and morale, create a welcoming office environment, and promote loyalty and job satisfaction.

Even though it's not a recognized holiday in the US, this day is crucial for any business that wants to maintain its employees' loyalty and happiness. Businesses may offer special benefits or host group celebrations to recognize employee efforts on this day. Giving a formal speech, distributing an appreciation email to the entire workplace, or posting a brief shoutout on Slack are all examples of ways to recognize accomplishments. No matter how you express your gratitude, keep in mind that what matters most is the sentiment and sincerity of your message.

Peers and managers make excellent recipients of thank-you notes. On this day, it is also appropriate to celebrate special celebrations and achievements, such as anniversaries and reaching revenue targets.

Employee Appreciation Day is observed on March 3rd of this year. Don't start too late if you don't want to blow the opportunity to show them that you care! Leaders take the opportunity to recognize and thank workers for their contributions and hard work over the previous year.


Why is Employee Appreciation Day important?

A company’s employees are its greatest asset and your people are your product — Richard Branson.

This serves to emphasize the importance of people in a company's success. Employees are essential to the development and provision of a company's goods and services. They serve as an organization's foundation and are crucial to its success. As a result, it's critical to acknowledge and value their efforts and labor if you want to keep them engaged and motivated over the long run. Employees are a company's most precious asset, and they should be treated accordingly to ensure their happiness, loyalty, and productivity.

Employee engagement is a crucial component of business success, as evidenced by research from Smarp, which also found that highly engaged organizations are 21% more lucrative.

Employee Appreciation Day is significant because it allows companies to express their gratitude to staff members for their efforts and contributions to the business. It aids in a variety of ways, including the following:

  • enhances staff retention
  • elevates employee morale
  • boosts work satisfaction
  • increases productivity

Additionally, rewarding staff members may enhance corporate culture and develop ties between workers and management. Businesses may promote a more happy and effective work environment by demonstrating their worth to their employees. Staff Appreciation Day is significant for companies who wish to boost morale and achieve high employee retention for this reason, in essence.

An article on 5 methods to enhance employee happiness is available here for your reference .


How to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day for Company Success

The fact that the individuals working behind the scenes aren't robots is sometimes overlooked when the abundance of projects and chores takes over.

All of your workers have limitations as people.

Due to the developments from the last few years, it is more important than ever for businesses to make Employee Appreciation Day about praising employees.

It is, however, simpler said than done. Many businesses, particularly those with large employee populations, have found it difficult to plan a successful Employee Appreciation Day. But don't worry; Giftpack has conducted extensive research and consulted with our clients to create the definitive guide on organizing an exceptional Employee Appreciation Day for any company.

Below are 3 key components that will help you create a successful Employee Appreciation Day for your employees:

  1. Host an well-planned and engaging event
  2. Make a big announcement on celebrating Employee Appreciation Day
  3. Give your employee a personalized gift to bring home

Host an event on Employee Appreciation Day

An event held on Employee Appreciation Day may be a wonderful opportunity to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of staff members. It gives staff members a chance to socialize, have fun, and experience a sense of worth from the organization. It may also be a method to express gratitude in a noticeable and lasting fashion, which can raise staff morale and promote a productive workplace.

Here are 8 detailed steps you can follow in order to host a remarkable and successful event on Employee Appreciation Day:

1. Determine the budget for the event

Always decide how much money you are willing to spend on the event and stick to it before you do anything else.

In a larger firm, the budget is typically already established at the start of the fiscal year as benefit expenditures of the business. However, choosing how much to invest could be difficult for startups and smaller businesses.

Pro tip: Get an accurate count of attendees and allocate a budget for each participant so that there is a total available for the event (so sometimes determining the budget might be the second step).


2. Choose the right date and time

When organizing an Employee Appreciation Day celebration, it's crucial to select a day and time that will allow for attendance by all employees.

Start the planning process as soon as you can, especially if your business employs a lot of people. Avoid holding the event on the weekend because people usually take time off at this time and don't want to be burdened with work-related activities.

Pro tip: Pick Employee Appreciation Day, which usually occurs on a Friday, as the occasion, and permit staff members to take a half-day off to take part in the celebrations.


3. Set the theme and choose the venue

It's crucial to select a theme for the Employee Appreciation Day celebration. Choose a theme that promotes enjoyment among all employees while reflecting the corporate culture. As a result, the company's culture and values will be brought to mind.

Next, look for a location that complements the theme and has space for the expected number of guests. Events are frequently conducted at eateries that offer food service. However, you may also think about hosting the gathering inside the office and hiring catering to provide a buffet-style arrangement for the meal.

Pro tip: Keep it informal and unstructured by forgoing a dress code or other rules that can cause employees stress or trouble.


4. Plan the activities

Consider your employees' preferences while organizing the events for Employee Appreciation Day. Popular choices include games, enjoyable challenges, and other interesting hobbies. The Recognition Ceremony is a crucial component of the event, nevertheless, and should not be disregarded. As the main reason for commemorating Employee Appreciation Day, this should be the focal point of the gathering.

Here are also a few other activities that you can consider:

  • Team-Building Activities: Plan fun and interactive activities that encourage teamwork, collaboration, and communication among employees.
  • Casual Networking: Create opportunities for employees to network and get to know one another in a relaxed setting. This can include games, food, and drinks.
  • Learning and Development: Offer training or educational sessions that allow employees to expand their skills and knowledge.
  • Outdoor Activities: Plan activities like a picnic, hiking, or team sports that take advantage of the great outdoors.
  • Wellness Activities: Encourage employees to take care of their physical and mental health by offering yoga, meditation, or massage sessions.
  • Volunteer Activities: Encourage employees to give back to the community by organizing a volunteer activity, such as a charity walk or a food drive.

Pro tip: To save time, combine luncheon with the award presentation. Make sure everyone has adequate time to go from one activity to the next. Do nothing in a hurry.

Example of an event agenda: example of employee appreciation day event agenda


5. Food, drinks, and supplies

Setting aside money for the event's food and beverages is crucial. Send a survey to all workers asking about their favourite foods and beverages to pair with them in order to guarantee that everyone's tastes are taken into account. Simply place orders from restaurants or caterers to accommodate everyone's preferences after compiling the results.

One cool idea for drinks, consider having a beer stand at the event as a fun option for those who enjoy a cold beer.

In order to carry out the activities scheduled for the event, you will also need to buy decorations and materials that match the theme.

To further recognize and reward the effort and efforts of your employees, allocate portion of your money to customized employee appreciation awards and employee appreciation presents.

Read this post on "5 Inexpensive Employee Appreciation Gifts Under $50" for additional details about budgeted employee appreciation gifts:


6. Send out invitations

One of the most important steps in the planning process is to send out official invites to every employee. The date, time, place, and any other pertinent details about the event should be included in these invites.

Sending invitations not only facilitates attendance tracking but also communicates to your staff how much you cherish and appreciate them. This emphasizes the importance of officially announcing Employee Appreciation Day, which will be covered in more detail in the following paragraphs.


What else can you do if you still have more budget available after planning the event?

  • Arrange transportation for people to get a ride to the location and back home, especially if you are going to provide alcohol at the event.
  • Offer a raffle with prizes as paid time off, a parking spot, and other desirable items.
  • Create a video tribute to showcase employee achievements and contributions to the company.
  • Offer a massage station to help employees relax and unwind.

You can be creative with the extra budget!


Make an announcement about Employee Appreciation Day

You are clearly communicating to your staff that their efforts and contributions are respected and appreciated by announcing Employee Appreciation Day. This kind of appreciation may enhance employee engagement, motivation, and morale, creating a more favorable work environment and increasing staff retention.

Further, it will assist give the occasion more weight and significance if the announcement is made by the chairman, the CEO, or another executive role of the business. Additionally, it helps to strengthen the bonds and sense of belonging among workers.

Making an announcement is also a polite approach to let staff members know in advance so they can plan and be ready for the occasion. This might assist to make sure that the party runs well and is a special occasion for everyone.


Send your employees a personalized gift

Imagine leaving a fantastic employee appreciation day event with a present that is personalized to suit your tastes. Interesting, isn't it?

In order to show employees how much they are valued, businesses frequently give funds to purchase gifts for them on Employee Appreciation Day. But if you're not careful, all your time and money invested in planning a fantastic Employee Appreciation Day celebration might be for nothing.

According to research, 56% of employees said the presents they get from their employers are impersonal, which is extremely thoughtless and makes them feel underappreciated. One-size-fits-all t-shirts, company-branded mugs, and other goods in the same category really give workers the impression that they are not valued and cared for.

On Employee Appreciation Day this year, wow your workers and boost morale by presenting personalized gifts to each employee. Giving a gift that reflects your knowledge of their preferences and needs is more meaningful than frequently giving out generic rubbish. Even if they don't like the presents, you've already demonstrated your concern and want to make them happy.

Try a better employee appreciation gifting solution than a list of products if you'd want to make a difference this year. With the aid of Giftpack's AI automated gifting solution, you can scale up your cost- and time-effective gifting to build meaningful connections with your employees. Contact us to find out how we can help if you're finding it difficult to choose more than 50 presents.


Other things you can consider

You may go one step further by taking into account some of the items from the top 10 things to do on Employee Appreciation Day once you have followed our comprehensive guide on how to organize your 2023 Employee Appreciation Day:

Give them a day off

The day honoring employees is not a federal holiday. The majority of enterprises are open for business as normal, but by creating an annual pattern of offering a day off, you have the chance to generate great word-of-mouth. It will still function even if it is only for a half day.

Give them a longer 3-day weekend so they may enjoy it with their loved ones. By logging off early and spending time developing their hobbies, remote employees may reduce the amount of time they spend on screens. Take a deeper breath throughout the week so you can have a restful weekend.

Give a public appreciation speech

It's a good idea to publicly thank employees on Employee Appreciation Day in order to recognize their efforts and achievements. Employees are given a platform to feel valued and appreciated while also receiving a message that their work is respected and appreciated by the organization. A public speech may also contribute to a happy and productive workplace by boosting staff morale and enhancing job satisfaction. The business may show its dedication to its workers and foster a culture of respect and acknowledgment by announcing it publicly.

Plan a peer-to-peer appreciation activity

It is a fantastic idea to organize a peer-to-peer appreciation activity for Employee Appreciation Day since it encourages workers to recognize and value their coworkers. This fosters a favorable and encouraging work atmosphere that may boost morale and strengthen connections among employees. Furthermore, praise from peers is frequently more valuable than praise from superiors since it comes from people with whom the recipient regularly interacts on the job. Employee engagement and motivation are better when they feel valued and appreciated, which can boost work satisfaction and increase productivity.

These are all great ideas for Employee Appreciation Day, and there are definitely more creative and unique employee appreciation ideas on the internet. However, the main thing to keep in mind is to find a way to show your employees that you are truly thankful for their hard work and effort.


Conclusion

In the end… These are the people who will help you realize your dream. Treat them with respect and kindness. There are 2 powerful words that add value to your employee’s motivation, yet are frequently forgotten in daily life.

“Thank you.”

Say it often. Show your recognition by saying “thank you” every time your employees finish a task, help you on a project, or any work worth emphasizing. It doesn’t cost you anything and can make a priceless impact on someone else. Make it a habit starting from Employee Appreciation Day.

Employee appreciation is a marathon, if you want to do it right, consider these 19 unique ways of showing appreciation everyday

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David Chen

David Chen

Feb 22nd 202312 min read

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Giftpack's AI-powered solution simplifies the corporate gifting process and amplifies the impact of personalized gifts. We're crafting memorable touchpoints by sending personalized gifts selected out of a curated pool of 3 million options with just one click. Our AI technology efficiently analyzes each recipient's social media, cultural background, and digital footprint to customize gift options at scale. We take care of generating, ordering, and shipping gifts worldwide. We're transforming the way people build authentic business relationships by sending smarter gifts faster with gifting CRM.

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