What is Employee Appreciation Day?

In 1995, Bob Nelson, a founding Recognition Professional International board member, and his publishing company, Workman Publishing, created National Employee Appreciation Day.

This day is celebrated every year to honour employees everywhere. It was created to focus attention on employees in all industries to thank them for their helpful contribution to the company.

When is it?

Friday, 4 March 2022.

Why should I do anything about it?

An old-fashioned, but surprisingly popular, thought process by many employers is that employees are hired to do a job, which they get paid for, so ‘why should I give them anything else?’

Your people are your company’s greatest assets, and competition for good talent is higher than it has ever been. Your employees keep the company alive and flowing, without them, you’d beF running a one-man band with probably a lot less to show for it. Ensuring that your employees are happy is one of the easiest ways to run a successful and progressive business. Employers who express employee appreciation tend to increase employee job satisfaction as well, which in turn, leads to employee retention.

Recognition and appreciation are known as some of the key motivational factors in the workplace. Many organisations include employee appreciation as part of their business structure as it shows how much they value their employees and keeps morale high in the workplace.

What can I do?

Employee Appreciation Day is the time to provide your team members with something special to let them know that you appreciate all the hard work they do for you. Here are a few ideas that are bound to please everyone:

• Find out how employees want to be appreciated – A good place to start would be to give your employees a voice by gathering their feedback through surveys, questionnaires, and suggestion boxes. Surveying employees about the forms of recognition they find most meaningful will ensure that your appreciation efforts hit the mark.
• Implement employee feedback – Collecting employee feedback isn’t enough though, your organisation needs to act on it! Making changes employees want to see will give them the confidence that their opinions matter and that your company is willing to adjust. Eventually, this will motivate more employees to participate in your company’s feedback and recognition initiatives.
• Reward with gift cards and experiences – Gift cards and experience vouchers give employees the ability to choose rewards that they find meaningful and if you’re looking for a reward that’s more unique. This might be something for the whole team like an escape room, a trip to the theme park, crazy golf, or bowling— or for individual employees, like paying for a day trip to a spa or a meal at their favourite restaurant.
• Just say “thank you” – Simply saying “thank you” can have an enormous impact on your employees, boosting everything from productivity to retention. By getting your workforce in the habit of recognising people frequently, every day will feel like Employee Appreciation Day. Have leadership take part in this initiative as recognition from managers and executives means the most to employees. For a more personal touch, create handwritten thank you notes as the time and thought that come with each note go a long way towards making the recipient feel valued.
• Recognise major milestones and small victories – Big achievements like hitting targets, launching a new product, or retaining tough clients are all reasons to celebrate. Employees expect to be recognised and rewarded for successfully executing major undertakings. However, practising more frequent recognition for smaller victories can be an unexpected, delightful pick-me-ups for your employees. Use your website, social media channels, newsletter, or meetings for practising recognition on Employee Appreciation Day and year-round.
• Pamper your employees – Employee Appreciation Day is your chance to let your team indulge and take a break from their hard work. Hire a manicurist, masseuse, chiropractor, or mindfulness coach to come to the office and lower stress levels. These activities emphasise your organisation’s commitment to employee wellness and help everyone feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
• Give out fun awards – Get creative and make up some awards people will truly treasure. These could be based on funny inside jokes that go around the office or company-focused awards that praise employees who have best demonstrated their core values made your workplace more inclusive or acted as a true team player. Awards are specific and tangible, making employees feel uniquely recognised.
• Treat your team’s taste buds – Who doesn’t love free food? It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to reward your employees. Consider ordering their favourite takeaway, catering for a meal, surprising your team with a box of tasty snacks (which can also be done for remote workers), or taking them out for coffee. This also gives the opportunity to take a break from work and enjoy their colleague’s company in a more relaxed environment.
• Let employees pursue their passions – Work shouldn’t consume your employees’ lives. They should have the time and space to pursue their passions and interests outside of the workplace. Many organisations set aside Employee Appreciation Day for activities their team members have always wanted to try. Besides giving employees a break from work, hobbies can inspire innovative ideas and teach employees new skills that could help your organisation in the long run.
• Support work-life balance – Team members who are well-rested and have time to spend with their family and friends are more engaged and productive. Letting your employees have a life outside of work is vital to preventing burnout. When possible, compromise with your employees on their schedule. For instance, employees with children may want to arrive and leave early. Others with extracurricular activities may want to come in late, or even transition to a four-day workweek.

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