Here Are Some Key Ways to Help Employees Feel Valued on Employee Appreciation Day
Have you arrived at work only to realize it was Employee Appreciation Day and you did not have any plans for your employees?
- Are your employees working hard every day and looking for some recognition?
- Are there changes going on in your organization that are causing you and them stress?
- Are you afraid that whatever you do will not be well received?
- What will your employees say about you if you don’t do anything?
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to makes your employees feel valued and recognized on Employee Appreciation Day.
Mark Your Calendars!
Employee Appreciation Day is on the first Friday in March. It is a great day for companies to thank their employees for their hard work and effort throughout the year. Recognizing employees on this day will strengthen the relationship between managers, company leadership, HR and employees. Recognition makes employees happy and engaged.
Employees like to receive recognition in a variety of different ways. Don’t be afraid to ask them how they like to be recognized. Hopefully, you can come up with some consensus in your group, but also be flexible to offering a couple of different options.
Recognition Ideas for Individuals:
- Give a gift – you can chose flowers or plants, candies or cupcakes, gift cards or books, or any other kind of idea you may have for their personal interests.
- Make a donation to a charity of their choice.
- Write them a thank you note – be sure to acknowledge their personal achievements and contributions over the last year! This can also be done on social media if that is their thing.
- Give them some time off – whether it is that day or at another date of their choice. Maybe a work from home day if that is not usually something they do and their job allows for.
There are many more options based on what your budget may allow for, but the key is for the recognition to be genuine and thoughtful for what you know about your employee.
Recognition Ideas for Groups:
- Take your team out for lunch or order lunch in. Hopefully schedules would allow for you to eat all together and talk about anything but work!
- Take the team out to a sporting event i.e. hockey or football, some team activity i.e. bowling or mini golfing or do a group craft i.e. paint night or pottery.
- You can buy something for a common are that the employees have been wanting i.e. video game, massage chair or special coffee machine.
- Spend a day volunteering. This allows the team to bond but also give back to the community. There are many great causes.
Again, there are many options based on your budget and common interests of the team. These group events will not only build the relationship you have with the team but also the relationship among your team members.
Not Only One Day!
As nice as it is to be recognized on one day, most people prefer ongoing recognition to feel valued. For example, people in relationships may recognize their partners on Valentine’s Day, but if they didn’t do anything the rest of the year it may not be enough to maintain a healthy relationship. Same thing with your employees.
Think about launching a new program on Employee Appreciation Day that will be ongoing. You can offer gym reimbursements, spa days or bus passes, but think of something for the whole person. A fully integrated employee wellness program can serve your organization for decades. Are you ready to create a sustainable wellness culture? A highly interactive and engaging wellness program will arm your employees to improve life and the workplace. When a program like this impacts all areas of an employee’s life, they will feel truly valued by their employer!
I know you want to attract, retain and engage your employees. I know you want to help lower stress, boost morale, and motivate positive attitudes to have your employees feel valued all year. You can make a difference. It is not about the role but about the goal. I know you will do the right thing and I know you will be successful!
Happy Employee Appreciation Day!
Laura Kusko, HR Strategist and Leadership Coach