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Employee Appreciation Day – It’s the best day of the year! 😄 🎉 🎶 It’s probably no surprise to you that Bonusly takes Employee Appreciation Day very seriously. After all, recognizing and celebrating the great work of our employees – not just on this day, but every day of the year – is at the heart of our mission! Employee Appreciation Day falls on the first Friday in March – that will be Friday March 3rd in 2023! On this day, employers around the world make an extra effort to appreciate the efforts and dedication of their employees. Over the past 20 years, a growing number of companies have embraced this opportunity to recognize the achievements and contributions of their employees with special events, gifts and surprises. We’re going to find out why celebrating Employee Appreciation Day is a top HR goal, and we’ve rounded up a big list of our favorite ideas. Since Employee Appreciation Day can look a little different if you don’t have an office setup, we’ve included tweaks to make every idea remote! Looking for a fun activity to celebrate with your team? Go straight to ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. Why is Employee Appreciation Day important? Most work weeks are focused on business goals, management decisions, or customer issues. Employee Appreciation Day, on the other hand, is a special day that should really be centered around the teams of employees who make things happen every day. Even a small recognition can have a big impact on employee motivation. Research shows that feeling valued increases morale, improves engagement and reduces turnover. Specifically, employee recognition has been shown to increase levels of oxytocin—the chemical our bodies produce when we connect socially! Research also shows that employee recognition provides a better customer experience. For example, a study in the hospitality industry found a strong correlation between employee engagement and guest satisfaction. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson famously said: Customers don’t come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers. Microphone drop. 🎤 15 Ways to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day So how can you make your employees feel especially appreciated on this day? Here are 15 ideas to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day with your team. 1. Volunteer Become a volunteer at a local conservation program, homeless shelter, senior community or humane society. Give back by planting trees, cooking and serving those in need, bringing joy to the elderly or walking the dogs. Research conducted by Deloitte found that 70% of working Americans believe that “volunteer activities are more likely to boost employee morale than company-sponsored happy hours.” Having trouble finding volunteer opportunities and events? Ask your team for ideas or try a service like VolunteerMatch. Benefits include: Working with team members, meeting new colleagues, helping the community, building great memories and inspiring gratitude. ⚡️ Do it remotely: VolunteerMatch has a great page for virtual volunteer opportunities to explore. Some other remote-friendly volunteer ideas include: Organizing drop-off locations for food drives or warm-weather clothing donations. Host a Virtual Fundraiser and Raffle Prizes Volunteer at the food pantry by packing, organizing or donating food. Deliver groceries or meals to seniors 2. Play games and socialize Participate in team games such as scavenger hunts, pub quiz or team office olympics. They can be great opportunities for teams to get to know each other better in a fun setting, while introducing healthy competition and encouraging innovative thinking. Chances are you’ll see your colleagues in a whole new light! Need help getting started? Here are some articles to inspire your next group activity: How to design an employee scavenger hunt How to host a good trivia night How to host the Olympics in your office Benefits include: Having fun, meeting colleagues you don’t usually work with, laughing and feels closer to the team. ⚡️ Do it remotely: There are many ways to play online games with your team. Why not set up a Jackbox Gamesparty? Additionally, check out Water Cooler Trivia for great asynchronous trivia contests. 3. A Dedicated Employee Appreciation Program If you’re celebrating Employee Appreciation Day to make your employees feel appreciated, you’re on the right track. As mentioned, employee appreciation comes with many benefits. But what if you could designate every day as Employee Appreciation Day for your team or company? With Bonusly you can! The Bonusly platform empowers businesses, from small to large enterprises around the world, to build values-based cultures that are primarily grateful year-round. ⚡️ Do it remotely: Bonusly is perfect for remote teams that may feel disconnected. Because employee recognition is visible, it can increase collaboration and communication between teams and help business leaders gain greater insight into the work that happens every day! Bonusly is also great for office or hybrid work environments. To learn more, request a demo today! 4. Gift Bags Make a bag of fun gifts like branded clothes, lunch boxes or water bottles. Bring in perks, add gift cards, and share experiences at local restaurants, massage parlors, or coffee shops. Take it a step further and ask the staff what gifts they really want. Providing the right kind of guarantee can increase loyalty and help drive future conversations about your brand. Benefits include: Feeling appreciated and enjoying gifts with friends and family. ⚡️ Do it remotely: Delivery services have really stepped up their game during the pandemic. Create a custom care box experience with Knack, cult favorite treats from Goldbelly or send essentials with Doordash. 5. Be creative San Francisco State University research shows that having creative outlets outside of work increases work performance. Introduce your employees to some fun hobbies with a painting, cooking, flower arranging, crocheting or origami workshop. To ensure that everyone participates in an activity they enjoy, suggest several options and have everyone pre-register for their preferred activity. Benefits include: Focusing on something fun, getting your brain right, experiencing a new hobby, and taking home a masterpiece. ⚡️ Do it remotely: Just like delivery services, all kinds of businesses have adapted to the socially remote environment and are offering online courses and experiences. Browse hundreds of options at The Vendry, Marco and Airbnb Experiences! Since Bonusly started working from home, we’ve been taking a virtual cooking class (empanadas!), along with an expert mixologist, and will soon be starting a Harlem Renaissance themed tour for Black History Month! Appreciate your team with laughter! 6. Provide a lunchtime experience Provide lunch for your employees and offer activities afterward, such as listening to a lunchtime concert, joining a local tour, attending a library talk, or going for a bike ride. Eating right, exercise and concerts have proven work-related benefits. Ask your team and refer to your local newspaper for places and events that might be a good fit for your excursion. Benefits include: Discovering new and exciting things in your city, enjoying new experiences with team members and sharing interests. ⚡️ Do it remotely: Make an effort to connect by ordering lunch from a local favorite. Even if we can’t be together in person, enjoying the same food is almost as good. 💚 7. Set up a happy hour for the team Happy hours provide a relaxed atmosphere that can encourage positive interaction with employees. They allow team members to reduce stress and can contribute to a positive company culture. Be aware that holding any activity after work can turn some people off, so consider ending the work day a little earlier before other commitments distract people. If you choose to host a happy hour, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of serving alcohol to your team and be sensitive to non-drinkers and provide alternatives. Benefits include casual socializing and learning something new about each other. ⚡️ Do it remotely: Virtual mixology classes or wine tastings are a fun, fresh way to enjoy happy hours – especially if you feel like the energy around your virtual happy hours is lagging! 8. Go on an excursion Organize an excursion to a local museum, botanical garden or park. Sign up for a factory, brewery or winery tour. Use Employee Appreciation Day as an opportunity to get to know your community better and learn about your neighbors. It might even spark some new ideas! Benefits include: Creating an unforgettable day, having fun, enjoying local attractions and learning something new. ⚡️ Do it remotely: This is hard. 😅 If you have a smaller team located in the same geographic location, it may be possible to meet in a park or do some outdoor activity. Consider a picnic or a walk by the lake. 9. Bring on the treats Who doesn’t love a topping for dessert? 😋 Desserts – cupcakes, donuts, candies – are a common token of appreciation, but take it a step further by following up with your employees.
Outdoor Appreciation Goals
