Top Employee Appreciation Gifts for 2024 & Employee Appreciation Day Ideas

Ideas for How to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day

Employee Appreciation Day is a time when your business can come together to commemorate the exemplary effort your team has shown at their jobs and use employee appreciation gift ideas to recognize achievements. This is a company wide event that goes beyonds birthdays and work anniversaries. Hosting a special event and giving staff appreciation gifts create long-lasting results that improve morale, keep employees motivated, and strengthen relationships among co-workers.

Whether big or small, appreciation gifts for employees recognize their efforts and can create meaningful moments that inspire your staff. Here are some ideas for making your next Employee Appreciation Day special, as you think about ideas for employee appreciation gifts:

Hold a Luncheon

The best employee appreciation gifts don’t always have to be a physical reminder. Besides keeping stomachs fueled and happy, a company lunch offers ample opportunities for socializing, which your staff will enjoy. Business leaders can mingle with staff and express thanks for a job well done, while everyone enjoys a well-deserved break in the day.

Throw a Party

A social get-together at work or after-hours gives employees the chance to bond with co-workers and have some memorable fun. You may even allow them to invite their significant others and children to the event to make it more inclusive and help team members bond on a deeper level. Party theme ideas include an office Olympics, a luau, or a casino night. Create games during the party that promote teamwork, and offer rewards that emphasize Making a Difference or playing an Essential Part to complement the goal of employee appreciation.

Give Gifts That Keep on Giving

Besides reducing turnover rates, thoughtful Employee Appreciation Day gift ideas can serve as constant reminders of your thanks when they're also practical. Items like mouse pads or pens are gifts your employees will love using and that will continue to bring smiles to their faces long after they've received them. Wherever these gifts are displayed, they also show others that you value employees, too.

Make It One-of-a-Kind

Gifts for employees that are truly special will be cherished. A custom photo gift or plaque can spotlight an exciting moment from the employee's career, or you can add the receiver's name to a precious item like a personalized clock. Seeing one's name on a gift makes an employee more likely to hold on to it for years to come and proudly display it for others.

8 Employee Appreciation Event Ideas

Besides giving Employee Appreciation Day gift ideas, here are some ways to commemorate great work from your team.

1. Bring a box of doughnuts or snacks for employees.

Offer a sweet surprise to show appreciation, and consider pairing it with a Donut I'd Do Without You punny note.

2. Offer to buy an employee a cup of coffee.

Accompany the gesture with a customized mug to make it even more special.

3. Write a handwritten thank-you note. Be genuine and specific with the message.

For an added touch, include thoughtful desk accessories to show your appreciation.

4. Give a speech and say "thank you" to one or a group of employees all at once.

After your speech, present each employee with a thank you gift to commemorate the moment.

5. Create a certificate of appreciation for everyone in the office.

Pair certificates with certificate frames to proudly display their achievements.

6. Offer some free time, such as extra time for lunch or to leave for home early.

Enhance this perk with a stress reliever gift to encourage a well-deserved break.

7. Bring in pizza or host a potluck.

Make the event memorable with branded tableware for a festive touch.

8. Bring baked goods and treats to your next weekly morning round table.

Add a special element with containers they can take home for a delightful start to the day.

Appreciating employees shouldn't be limited to a single day each year. Use these ideas year-round whenever you want to reward employees or show your appreciation.

When Is Employee Appreciation Day?

Employee Appreciation Day is the first Friday of March. Mark this down in your calendar now to make sure you take advantage of this special day, which helps keep employees engaged and enjoying their jobs. Research backs employee appreciation, with benefits including:

Giving out staff appreciation day gifts is a tangible way to show thanks. Today, on-the-job employee engagement is dismal, with the vast majority of global employees not feeling involved at their jobs. Boost retention and your company's bottom line by showing genuine employee gratitude not only on Employee Appreciation Day but also throughout the year with thank you gifts for employees.

How to Create a Successful Employee Appreciation Day

Creating an Employee Appreciation Day your team will love is simple. Follow these steps.

1. Set aside money in your budget. When you plan your company budget at the start of the year, set aside money for staff appreciation gift ideas. You don't want to have to sacrifice these costs because you don't have the funds due to poor planning. Without employee recognition, your company is at risk of seeing a loss in engagement and productivity. Give staff a reason other than a paycheck to work hard. Have money ready to invest in events like an Employee Appreciation Day party. Select employee gifts under $10 or expand your budget to gifts under $25.
2. Send out sufficient notice In an email or company announcement, inform staff of the date and time of the event so you can maximize participation. This will allow them to plan ahead, whether it means leaving that hour open or planning to come into the office that day if they work remotely.
3. Leverage vendor loyalty A lot of companies have a local restaurant they turn to for lunch meetings and company events. It often is advantageous to use the same establishment for catered functions, as many restaurants offer discounts for loyal customers. You can also rest assured that the food is high-quality, and the service is reliable.
4. Choose an all-inclusive menu If you're serving food to employees, consider all types of diets and food preferences as you submit your order entry. Send out an email a few days before the event and ask if anyone has any food allergies. Have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other options to accommodate all tastes and dietary needs.

Proper planning and the intent to make sure everyone has a great time during an employee appreciation event increase your chance of success.

Employee Appreciation Speech Ideas

As a leader of your business, thanking and motivating employees personally through a quick speech at a company lunch or event can benefit morale. To make sure you're delivering an inspiring speech that is going to keep your team working through even the biggest of challenges, make sure you cover these bases.

Lay Out Specific Points Ahead of Time

Chances are good that you have a few specific points you want to get across during your speech. These may include providing a brief summary of the company's goals and noting certain benchmarks your team has met and how they've helped the business. Highlight these beforehand, so you don't end up forgetting to mention something important. This will also help you to keep your speech short and sweet.

Emphasize Success Through Real Stories

Research shows employees are more likely to be engaged with their work when their leaders are. A passionate, engaged leader will take note of both individual successes and those made by the company as a whole. Show your enthusiasm and engagement by mentioning two or three specific stories where your team excelled, and individual achievements were made by staff members. This will make it known that you recognize your business wouldn't be where it is without this commitment from its employees and that good work never goes unnoticed.

Make Goals Personal and Specific

Talking about the potential you see in your company is a key point to make in your speech. However, it's not going to hit home for your audience unless you make it personal. Explain that you're excited about how specific products or projects are going to drive the company's success and how. Emphasizing your confidence will also show your staff the trust and faith you have in them. Explain that you have high expectations because you know you have a team that is talented enough to not only meet, but exceed them.

Research shows employees are likely to leave a company not because they don't like the job but because of poor leadership. As a manager or business owner, you are the one your employees are looking to for direction and motivation. After you've expressed clear goals for your team and recognized key players in the company's success, it helps to note how proud you are of your staff as a whole, the confidence you have in them and their abilities, and how excited you are to continue leading them.

Convey Gratitude With Employee Appreciation Day Gifts

You've learned why it's important to have an Employee Appreciation Day and how to make it effective for the management team and employees. However you choose to celebrate, giving out employee appreciation gift ideas is a way for employees to have a real token of your gratitude that they can hold on to, show off to friends and family members, and use in the future to be reminded of how much they appreciate your business, too. Start planning by checking out a wide variety of staff appreciation gift ideas here.

Answers to Your Questions about Employee Appreciation Day