A short guide to Employee Appreciation Day
National Employee Appreciation Day falls on the first Friday of March every year. It is an opportunity for organisations to celebrate their staff, recognise those who have put in the extra effort and those whose work has contributed to business success. But what exactly is Employee Appreciation Day? And why is it important for businesses to celebrate this day? We answer these questions in the section below.
What is Employee Appreciation Day?
The idea of a national Employee Appreciation Day comes from the publication of a book entitled ‘1,001 ways to reward employees’ by Dr Bob Nelsen. The day is not official but aims at celebrating all employees on the first Friday of March every year. The idea is to recognise and praise the work and efforts of employees. The popularity of Employee Appreciation Day has increased significantly in the last few years as businesses focus more on their staff. It marks the recognition of employees by employers and celebrates everyone’s hard work.
Why does it matter and why should businesses care?
Businesses should see Employee Appreciation Day as an opportunity to celebrate their staff and to show appreciation. Below are some reasons why Employee Appreciation Day is important:
Recognising employees increases motivation
A little recognition can go a long way. Employees who feel that their work is valued tend to be more motivated in their jobs. However, when it comes to recognition, not everyone will appreciate the same thing. For example, some team members might be motivated by a happy hour after a successful project delivery, whereas others will prefer formal recognition for their hard work. Regardless of the type of recognition, appreciating employees motivates them and increases their performance and engagement.
Feeling valued results in increased employee engagement
When an employee feels valued, they tend to be more engaged in the business. Employee engagement is critical for the success of any organisation. When a member of staff is made aware that their work has a positive impact on the business, they feel that their work matters. This generates a sense of accomplishment that has a direct impact on motivation.
Recognition increases talent retention
Emerging talents often evolve quickly within the organisation that they work for. However, there is not always room for promotions. To keep them motivated, it is essential to demonstrate value and recognise their accomplishments. Recognising their work gives meaning to their efforts.
There are many reasons why businesses should care about Employee Appreciation Day. Celebrating this day will boost employee engagement, ensure that they remain motivated in their jobs and feel valued by their employer.
Eight Employee Appreciation Day ideas that will inspire you
There are many ways that organisations can celebrate their employees on Employee Appreciation Day, but also on any other day. Below are some examples that might be suitable for your business. Choose the ones that work for you to celebrate your staff in the most memorable way possible.
Get leaders to express their gratitude towards their teams
Recognition from inspiring leaders is meaningful. Have senior leaders send personal thanks to employees who have gone above and beyond. This personal touch makes a difference. Make sure that the appreciation message clearly highlights why the employee is receiving this personal thank you.
Get the team out for a happy hour or a meal to celebrate specific achievements
Team efforts should also be recognised. Celebrating the achievement of team goals is essential to keep people engaged and motivated. By taking the team out for a meal to celebrate their achievement, you foster a sense of community and encourage team collaboration.
Launch an internal recognition programme and nominate employees for rewards
When you create and launch an internal recognition programme, you get all employees engaged in the recognition of others. By doing so, you give them a voice and they can give shout-outs to their colleagues who might have supported them through a difficult task. Make sure that the programme that you implement is in line with the organisation’s values.
Have regular team happy hours
Happy hours allow employees to unwind after a long day at work. It is a fun break and gives employees the opportunity to connect, chat and have fun. Having regular happy hours will bring a sense of community and will increase employee engagement. Remember, some employees have commitments after their work hours and therefore leaders should try to implement happy hours during work hours.
Express your gratitude personally and in writing
Expressing gratitude goes a long way. Leaders can write personal thank you cards to all their team members. By doing so, they show personal appreciation and make employees feel valued. Make sure that the cards are not generic; instead, tailor them to reflect the employees’ achievements and highlight how their work inspired others or benefited the organisation.
Elect the employee of the month
Electing the employee of the month is a traditional approach to showing appreciation. It is nonetheless effective. When doing your monthly round-up meeting, make sure that you add the employee of the month to the agenda. It will only take five minutes but will give all of the team members something to aim for. By electing an employee of the month, you have the opportunity to set the expectation and to demonstrate that your team members are valued. Make sure that you clearly explain the employee’s achievement in that month and thus the reason why they are elected.
Organise a webinar or live event with a guest speaker
Recognition should apply to all employees. As such, during a team meeting, you can invite a guest speaker who will bring value to all members of your team. This gives the entire team the opportunity to develop, share experiences and ask questions on a specific topic.
Don’t be shy with shout-outs on the company’s platforms
Company forums or online means of communication are great channels to give shout-outs to employees on their achievements. For example, you could tag an employee on a post on Slack and highlight their outstanding work on a specific project. By doing so, you praise the employee’s effort to the entire organisation. If several team members participated in the achievement, make sure that you don’t miss anyone.
Employee Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to place your people at the centre of your priorities. However, remember that recognising the work effort of your employees is essential all year round and not just on that specific day. Implement routine shout-outs, thank you messages and more throughout the year to ensure that you keep your teams motivated and engaged in their role.
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