Nov 17, 2023

15 Employee Appreciation Ideas

Every employee wants to be recognized for the value they bring to your company. Show them that you appreciate them with these 15 simple (yet meaningful) gestures.

Why Is Employee Recognition Important?

Most employees want to feel like their role at the company matters and that they are making a difference. Employee recognition lets employees know their work is seen, noticed, and appreciated. Giving your employees a sense of security when it comes to the impact they have within the company can help to grow team loyalty, boost retention and employee engagement, and reduce employee turnover.

You would think appreciating hard-working employees would be something every company excels at. But unfortunately, that’s just not the case. A recent survey by Gallup-Workhuman found that 81% of leaders say recognition is not a major strategic priority at their company.

Bottom line? People want to be valued. And if you want to retain your employees for the long run, it’s worth taking the time to appreciate them.

When Is Employee Appreciation Day 2024?

National Employee Appreciation Day is recognized on the first Friday in March. In 2024, Employee Appreciation Day falls on March 1. The holiday was launched in 1955 by Workman Publishing and is used to appreciate employees each year. Mark it on your calendar so you don’t miss it!

But remember, you can show your gratitude before Employee Appreciation Day. Be on the lookout for employee recognition ideas you can put to use all year long.

Why You Should Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day

Never pass up an opportunity to brag about your team and let them know you appreciate them. Celebrating National Employee Appreciation Day is just another opportunity to do that. Team members who feel appreciated are more likely to stay at your company. In fact, employees who receive recognition on a regular basis are 56% less likely to be looking around for other job opportunities. On top of that, employees are up to 90% less likely to experience burnout over time when they are recognized and appreciated.

15 Simple Employee Appreciation Ideas

Figuring out employee appreciation ideas for your team doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve come up with a list of 15 staff appreciation ideas to get you started. Everything from some inexpensive employee appreciation gifts to employee appreciation ideas for large companies. You’ll even find a few out-of-the-box creative, employee appreciation day events and recognition ideas on our list too. Let’s dive in!

1. Honor Your Team With Awards

Here's an employee appreciation idea they'll never forget (and they can keep with them forever too). You can recognize your team members with awards at the end of each year. Have fun creating categories for things like character/integrity, leadership team awards, safety awards, and top performer awards. Recognizing a team member who has done exceptional work with an award will make them feel seen and appreciated.

2. Give Public Shout Outs

There’s nothing better than being called out for doing a good job in front of your peers. Don’t miss the opportunity to shout out members of your team who you’re proud of and appreciate.

3. Write Thank You Notes

Words are powerful. People appreciate being praised and told that they’re doing a good job. It makes them feel seen and appreciated and will probably encourage them to continue to produce quality work.

4. Give Bonuses and Pay Increases

Appreciative words are great, but backing that up with a little pay bump come annual review time is a nice way to show you really mean it. Bonuses and pay increases are employee recognition ideas that truly show your employee their hard work has been seen and appreciated.

5. Highlight Employees on Social Media

Have an exceptional employee? Feature them on your LinkedIn or Facebook page with a picture and a short profile about the employee.

6. Increase Flexibility and PTO

Consider rewarding exceptional employees with PTO to take a Friday off or have an extra lunch hour for a week.

7. Send Gift Cards

Small gift cards to universal things everyone loves (like coffee) can really go a long way. Consider getting a simple gift card when you want to say a heartfelt "thank you."

8. Give Out Company Swag Gifts

Giving out fun gifts like mugs, t-shirts, and backpacks can go a long way. Plus, they can boost employee morale and the company culture too.

9. Treat the Team to Breakfast (or Lunch)

If you want an employee appreciation idea that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser, bring in some free food for your employees. A catered breakfast or lunch is a nice way to say "thanks."

10. Make Video Tributes

Get some colleagues together and record video messages for the employee you’re honoring. Have your team members share what they enjoy most about working with them or a favorite memory they share together.

11. Remember Their Birthday

Treating people like people is one of the best employee appreciation ideas out there. Make sure your company has a way to celebrate.

12. Celebrate Their Work Anniversary

Don’t forget to remember your employee’s work anniversaries. Make a big deal out of those one-year, five-year, and 10-year anniversaries.

13. Host a Happy Hour

Treat your team to a post-work happy hour to show your appreciation.

14. Encourage Peer-to-Peer Recognition

Make it part of your company culture to recognize each other too.

15. Host a Team Outing or Retreat

Have some fun with this creative employee recognition program idea, and take the team out for some bonding time.

Show Your Employees You Care

Sometimes the best way to be appreciated is just to be told a simple, "Hey! The work you’re doing is making a difference. We appreciate that you are here!"

Using text makes it simple. Say goodbye to needing company email access and using those clunky employee communication apps for good.