Employee Appreciation Day is on March 1st, but it’s more than just a day on the calendar. It’s an opportunity to show appreciation for employees' hard work and dedication throughout the year. If you’re looking for thoughtful and creative ways to celebrate, look no further.

Beyond gifts—creative ideas to recognize employees year-round

Nearly nine out of ten employees prefer remote or hybrid work arrangements. Flexible vacation days promote work-life balance and improve employees' well-being. These perks are just a few low-cost options for keeping your employees happy. 

A little acknowledgment goes further than you think. Research shows that successful employees thrive on positive feedback. And a thank-you note or email can go a long way. 

Instead, when managers see a great outcome, they should turn to the person who created it, say, “Yes! That!,” and share their impression of why it was a success. Neuroscience shows that we grow most when people focus on our strengths. Learning rests on our grasp of what we’re doing well, not what we’re doing poorly, and certainly not on someone else’s sense of what we’re doing poorly.

Recognition starts at the top, but daily interactions with peers build a positive workplace culture. Encourage your staff to celebrate each other's successes by creating a dedicated “gratitude wall” in the office or setting up a Kudos Slack channel. Better yet, work with Corporate Gift to set up a company store for teams to gift items to each other. 

Valuing the personal growth of your employees is an excellent way to show recognition. Consider funding continuing education, workshops, and certifications to boost their confidence and skill sets. Supporting professional development can enhance team cohesion, reduce turnover, attract top talent, and keep your company competitive. And to incentivize staff, offer a gift once training is complete. 

Team outings strengthen bonds between employees, promoting a sense of camaraderie and collaboration. Outdoor games like giant checkers and cornhole encourage friendly competition between staff. Or, if your team is remote, host a virtual paint-and-sip, or cookie-decorating contest for everyone to do together over Zoom.

Here are some other great team-building gifts ideas.

Celebrate work anniversaries, project completions, employee onboarding, or other significant accomplishments.  Baked treats, a team lunch, or a thank-you gift helps recognize employees' efforts and maintain morale. You can surprise remote employees by sending goodies right to their homes. Further, you can automate all of this through Corporate Gift. 

Check out some of our guides:

Employee work anniversary gifts

The Ultimate Guide for Onboarding gifts

Employee appreciation gift ideas

When it comes to gifting, thoughtfulness makes all the difference. One way to do that is to send employee appreciation gifts that are relevant to your team's hobbies and interests. For example, gift the exercise enthusiast a fitness tracker or workout gear. Or, for the foodie, send baked goods gift basket or a DIY cooking gift.  Browse gifts by interest on our Marketplace. 

Cooking

Fitness

Tech

Travel

Wine

Golf

Yoga

Want to give a gift they’ll love but not sure what they like? Send an employee appreciation eGift collection to their email, and let them decide what’s best. Choose a collection, set your budget, and they'll pick their gift, along with their preferred size, flavor, color, and delivery address. Sometimes, there’s no better gift than the one you pick for yourself. 

Make a unique statement by engraving names and initials on gifts. A personal touch takes a gift from ordinary to unforgettable. Read our guide on personalized gifts and adding memorable touches for more ideas.

Toast to your fantastic team! High-quality thank-you treats create a festive and fun atmosphere. 

Send gifts that promote healthy company cultures, like self-care sets, plants, fitness accessories, or mindfulness journals.

Employee Appreciation Day is an excellent opportunity to reinforce your commitment to your team and promote a supportive and motivating work environment by combining thoughtful gifts with creative ways to express gratitude. Don't forget that recognition should happen year-round, too. Check out other important dates to help you recognize employees throughout the year. 

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