Think Valentine’s Day is just an excuse to sell greeting cards? Fine — nothing wrong with a little healthy cynicism (assuming your partner doesn’t mind)! But before you dismiss Employee Appreciation Day as just another manufactured holiday, consider this: A little recognition can go a long way.
Unlike a box of overpriced chocolates, appreciation doesn’t have an expiration date — and, when done right, it can make a real impact on employee engagement. Like Valentine’s Day, sure, you should show your appreciation for your employees all year, but Employee Appreciation Day is a great reminder to make sure you actually do.
What is Employee Appreciation Day?
Employee Appreciation Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on the first Friday of March. It’s an opportunity for companies to celebrate the hard work and achievements of their employees.
National Employee Appreciation Day was created by Bob Nelson, PhD, an employee recognition expert and author, to celebrate the publication of his 1994 book, 1001 Ways to Reward Employees. Also known as Employee Recognition Day, the event has since become widespread, especially in the US, with over 40% of companies acknowledging the day in some way.
How to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day — the Right Way
Employee recognition should be an ongoing effort, but Employee Appreciation Day is a great moment to go the extra mile. That said, you should be mindful about how you decide to recognize your employees.
Here are our tips for a special day that your workforce will really enjoy:
1. Tie Employee Appreciation Day into a broader employee recognition program.
If you want employees to feel appreciated, one day isn’t going to do it. “Employees should be celebrated every day!” commented Tim Reitsma, an HR and operations leader. “Seriously, without your amazing employees, your company wouldn’t have the business you have.”
A 2023 survey of UK employees by Lattice and YouGov found that “regular praise and recognition” was one of the top five factors employees said they needed to do their best work.
And, without a broader recognition and reward initiative, Employee Recognition Day is going to fall flat — employees are likely to see it as too little, too late.
“Make sure whatever you do authentically fits your culture and values,” commented business psychologist Leanne Elliott. “Recognition should reinforce what you're already doing well, not feel like it's coming out of nowhere.”
A recognition platform like Lattice Praise makes it easy to create a culture of appreciation that lasts all year. With our easy-to-use employee recognition software, managers can give a shoutout to their team members publicly or privately. You can tie praise to specific company values, and share it in the tools your team is already using, whether that’s Slack, Teams, or the Lattice platform.
2. Be genuine and thoughtful.
A handwritten note or well-considered one-on-one can mean a lot to your team. “Celebrate employee appreciation day by demonstrating genuine care,” recommended Reitsma. “Genuine, heartfelt recognition is a gift they won't throw away, and it may go further than you might think.”
3. Ask the workforce for their input.
“Ask your team what makes them feel appreciated — everyone values it differently,” suggested Jennifer Mcmillan, the director of people and culture at Article. Some team members might prefer mentoring, while others might enjoy team-building activities or learning new skills. “Most importantly, show that you listened by following through.”
4. Make it personal.
“Public appreciation is great, but one-to-one acknowledgment matters more,” Mcmillan remarked. “If you post about your team on social media, make sure it’s backed by real, personal recognition.” For example, if you write a public post praising your team on a Slack channel, make sure that you also take the time to share that praise during your weekly stand-up.
5. Involve managers.
The more personalized, the better, said Faye Almeshaan, fractional COO and founder of Almeshaan Consulting. But, she acknowledged, “Personalization is hard and usually requires a bigger budget.” For smaller HR teams, Almeshaan suggested that involving managers can help create a personalized experience for your workforce:
“Reach out to your managers and ask them to plan something small but thoughtful for their teams. Give managers the flexibility to decide what would resonate best with their group to make the celebration feel personal and cater to the team’s unique culture. Provide managers with a small budget and tell them to pick what works best (with some examples to help them brainstorm).”
6. Be specific.
Recognition is most effective when it is specific to the individual, Almeshaan observed:
“Managers can use this day to share what they value about each person’s contributions and make those sentiments personal. This (free!) gesture can have a powerful impact on individuals, deepens the impact of the recognition, and creates a stronger connection with the manager and the company.”
7. Remember that HR professionals are employees too!
Don’t just be the party planners here — your team deserves recognition for your efforts too. Remember to include yourselves in the fun.
How Not to Observe Employee Appreciation Day
Employee Appreciation Day is a time to celebrate your team — not accidentally make them question their life choices. To avoid an Office-style cringe-fest (or worse, a morale meltdown), here are a few ways not to observe the holiday.
1. Don’t make it generic.
Even if it’s not realistic to offer individual gifts or gestures to every employee, don’t just give everyone the same thing. Instead, allocate a budget and allow managers to choose what will mean the most to their team. Alternatively, provide a few options and let teams decide collectively what they would prefer.
“As with everything in life, the extra effort you put in will be noticed,” said Almeshaan. “No one likes to get a generic gift card on their birthday (unless they asked for it!).
“In that same vein, sending a generic email or giving a broad, impersonal gift to all employees won't get anyone jumping out of their seats. It can actually harm the relationship you’ve worked hard to build with your employees. People want to feel seen and appreciated as individuals, not just part of a mass celebration.”
2. Don’t be wasteful.
Cheap company swag ends up in landfills. If you’re intent on branded items, consider surveying employees about what swag they’d find most useful.
3. Don’t make it all about you.
“Skip the grand gestures that put you at the center, rather than your employee,” advised Reitsma. “Avoid making this about the company and the leadership team. Make it about the employees.” In other words, avoid the big speeches and self-congratulatory events. Instead, think of gestures that put the employees front and center.
4. Don’t let it be just one day.
“Don’t make it performative. If you rarely (or never) acknowledge your team and suddenly celebrate them on this one day, it can feel disingenuous,” warned McMillan. “Appreciation should be consistent, not just a once-a-year event.”
In the context of ongoing feedback and recognition, Employee Appreciation Day becomes “a really fun way to use this moment to symbolize the appreciation your team experiences 24/7/365,” said Almeshaan. “If you establish a consistent culture of recognition, the gesture on this day will feel more authentic and aligned with the rest of your company culture.”
12 Meaningful Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
Need suggestions for ways to show your team how much you appreciate them? Here are our ideas for Employee Recognition Day that will feel meaningful and authentic:
- Recognition letters: “A thoughtful, handwritten thank you note or a sincere message about why you value someone is often more meaningful than a generic gesture,” said Reitsma. Not sure what to say? Check out our Employee Recognition Letter Guide which includes some handy templates you can make your own.
- A dinner out: Got a team who love to socialize together? Then an invitation to a meal at a nice restaurant may be very welcome.
- Vouchers: Work with a group of coffee fanatics? Gift cards to a local coffee shop might be appreciated.
- A fun online class: Craft enthusiasts might enjoy a virtual origami-making class. Amateur chefs might like a cooking class.
- Paid time off: For many employees, extra time to rest and recharge will be the most welcome gift.
- A work-from-home day: If taking the day off isn’t possible, let employees skip the commute for a day instead.
- Public praise: Give out awards to every employee for their achievements and skill, or simply publicly acknowledge their contribution over the last year on a shared Slack group.
- Donation to a cause they value: A charitable donation can be a meaningful way to show employees that you value what they do.
- Treats for the office: Delicious snacks are often a simple, low-cost way to show your appreciation. An in-office ice cream social or a catered lunch can be a festive way to bring employees together.
- Subscriptions: Offer employees a choice of annual subscription to a magazine, audiobook streaming service, or entertainment service.
- A massage, spa day, or meditation course: Offer employees a selection of wellness options to help them relax.
- Office upgrades: Offer a selection of gifts to make the work day just a little bit more comfortable, whether that’s a pair of noise-canceling headphones or a standing desk.
The key is to consider your workforce carefully and offer gifts that would be the most meaningful to them. It might be a good idea to survey your employees to find out which options they would prefer.
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Level up your employee recognition with Lattice.
Employee Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to celebrate your team, but real recognition shouldn’t be limited to just one day a year. A year-round culture of appreciation — where employees feel seen and valued consistently — can drive employee retention, engagement, and performance.
Lattice Praise can help you build that culture by integrating recognition into the flow of work. With just a few clicks, managers and peers can give meaningful praise, tie it to company values, and share it across Slack, Teams, and the Lattice platform.
Want to see how effortless recognition can be? Book a demo of Lattice today and start making appreciation a daily habit.
