56 Ways to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day
Employee Appreciation Day (March 7, 2025) is a perfect time to recognize and celebrate your team’s hard work. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day, here are 56 meaningful and creative ideas to make your employees feel valued.
Personalized Recognition
1. Handwritten Notes – A heartfelt, personal thank-you note from leadership goes a long way.
2. Employee Spotlights – Feature employees in a social media post or an internal newsletter.
3. Custom Awards – Hand out “Superlative” awards (e.g., “Best Problem Solver” or “Most Likely to Save the Day”).
4. “Why We Appreciate You” Wall – Set up a bulletin board or digital space where coworkers write notes about each other.
5. Personalized Playlist – Create and share a team playlist featuring everyone’s favorite songs.
6. Thank-You Billboard – Rent a local billboard or digital ad space to display a big “THANK YOU” message with employees’ names.
7. Surprise Cameo from a Celebrity – Book a Cameo video from a favorite celebrity or sports figure with a special thank-you message.
8. Employee Trading Cards – Design fun digital or printed “trading cards” highlighting each employee’s strengths and skills.
9. CEO Thank-You Video – Have leadership record a heartfelt video message.
1. Handwritten Notes – A heartfelt, personal thank-you note from leadership goes a long way.
2. Employee Spotlights – Feature employees in a social media post or an internal newsletter.
3. Custom Awards – Hand out “Superlative” awards (e.g., “Best Problem Solver” or “Most Likely to Save the Day”).
4. “Why We Appreciate You” Wall – Set up a bulletin board or digital space where coworkers write notes about each other.
5. Personalized Playlist – Create and share a team playlist featuring everyone’s favorite songs.
6. Thank-You Billboard – Rent a local billboard or digital ad space to display a big “THANK YOU” message with employees’ names.
7. Surprise Cameo from a Celebrity – Book a Cameo video from a favorite celebrity or sports figure with a special thank-you message.
8. Employee Trading Cards – Design fun digital or printed “trading cards” highlighting each employee’s strengths and skills.
9. CEO Thank-You Video – Have leadership record a heartfelt video message.
Fun & Interactive Experiences
10. Game Show-Style Trivia – Host a live game show or virtual trivia session with prizes. Learn More
11. Team Movie Night – Host a watch party together!
12. Mario Kart Competition – Put your skills to the test with a video game that everyone can participate in.
13. Office Olympics – Set up indoor mini-competitions like paper airplane contests, ping pong, or other Minute-To-Win-It games. Learn More
14. Office Field Trip – Take the team out for a fun day at a local attraction (museum, bowling, amusement park, etc.).
15. Surprise Break Room Makeover – Upgrade the coffee machine, stock up on snacks, or bring in comfy furniture.
16. Escape Room Team-Building Event – Put your heads together to solve an immersive mystery in your office! Learn More
17. Secret Appreciation Buddy – Similar to Secret Santa, employees draw names and prepare small surprises for each other.
18. Company Bingo – Create a bingo card with fun office-related squares (e.g., “Helped a teammate today,” “Wore company swag”).
19. Scavenger Hunt – Organize a workplace or virtual scavenger hunt with rewards and game stations along the way. Learn More
Gifts & Perks
20. Gift Cards or Swag Bags – Treat them to their favorite coffee shop, meal delivery service, or company-branded merch.
21. Surprise Desk Drop – Leave small gifts like snacks, plants, or handwritten notes on desks.
22. Spin-the-Wheel Prizes – Set up a prize wheel with different rewards (extra PTO, gift cards, lunch on the boss).
23. Surprise Lottery Scratchers – Hand out scratch-off lottery tickets for a fun surprise.
24. Extra Time Off – Give an extended lunch break or a surprise half-day off.
25. Personalized Office Supplies – Monogrammed notebooks, high-quality pens, or custom laptop stickers.
26. Subscription Boxes – Give employees a choice of a monthly subscription (coffee, book club, self-care, etc.). Click here for some inspiration!
27. Professional Development Stipend – Offer funds for online courses, conferences, or workshops.
28. “Treat Yourself” Bonus – A small cash gift for employees to spend on something fun.
29. Surprise $5 Venmo/PayPal Gift – Send a little “coffee on us” surprise.
30. Company Swag Upgrade – Instead of the usual logo t-shirts, offer premium gear like Patagonia jackets or AirPods.
Food & Treats
31. Catered Lunch or Breakfast – Bring in a delicious meal to share.
32. DIY Snack Bar – Set up a build-your-own sundae, popcorn, or coffee bar.
33. Happy Hour or Team Dinner – Organize an after-work social with drinks and appetizers.
34. Bring in a Food Truck – Surprise your team with a visit from a popular local food truck.
35. Host a Bake Off – Challenge your team to design the best looking cake. Learn More
36. Gift Cards – Gift your team a gift card to a popular local restaurant or nearby coffee shop.
37. Go Out to a Restaurant – Spend your lunchtime together by treating your team to a group outing.
38. Host a Virtual Lunch – Don’t forget about your remote employees! You can organize food delivery or gift cards for those not in the office.
31. Catered Lunch or Breakfast – Bring in a delicious meal to share.
32. DIY Snack Bar – Set up a build-your-own sundae, popcorn, or coffee bar.
33. Happy Hour or Team Dinner – Organize an after-work social with drinks and appetizers.
34. Bring in a Food Truck – Surprise your team with a visit from a popular local food truck.
35. Host a Bake Off – Challenge your team to design the best looking cake. Learn More
36. Gift Cards – Gift your team a gift card to a popular local restaurant or nearby coffee shop.
37. Go Out to a Restaurant – Spend your lunchtime together by treating your team to a group outing.
38. Host a Virtual Lunch – Don’t forget about your remote employees! You can organize food delivery or gift cards for those not in the office.
Wellness & Self-Care
39. Massage or Relaxation Station – Bring in a massage therapist for quick chair massages.
40. Wellness Gifts – Give self-care packages with items like candles, bath salts, or stress relief gadgets.
41. Mental Health Breaks – Organize a guided meditation, yoga session, or a group walk outside.
42. Nap Pods or Rest Area – Create a relaxation zone with bean bags, soft lighting, and calming music.
43. “No Meetings” Afternoon – Give employees a few meeting-free hours to catch up on tasks or relax.
44. Home Office Upgrade Stipend – Offer a small budget for remote employees to improve their workspace.
45. Company-Wide Digital Detox – Encourage a tech-free hour where employees go outside, read, or do something non-digital.
46. Guided Meditation or Stretch Break – Hire an instructor for an in-office or virtual relaxation session. Learn More
Professional Growth & Career Boosters
47. LinkedIn Recommendations from Leadership – Managers write public recommendations for employees.
48. 1-on-1 Career Coaching – Offer a free coaching session to help employees with career development.
49. Company Book Club with Free Books – Gift employees a book that aligns with personal or professional growth.
50. Learning & Development Day – Let employees take a day to work on a passion project or learn a new skill.
51. Shadow a Different Department – Give employees a chance to explore other roles within the company.
Feel-Good & Give-Back Initiatives
52. Donation in Employees’ Names – Let each employee choose a charity for the company to donate to.
53. Volunteer Together – Plan a team volunteer day for a cause employees care about. (Personally, we think this is one of the best ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day!) Learn More
54. “Thank You” Video Compilation – Record messages from coworkers sharing why they appreciate each other.
55. Send Flowers or Care Packages – For remote employees, send a thoughtful, unexpected gift.
56. Adopt an Office Mascot – Sponsor a rescue pet in the company’s name.