How to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day Virtually

Employees are the heart of any organization. They create your company culture, help your business grow and improve, and make logging on every Monday morning bearable. Without them, frankly, your business wouldn’t be able to succeed. 

That’s why it’s important to recognize your employees’ hard work and accomplishments. While recognition should be an ongoing initiative, there is one day in particular when it’s important to celebrate all of your employees—Employee Appreciation Day. 

But how can you do so if some of your employees are still working from home? 

Here are 5 ways you can celebrate Employee Appreciation Day virtually:

1. Send a Personalized Note

Sending employees a handwritten thank-you note is a type of appreciation that is rare to come by and seems all the more special when received. To express gratitude for all of their hard work and dedication, you can include an individualized message that highlights their accomplishments throughout the past year. As an extra bonus, you can even include a gift card to their favorite spot, such as a local restaurant or coffee shop.

2. Give Employees the Day Off

Giving employees a well-deserved day off can go a long way in helping them relax, destress, and feel appreciated. Since it’s on a Friday this year, kicking off a long weekend for Employee Appreciation Day can really help them rest up and recharge.

3. Host a Virtual Event

If your employees are working on Employee Appreciation Day, a perfect way to celebrate is by hosting a fun company-wide event. From a virtual comedy show or trivia night to a paint-and-sip or wine tasting class, there are a lot of interactive events you can host to show your employees appreciation.

4. Give Out Awards

To recognize employees across your organization, you can give out a variety of awards on Employee Appreciation Day. These awards can be given to the top performers of each department or employees who embody your company’s core values. To announce the winners, you can tag them on your newsfeed or host a company-wide call. You can also send them certificates or trophies to put in their home offices.

5. Send Out Company Swag

Who doesn’t love some company swag? To celebrate Employee Appreciation Day, you can send your employees a thoughtful basket full of T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, or any other items with your logo. You can also use an employee rewards and recognition platform, like Awardco, to let your employees choose what swag they’d like to receive.

While Employee Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to celebrate your employees, it’s important to remember that recognition should be ongoing—not a one-off event. From celebrating birthdays to acknowledging milestones, frequently recognizing your employees can have a significant impact on whether or not you retain them.

For more employee retention strategies, check out our eBook.