March 4 is almost here, which means it’s time to start planning how to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day virtually. Employee Appreciation Day is an officially observed holiday that falls on the first Friday in March. Dr. Bob Nelson created this holiday to remind employers to thank their employees for their hard work.
Many companies are spending the holiday remotely this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, company structuring, or because they work better from home. Let’s look at ways to make your team feel extra special without being in person.
Treat Them to a Meal
You can celebrate Employee Appreciation Day by sending your employees a meal allowance to order food or have a nice dinner with their families. You can do this by sharing a gift card or Grubhub funds—either way, no one can turn down a free meal.
Throw a Virtual Party
An excellent way to bring your company together remotely is by throwing a virtual party fit with musical guests, trivia games, and team-bonding activities. This will help your employees set time aside from their busy projects and enjoy some quality time with their co-workers.
Host a Contest
During your virtual party, you might consider hosting a contest that your employees can participate in. Some contests include:
- Costume
- Best “GIF”
- Online bingo
There are many contests you can engage your team with, which will help them have even more fun at your virtual party.
Give Out Rewards
No contest is complete without prizes. Be sure to offer prizes and other rewards for participating in and winning specific games. You might offer things like:
- E-gift cards
- Desk goodies
- Company swag
You can even up the ante by making some of your giveaway winners random by spinning a virtual wheel and selecting winners throughout the event.
Give Them a Day Off
Giving your employees the day off for Employee Appreciation Day might seem counterintuitive, but think of it as gifting them a mental health day.
All employees need vacation time to reset, refresh, and return to work more productive. Offering time off of work might be the best gift an employer can give an employee. In fact, you can help improve your remote worker’s efficiency by providing them time to spend with family/friends.
Send a Personal Thank You Note
Nothing beats a personalized thank you letter. While you can send your team virtual gifts, they’ll appreciate a handwritten note thanking them for their work even more.
You might do some research to determine their most significant project and how it helped the company. When employees feel recognized, they’re more likely to go above and beyond in their roles.
When planning how to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day virtually, always keep your employees in mind and what would benefit them the most.
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