National Employee Appreciation Day

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A diverse team of HR consultants congratulate each other in their Seattle office

First Friday in March

We’ve all heard the saying, “No man (or woman) is an island,“ which is true, especially in business. Whether a company has just one or two or a multitude of employees, showing appreciation for their contributions is an essential part of maintaining employee engagement and retention and building a culture in tune with the vision and goals of an organization.  The more people feel welcomed, appreciated, and acknowledged for their work contributions, the more likely they are to sustain high contribution levels as an organization tries to achieve its goals.   

National Employee Appreciation Day began in 1995 with the publication of Dr. Bob Nelson’s book, 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees.  Since then, the day has been celebrated on the first Friday in March. 

During the last few years, COVID has been tiring on employers and employees alike.  On Friday, March 3rd, employers can bolster morale by showing appreciation for their employees. It feels good to make others feel good! Here are a few ideas you can use and adjust based on your organization size, budget conditions, and ability:

–   Express a message to your staff of thanks and appreciation in your own words.  A card, a postcard, or even an email can work.

–   Send a personalized gift.  It doesn’t have to break the bank; even a small gift shows you care. 

–   Order lunch or take them to lunch

–   Take your team on an adventure to someplace local and fun

–   Cut the workday short but pay for the entire day

There are many other ways to show gratitude, but sharing specifically what their work contribution means to your organization will go a long way for morale.  A business plan is just that, a plan.  It takes people to make it come to life, and employees are instrumental in making the plan a reality. 

If you could use some help in coming up with ideas to recognize your employees, FIT HR may be able to help. 

#employeeappreciationday

#employeeappreciation

#employeeengagement

#employeerecognition