Employee Appreciation Day – March 3rd 2023

In 1995, Dr. Bob Nelson —a founding member of Recognition Professionals International, started an annual Employee Appreciation Day on the first Friday of March. It was initially developed to celebrate the launch of his book 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees, yet continued to become an annual reminder to managers everywhere of the importance of thanking their employees.

There are many benefits to employers for investing in formal and informal employee recognition programs and actions. When employees feel valued, they’re more engaged, motivated, and likely to go the extra mile for their manager. The Best Western Hotel was part of a study that showed correlation between Hotel employee engagement and guest satisfaction.

This year, Employee Appreciation Day is on March 3rd, and it’s a great opportunity for employers to let their staff know they appreciate the dedication and hard work of their employees. There are many ways managers can show their appreciation to their employees including:

Socialize & Have Fun
Host a team Happy hour or party. Happy hours provide a relaxed atmosphere that can encourage positive staff interactions. They allow team members to reduce stress and can contribute to positive company culture. Play games and encourage employees to get know each other on a more personal way.

Give a small gift or bonus
A small gift or bonus can go a long way in showing appreciation for employees’ hard work and dedication. This can include things like gift cards, company swag, or bonus. It doesn’t have to be a large sum of money or a lavish gift, but a small gesture can make employees feel appreciated.

Share Treats or Host a Lunch
Many cultures see the sharing of food as a way to connect and bond. Managers can provide treats or host a breakfast or lunch. If employees are remote, you can send a gift card so that they can order a meal or treat.

Send a personalized postcard or letter
A personalized postcard or letter can be a thoughtful way to show appreciation for an employee’s hard work. It can be a simple message of gratitude, highlighting specific accomplishments or contributions. This can make employees feel valued and recognized for their efforts.

Show appreciation on website or social media
A little more personal and time consuming, but a great demonstration of appreciation is for a manager to write a LinkedIn recommendation that then an employee can highlight on their profile in the future. Employers can also post recognition messages about teams or individuals across all their social media channels.

Let employees explore passions
When managers show awareness and support of their employees’ lives outside of work, this can really deepen the relationship between a leader and their staff. This can include things like providing opportunities for continuing education like micro-credentials or allowing employees to take time off to pursue a personal project or hobby.

Donate to favourite charity or volunteer together
Depending on the type of business you are in or the types of employees you have, they may be very passionate about particular charities. Matching employees’ donation can encourage team bonding and shows you are aware of their passions.

There are many more ways to show employees that they are appreciated, some with minimal cost or time and some requiring more of an investment. Check out are other blog posts about retention and employee satisfaction that include infographics, to learn more about way more ways to improve the engagement and dedication of employees.