42 Employee Appreciation Day Gifts & Ideas
Make this Employee Appreciation Day memorable with Justworks' 42 employee appreciation gifts. Recognize your staff with inexpensive and unique ideas today!
Justworks is a technology company that levels the playing field for all small businesses. Through our software and as a partner, we help our customers take care of their teams, streamline their operations, and navigate the complex aspects of managing a workforce with confidence.
You’ve got one of the best teams around, and they work pretty hard for you. But amid all that hard work, it's easy to forget to recognize your employees or show them your appreciation for their efforts. It’s important to reward employees for a job well done. Recognition can make them feel appreciated and show them that their work matters. And a little workplace appreciation can go a long way toward boosting employee morale.
The official Employee Appreciation Day is on the first Friday in March, but you don’t have to limit the recognition to a single day. We’ve compiled a list of staff appreciation ideas you can use to show your team some love year-round.
Inexpensive Employee Appreciation Ideas
1. Give everyone on your team a small allowance for a few office upgrades. Items like standing desks, desk organizers, or even a new coffee mug can provide a welcome change of pace.
2. Show your appreciation by prioritizing the health of your employees. Try having juices and wellness shots from a local company delivered to your team to promote workplace wellness.
3. Treat everyone to a fun company activity. If your team feels comfortable, try out things like bowling and laser tag. For those who’d prefer remote-friendly activities, try virtual karaoke or bingo.
4. Survey employees to learn their favorite self-care products or services. You can include them in a curated self-care package to use at their leisure.
5. Plan a virtual happy hour or dinner for your team, and arrange for the food and beverages to be delivered directly to your employees. As an employer, it’s always nice to foot all or part of the bill if you’re able.
6. Surprise your team with a picnic-style lunch. Cater the food from one of the team’s favorite local restaurants if you’re in the office, or have your remote employees order their favorite take-out meal. In-person, remote, and hybrid teams can all enjoy lunch outside together (weather permitting) thanks to video conferencing platforms.
Free Employee Appreciation Ideas
7. Highlight smaller accomplishments in a meeting or an email to the whole company. Or use some other creative way to help remind your employees of the value they bring to the organization.
8. Consider implementing summer Fridays at your office. It’s an inexpensive but surprisingly impactful perk!
9. Make the effort to be polite and friendly to coworkers. Something so simple can really go a long way.
10. Allow employees to choose a passion project. Having a project they feel passionate about could help give employees something to look forward to and provide a chance to feel both proud and fulfilled through their efforts.
11. Try thanking an employee in person or in real-time over a call or Zoom meeting. By doing it in real time rather than via email or instant message, the gesture becomes more personal (and it’s a nice surprise).
12. Alternatively, try sending out handwritten employee appreciation thank you notes for a job well done. Sure, it’s old-fashioned, but getting some snail mail can mean a lot.
Staff Appreciation Ideas
13. Appoint a newer team member as Rookie of the Year. It can help new employees feel special, more welcome, and valued by the team.
14. Create an employee recognition program. You could develop a system that rewards employees with points they can cash in for small rewards, like logging off early.
15. Call out an employee’s big wins or achievements in a company-wide meeting. A well-deserved round of applause from a large group is always in order.
16. Develop an employee-of-the-month program, and allow employees to nominate their peers.
17. Give out fun awards that recognize non-work contributions that people make to the team. Think of awards like “Best Slack Reactions” or “Brainstorm Champion.”
18. Start an employee recognition newsletter that’s sent out to the whole organization. This could be sent out monthly, quarterly, or biweekly, depending on the size of your team or company.
Company Culture Employee Appreciation Ideas
19. Start a suggestion program that focuses on improving the connection opportunities across the company. By opening up the floor to employees, you’ll help them feel heard and valued for their perspectives.
20. Allow employees to have more flexible schedules. Consider allowing employees to take a midday break to go to the gym. Giving employees the flexibility to weave other activities into their day can boost productivity and encourage trust.
21. Similarly, you can try rewarding your team with a no-meetings day. A meeting-free schedule makes people happy, and they might even be more productive because meetings won't distract them.
22. Give your team the go-ahead to log off early on the day before a holiday weekend. This is a really easy way to help make their day (and holiday weekend) that much better.
23. Put in the effort to be more vocal about others’ accomplishments. If a coworker or team member gives kudos to another in a meeting, let that person know. It’s always a good idea to spread the word that they’re appreciated.
Gift Ideas for Employee Appreciation
24. Say it with greenery! Having a fresh new desk plant can provide a nice boost.
25. Who doesn’t love a little company swag? Identify the most sought-after swag items your company makes, and reward your team with them.
26. Give your employees a nice caffeine boost with a gift card to a local coffee shop. Even a small $10 gift card to show employee recognition can make someone's day.
27. Going out to grab coffee or to get some takeout? Try treating an employee, too.
28. For new in-office employees, take them out to lunch on their first day! While it’s not quite the same, you can do something similar for remote employees by giving gift cards or reimbursing them for having their favorite food delivered right to their door.
29. Celebrate when your employees achieve big milestones, like the birth of a child or the completion of a personal passion project.
30. Celebrate small milestones, too, such as birthdays and work anniversaries. Mark your calendar so you don’t forget, and provide or send a treat to your employee, and/or have the team sign a physical or virtual card.
31. Do your employees have a pulse on pop culture? Consider having their favorite celebrity say thanks on your behalf with a service like Cameo.
32. If you're returning to the office or integrating into a hybrid workplace setup, stock your office with a variety of snacks and treats. It’s easier to be happy and effective when your stomach isn’t growling.
33. You could also deliver a mid-week treat to your team. Waffle Wednesdays? Tuesday afternoon cookie platter? The possibilities are endless!
Employee Appreciation Ideas for Remote and Hybrid Teams
We've mentioned how you can make some staff appreciation ideas remote-friendly. Here are some additional ideas:
34. Consider sending care packages directly to remote employees' homes with snacks, company swag, and handwritten notes that add a personal touch.
35. Provide credits for online classes or virtual team events that give people experiences they can enjoy from anywhere. Invite remote employees to a digital coffee chat or organize a virtual pizza party. It’s an oldie but a goodie for a reason.
36. Home office stipends are another thoughtful option, allowing employees to customize their remote workspaces with items that make their days more comfortable and productive.
37. Survey your employees for any monthly subscriptions they’d be interested in receiving. It could be magazines, news media, or even themed gift boxes centered around their specific interests. Something like this lets you show your team your appreciation regularly with something they’ll enjoy.
Important Employee Perks & Benefits
Ready to start thinking beyond Employee Appreciation Day for some longer-term ideas? Consider these suggestions to help boost employee happiness and retention:
38. Encourage and recognize employees who participate in continuing education. This can benefit the employee and the company while making those employees feel good about their efforts.
39. Collaborate with your direct reports on creating employee development plans. They help clarify their trajectory within the company and which skills they can master next.
41. Build a flexible parental leave plan. Doing so can show that you value your employees’ personal lives as well as their work lives.
42. Consider offering unlimited paid time off... and then encouraging employees to actually take some time off.
When is Employee Appreciation Day 2026?
The annual Employee Appreciation Day falls on the first Friday of every March. Here are some upcoming dates to mark in your calendar:
2026: Friday, March 6.
2027: Friday, March 5.
2028: Friday, March 3.
Grow and Motivate Your Team with Justworks
Beyond this list, there are many more ways you can reward your team for their hard work. And you don’t need to wait for Employee Appreciation Day. It's even more meaningful if you show your thanks to them regularly. If you’re looking for the most impactful ways to take care of your team, it’s time to consider Justworks. Justworks PEO offers small businesses access to big-company benefits and perks that help you hire and retain top talent. Get started with Justworks today.
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