Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day
by Chris MacKechnie, Demand Media
A spa day can be a great employee appreciation day activity
Letting your employees know they are
appreciated and respected is a small, but important aspect of effective
management. When deadlines are looming or when customers are unhappy, employee
morale can nosedive. Employee appreciation days are one way that a company can
thank employees for their hard work and let them know the company would suffer
if it were not for their individual contribution. The key is to find something
that is truly enjoyable.
Pampering
One way to gain the hearts of your
staff is to treat them to a day at the spa, without ever leaving the office.
Welcome them in the morning with orange juice in champagne flutes and chocolate
covered strawberries. Hire manicurists and massage therapists to offer
mini-treatments throughout the day. At lunch, cater a spa-inspired meal. At the
end of the day, give everyone a small gift, such as a scented candle or box of
chocolate. When planning, look for totally non-practical, decadent offerings
that have nothing to do with work.
Pizza And Movie
Some of the best employee appreciation
days are completely unplanned and unscheduled. On a random Friday, announce to
staff that the office is closing for a surprise. Give everyone some time to
cancel appointments and set a meeting place. Lead everyone to a nearby pizzeria
for a fun lunch. Following that, give everyone a coupon for a movie and a
popcorn at the nearest theater and head off for an afternoon of playing hooky.
Be sure not to keep any employees past their normal working hours to avoid
child care problems and previous commitments. Pretend not to notice if some
employees sneak out before the movie is over, because it's their
day, after all.
Choose Your Adventure
Letting employees choose their own
appreciation day activity helps guarantee they will truly enjoy the experience.
Consider presenting each person with a menu of three options that they can
select from in advance. One group may choose to see a live theatrical
performance. Another may travel to a local golf course for a mini-tournament. A
third, may choose a day at an amusement park. If it is possible, have all three
groups converge for a communal dinner at the end of a fun-filled day.
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