Taking time to show appreciation is one of the most effective retention strategies, and we wholeheartedly believe it’s also the right way to treat people.
We’ve put together a list of 37 ways to celebrate your team on Employee Appreciation Day (March 7th)! Mix and match based on what you know about your people. The best appreciation shows that you’ve been paying attention to who they are and what would make their day.
Health + Wellness
- Give your staff access to all that Life Time offers (including the sauna!) with a one-day pass
- Add an extra PTO day for winter mental wellness when the darkness feels endless
- Brighten up their workspace with a desktop light therapy lamp
- Put together a Minnesota winter survival kit with hand warmers, lip balm, and non-greasy lotion
- Keep perpetually cold team members comfortable with a heated vest they can wear anywhere
- Make working in a cubicle cozier with a heated throw blanket
- End thermostat wars in the office by giving a personal space heater to everyone
Practical Appreciation
- Upgrade their hydration game with a trendy Stanley tumbler they can use daily
- Help them finally buy the items sitting in their Amazon cart with a gift card
- Fund their next Target run with a gift card for anything from groceries to home goods
- Offer Uber or Lyft credits to make commuting easier or when happy hour got happier than planned
- Help protect their car from the special blend of road salt, sand, and slush with a car wash gift card
- Offset rising gas prices with a fuel gift card that makes their commute a little less expensive
- Support their grocery budget with a gift card to Lunds & Byerlys, Hy-Vee, or Cub
- Give them complete flexibility with a Visa or Mastercard gift card that they can spend anywhere
- Provide dinner backup with DoorDash credits for those nights when cooking just isn’t happening
Local Twin Cities Experiences
- Support local coffee culture with gift cards to neighborhood favorites like FRGMNT or Pillar
- Treat the team to lunch in the office from somewhere they want to eat
- Start the day right with breakfast featuring pastries and coffee from local bakeries
- Take the team to The Galley for lunch and then surprise them with the rest of the afternoon off
- Remind them that summer is only a few months away with Minnesota State Fair tickets
Time (The Most Valuable Currency)
- Announce a surprise half-day when the weather is particularly lovely (or particularly miserable)
- Give everyone a four-day weekend scheduled in advance so they can plan to enjoy it
- Convert an unnecessary meeting to an email
- Add a bonus personal day to everyone’s bank without making them jump through hoops to use it
- Provide backup childcare support with Care.com credits for when schools close, or regular arrangements fall through
Thoughtful Gestures
- Write a specific, personal thank-you note that mentions actual contributions you’ve noticed
- Send a recognition email and copy leadership (for those who appreciate public kudos)
- Thrift coffee mugs that match each person’s personality, showing you see them as individuals
- Make a donation to causes your staff care about in their names, reflecting their personal values
Personal Touches
- Keep them warm with Vikings, Wild, or Timberwolves gear they’ll proudly wear on game days
- Text a coffee gift card with a message referencing specific work they’ve done well recently
- Provide puzzles or adult coloring books for screen breaks that help reset the brain
- Make sitting in I-494 traffic slightly less soul-crushing with an Audible subscription
- Let them choose a business book that interests them from a curated list and reimburse them for it
- Give company-branded apparel people will want to wear (quality materials and subtle branding)
- Let people create their perfect snack box by using a service like SnackMagic
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I figure out which appreciation ideas my team will like?
Notice what perks get people genuinely excited versus the polite smile-and-nod. When in doubt, offer choices or ask people what they’d prefer.
What if my budget is nonexistent?
Some of the most appreciated gestures are about flexibility – like a surprise afternoon off or converting the meeting everyone dreads into an email. A thoughtful note costs only your time but can mean everything if it’s specific about someone’s contributions.
How do I make sure this doesn’t feel like corporate mandatory fun?
Be specific and genuine. “Great job on that project” is good. “I noticed how you handled that tough client situation with patience, which I definitely wouldn’t have had,” is even better.
When should I do these things?
We recommend doing a mix of planned appreciation (like on March 7, Employee Appreciation Day) and random gestures that feel more spontaneous.
How do I keep things fair across different teams?
Keep track of what you’re doing for different departments. While the specific gestures might vary based on team preferences, the overall approach should be consistent.