45 Ways To Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day on March 3 That'll Boost Company Morale

Teamwork makes the dream work—now, it's time to show your appreciation!

As the most successful leaders know, you can’t run a thriving business without the help of a great team. And that's precisely why the idea of Employee Appreciation Day first came about—to thank employees for their hard work throughout the year and to show them just how much you value their efforts.

This unofficial holiday, which began in 1995, is celebrated on the first Friday in March; this year, Employee Appreciation Day falls on Friday, March 3, 2023.

To help you celebrate Employee Appreciation Day and honor your employees in a way they’ll genuinely appreciate on March 3, here are 45 of the best Employee Appreciation Day ideas that will boost company morale—from surprising them with a build-your-own-taco bar to announcing your new summer Fridays policy.

45 Employee Appreciation Day Ideas

1. Take your employees out to a group lunch where you chat about anything but work.

2. Or, cater a group lunch at the office to make it easier for everyone’s schedules to match up.

3. Take your employees to a baseball game for some after-work excitement.

4. Give each employee a desk plant or an inspirational quote wall hanging to upgrade their desk decor.

5. Order donuts or cupcakes for the office to sweeten your employees’ day.

Related: Go Girls! 101 Best Tips from Women Entrepreneurs and CEOs

6. Make a donation in honor of each coworker to a charity of their choice as a way to show your appreciation.

7. Spend the day volunteering as a group, rather than working, to bond and give back to the community.

8. Host an impromptu end-of-week office party, complete with snacks, games and beverages.

9. Have an Employee Appreciation Day happy hour at the office where you all end work an hour early to sip cocktails and chat.

10. Whether you all take a field trip to a nearby ice cream shop or you bring the ice cream to the office, an Employee Appreciation Day ice cream celebration will have everyone’s spirits soaring.

11. Give your employees a bonus half-day off that they can use anytime this month to sleep in or leave early.

12. Pick a day to invite employees’ kids or pets to visit the office.

13. Host a craft day at the office where you bring the supplies and get all of your employees in the same room DIY small projects, like painting a wood picture frame for their desks.

14. Leave candy-filled gift bags at each employee’s desk on Employee Appreciation Day.

15. Spruce up the break room or kitchenette by getting an upgraded coffee maker, microwave or other gadget that would make your employees happy.

16. If you have a small business or team, taking the time to handwrite each of your coworkers a personal note is a great way to acknowledge Employee Appreciation Day.

17. Gift your employees gas gift cards or offer reimbursement for bus or subway tickets.

18. Plan a pajama day at work where your employees can come dressed in loungewear, rather than their usual business casual attire.

19. Turn a meeting room into a pop-up spa by hiring a masseuse to give employees 30-minute massages at scheduled times throughout Employee Appreciation Day.

20. Give each employee a gift card to a nearby tea and coffee shop.

Related: What Motivates Employees More: Pizza or Money?

21. Treat employees to a Spotify or Apple Music subscription—even if you can only spring for a month or two—for an Employee Appreciation Day gift idea that’s both fun and practical.

22. Put out an anonymous “compliments” box in the days leading up to Employee Appreciation Day so coworkers can show appreciation for one another, and be sure to add one for each employee yourself. Then, email them to the staff on March 3 to spread the love.

23. Give your team a work-from-home day as a way to say thanks for all their effort.

24. Host a company bowling night or roller skating party so you can mingle and connect outside of work.

25. Set up a build-your-own-taco bar in the conference room for a surprise afternoon get-together on Employee Appreciation Day.

26. Employee Appreciation Day is the perfect day to announce that you’re giving everyone summer Fridays this year. They’ll be buzzing with excitement!

27. Create silly awards that are customized for each employee, such as “Most Creative” for your team’s art director or “Best Baker” for that coworker who’s always bringing homemade cookies—to announce during a team meeting.

28. If it’s within your budget, giving your employees a sum of cash—whether it’s $15 to cover lunch or $100 for a well-deserved bonus—is always a good idea.

29. Treat your employees to an online class or workshop of their choice (within reason, of course), so they can learn from an expert on MasterClass or get insider access to their favorite physical trainer’s workout videos and meal plan.

30. Play hooky in honor of Employee Appreciation Day and take all your coworkers out to a matinee film showing at the local movie theater.

31. Buy a video game console for your break room’s TV so employees can have a little fun during their lunch breaks.

32. Sponsor a group retreat. Whether you stay local or fly them to Disney World, a retreat-style bonding experience can do wonders for team morale—in addition to being a fun Employee Appreciation Day gift idea.

33. Offer gym membership reimbursement or hire a yoga teacher to teach a private class for employees at the office.

Related: 50 Thankful Quotes for Practicing Gratitude All Year Long

34. If you’re unsure what gifts for Employee Appreciation Day your coworkers would like most, pick three or four options that are within your scope and budget and let each employee choose which option they’d like most.

35. Show how much you appreciate your employees with a genuine post on social Be sure to tag the members of your team and leave a thoughtful compliment for each individual.

36. Send each employee a LinkedIn recognition for a gift that keeps on giving.

37. Unveil an updated website on Employee Appreciation Day that features photos and bios of every member of your team to give them the recognition they deserve.

38. Book an escape room experience for your entire team as a fun way to get out of the office, while also working on team-building and group problem-solving skills.

39. Give employees a few hours in the afternoon to work on a side project they're passionate about—nothing work-related—as a way to encourage their interests outside of the office on Employee Appreciation Day.

40. Offer your employees one bonus flex vacation day they can use anytime during 2023.

41. Hire a magician to stop by the office for an impromptu magic show. Your whole team will get a lot of laughs.

42. Buy oversized giant candy bars, such as Hershey’s chocolate bars or Reese’s, and give one to each employee. Don’t forget to add a bow on top!

43. Give each employee a “coupon book” full of mini work perks, such as “permission to be 10 minutes late to a team meeting” or “extend your lunch break by 30 minutes today.”

44. Plan a pajama day or another themed work day so your employees can dress comfortably or get into the festive spirit.

45. Host an office door decoration contest on Employee Appreciation Day. Provide all the supplies, have your whole team vote on the prettiest door, and give prizes to everyone who participates.

Being the boss isn't easy, so for days when you need a little extra inspiration, check out these 35 leadership quotes.