Employee Appreciation Day 2025: 15 Celebration Ideas

In today’s world of remote work, burnout concerns, and values-driven workplaces, moments of appreciation aren’t just nice—they’re necessary.

Employee Appreciation Day 2025 falls on Friday, March 7, and it’s an opportunity to go beyond a generic thank-you. When done right, employee appreciation is more than a one-day event—it’s a meaningful reflection of your company culture.

Companies that recognize their people intentionally are seeing the difference:

• 96% of employees say receiving a gift improves their relationships at work
• Thoughtful recognition is linked to higher retention, stronger engagement, and a more inclusive, people-first culture
  
  

So if you’re planning your 2025 celebration, let this post serve as your go-to guide. From team activities to purpose-filled gifts, these ideas are designed to fit different budgets, team setups, and company values.

A customized gift box for Snap Inc.

Mark your calendar: Friday, March 7, 2025.

That said, not every company sticks to this national date, and that’s okay. Some organizations choose to align their employee appreciation day with a meaningful internal milestone, such as a company founding anniversary, a big product launch, or the close of a successful quarter. What matters most is making it intentional.

If you are planning for March 7, we recommend starting preparations in January or early Febrary—especially if you’re ordering custom branded gifts, or coordinating hybrid events.

From heartfelt to high-impact, here are 15 ways to show your team they’re seen, valued, and appreciated:

Experiential Ideas:

1. Team Lunch or Coffee Outing
Treat your team to lunch at a favorite spot or bring in a local vendor. If you're hybrid, offer a food delivery credit to make it inclusive.

2. Onsite Wellness Break
Bring in a yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, or massage therapist. A short mid-day wellness break can go a long way.

3. Half-Day Friday or Long Weekend Pass
Nothing says appreciation like more time back. Let your team log off early to enjoy their weekend.

4. Volunteer Together
Coordinate a half-day team service project—whether it’s packing kits for a local shelter or planting trees. Shared impact builds connection.

5. Surprise Treat Cart
Roll through the office with a cart full of snacks, drinks, or small gifts. It’s fun, nostalgic, and a great morale boost.

Recognition-Focused Ideas

6. Peer Shoutouts Wall (Digital or In-Person)
Create a board where teammates can publicly recognize one another. It's a low-cost way to build camaraderie and spotlight quiet wins.

Looking to take it a step further? Take a page from Zoom’s playbook. In 2024, Zoom launched a peer-to-peer recognition program with Gifts for Good that empowered employees to recognize each other through meaningful gifts that give back. The result? Over 57,800 meals provided to children, 7,000+ trees planted and hundreds of causes supported worldwide, each tied to a personal moment of appreciation.

7. Personalized Thank-You Notes from Leadership
A handwritten note from a manager or exec means more than you think—especially when it’s specific to someone’s strengths.

8. Company Awards (With a Twist)
Host a lighthearted awards ceremony—serious or silly. Think “Most Likely to Save the Day” or “Team MVP".

9. Photo or Memory Slideshow
Recap the year (or quarter) with photos, quotes, or milestone moments. It's a reminder of how far your team has come together.

Need some design inspiration? Try using a Canva teamplate to create a short thank-you or spotlight video using employee photos and messages. It’s simple, shareable, and deeply personal.

10. Employee Story Spotlights
Share team member stories in your internal newsletter or Slack channel. It celebrates individuality and inclusion.

Gift Ideas That Give Back

11. Curated Gift Boxes with Purpose
Choose a ready-to-ship gift box from Gifts for Good featuring sustainable, ethically made items that reflect your company’s values.

12. Charity Donation Credits
Let employees choose a nonprofit to support in their name—a meaningful, inclusive way to celebrate.

13. Self-Care Kits
Think journals, cozy socks, candles, or wellness snacks—all from social enterprises or impact-driven makers.

14. Locally Sourced Gifts
Support local artisans or minority-owned businesses with hand-selected goods that tell a story.

15. Eco-Friendly Swag
If you’re going the branded route, skip the throwaway merch and choose items like reusable water bottles, notebooks made from recycled materials, or fair-wage apparel.

When planning your appreciation program, who you source from is just as important as what you give.

Look for a partner that offers:

• Social impact with every gift
• Customizable options for teams of all sizes
• Bulk ordering and fulfillment support
• Transparent sourcing and vendor ethics
  
  

At Gifts for Good, we make it easy for companies to gift with purpose. From onboarding kits to employee care packages, every gift we offer helps create jobs, support nonprofits, and protect the planet. And, with GIFTForward, our impact-focused gifting platform, you can scale these efforts across teams, departments, and even continents without the manual lift.

Gifts can be more than feel-good moments—they can be a reflection of your culture.Let’s make March 7 count—explore our full employee appreciation gifts collection.