Employee Appreciation Day is coming up again, and you're probably wondering how you can put your team in the spotlight in a special way. Don't worry, we've listed four spot-on, not too complicated ideas for you to surprise your employees.

What is Employee Appreciation Day, actually?

Employee Appreciation Day is the day to pause and reflect on the hard work and dedication of your team. It originally comes from the United States and is derived from National Secretaries Day. That originated in the 1950s. Secretaries Day was created at the time to make the secretarial profession more attractive and to persuade people to pursue a career in it.

In 2018, Secretaries Day was changed into Employee Appreciation Day. This was so that from then on, appreciation could be expressed on a fixed day for all employees. Employee Appreciation Day falls annually on a fixed date, the third Thursday of April.

What do you do on Employee Appreciation Day?

This is the day to explicitly let your team know that you appreciate them. Giving attention to the hard work your employees do creates more work happiness. In addition, appreciation also boosts vitality and the desire to do good work for the company mission. And it doesn't have to be complicated. Flowers, a card or cake will already get you a long way.

But for those who want to dive a little deeper, we've listed 4 more tips so this day doesn't just pass by.

Tip 1: Speak appreciation out loud

The first tip is very simple, but is often overlooked. A simple compliment or a small gesture can go a very long way. Let your team know how much you appreciate their hard work and talents by saying it out loud, not only one-on-one but also in front of other employees. This can be during a weekly team meeting or casually during a Friday afternoon drink.

Tip 2: Do activities together

A team outing or a cozy after-work drink is the perfect way to strengthen team spirit and also build closer ties with one another. This can be very accessible, such as having lunch together daily or weekly or having drinks on Friday to close out the week. But for a special day like Employee Appreciation Day, go a little bigger and organize an activity such as an escape room, a boat tour or just a dinner at a restaurant. Teams work better together and experience a positive atmosphere in the workplace if they also have a good bond on a personal level. These bonds are formed and mainly maintained during activities outside of work.

Tip 3: Work-from-home day

Let your team decide for themselves whether they come to the office or work from home on Employee Appreciation Day. Keep in mind that if they work from home, they have more time for an extended breakfast or to sleep in a little longer. By leaving the choice to your team, you give them the freedom to decide for themselves what they need. Is working from home (partly) already the norm at your company? Then think of a small gift to make working from home even more enjoyable, such as a nice tea package or a charging station.

Tip 4: Send a gift

This tip may be obvious, but sending a gift is often associated with organizing, hundreds of sites and comparing gifts, finding addresses and other complicated hassle, which means it is often skipped. Yet receiving a gift can be one of the most powerful ways to show that you appreciate someone. With Cadeo, sending a gift is never complicated: you only need email addresses. Your team receives their Cadeo digitally, and they can choose for themselves what makes them happy. You can also personalize everything, from the branding to a personal (video) message and handwritten cards.

You can see Employee Appreciation Day as 'just another day', but it is more than that: it is an opportunity to really connect with your team and show that you value their efforts and unique contributions. With these four tips, you'll certainly make it an unforgettable day! Send something tasty or lovely to your team today.