Employee Appreciation Day: 9 Ways to Celebrate Your Public Sector People

Employee Appreciation Day is on 7th March, and chances are you're wondering how to celebrate it. But while marking the day is a nice touch, showing appreciation shouldn't be a once-a-year thing.  

That's because recognition doesn't just make your people feel valued. 78% of employees said they'd be more productive if they were recognised frequently – and productive people tends to mean better results for your business.  

To make it easy, we've pulled together 9 simple but effective ideas to recognise and reward your workforce – not just on Employee Appreciation Day, but all year round.  

Rewarding teams  

Recognising your team as a whole can help boost morale, strengthen connections and build a culture of people who genuinely enjoy working together.  

When teams feel appreciated, working relationships blossom and everyone is more motivated to bring their best.  

So, if you're looking for ways to celebrate your team and show them how much their hard work matters, here are some ideas to get you started! 

Idea #1: Encourage peer-to-peer praise  

Did you know that peer-to-peer recognition can be just as powerful as a bonus or shoutout from management? When appreciation comes from colleagues – the people who see day-to-day effort firsthand – it feels much more genuine. It's also a huge confidence boost that can have a real impact on motivation and productivity.   

Many organisations use software to engrain peer-to-peer acknowledgment into their culture. The right platform helps employees celebrate each other in a meaningful way while reinforcing the values that make your company unique.  

With Vivup highfive, our very own digital recognition and reward solution, your people can send personalised acknowledgements linked to your company’s core values – making recognition easy and encouraging the behaviours that reflect your company's identity.  

Idea #2: Make time for teambuilding  

Group games and activities aren't just a fun way to break up the workday. By stepping away from the usual tasks, your team gets a chance to bond, collaborate and reenergise – which can have a big impact on productivity and morale.  

Plus, they can also help people problem solve together – a skill that naturally carries over into day-to-day roles and working relationships.  

Every now and then, set aside some time for teambuilding fun. Whether that's a quick activity, a figure-it-out challenge, or something more creative. For new employees, this can be game-changing in making them feel welcome and part of the crew.  

Idea #3: Go public  

Public recognition can be a huge motivator. A simple shoutout in a team meeting, on your company social media, or in an internal newsletter can go a long way in making employees feel truly seen and heard.  

And when leaders set the tone by recognising their teams openly, it can become contagious. The more people who celebrate each other’s wins, the stronger and more connected your workplace culture becomes. So don't hold back – spread that public appreciation and watch it come full circle.  

Rewarding remote workers  

It's not always easy to show appreciation when your team is not physically together. But just because you can't thank your remote workers in person doesn't mean you can't find meaningful ways to let them know how much you value them.  

Even from a distance, there are plenty of creative ways to make your remote workers feel appreciated and connected to the team. We've come up with a few ideas to help you do just that! 

Idea #4: Create a digital hall of fame  

You've probably seen the classic Employee of the Week photo boards hanging up in receptions – the ones that showcase team achievements and celebrate standout moments.  

But what if we brought that same idea to the digital age? 

instead of being stuck on a wall where only a few can see it, a digital Hall of Fame lives on a platform like your intranet. We've already mentioned Vivup highfive and how it makes peer-to-peer recognition effortless, but did you know it also has a dashboard of all the recognitions sent across your organisation? This serves as a great Hall of Fame snapshot – without taking up any wall space! 

Idea #5: Treat your remote team to a meal  

Team lunches or dinners are a classic way to celebrate wins, bring people together and enjoy some good conversation. But with more people working remotely, they're not always easy to organise 

Luckily, food delivery apps can help keep the tradition alive. Why not set up a virtual team lunch where everyone orders their favourite meal and jumps on Teams together? Or for a more flexible option, send your people a food delivery voucher as a little treat.  

Or a cuppa…  

When working from home employees miss out on little perks like free hot drinks that are usually part of the workplace culture. Vivup highfive can help bridge this gap by allowing you to reward your remote workers with gift cards for popular high street retailers including cafes and coffee shops. That way, they can step out during the day and treat themselves to a hot drink on you.  

Idea #6: Keep them in mind though they’re out of sight  

It can be tricky to keep track of key dates like work anniversaries and birthdays when your team is remote or on different shift patterns.  

That's why more and more organisations are turning to recognition and reward apps. These platforms make sure the most important dates never get missed. You can even attach a gift voucher (digital rewards) as an extra token of appreciation. Some platforms (ahem, like highfive) even allow this to be automated!  

It might seem small, but taking the time to remember and celebrate these milestones makes employees feel personally valued – and goes a long way in shaping the overall employee experience.   

Rewarding good work  

Want to recognise your high achievers but not sure where to begin? Our suggestions should give you some inspiration!  

Idea #7: Award all types of excellence  

Hosting an awards ceremony once or twice a year is great for giving your team’s morale a boost. It’s the perfect chance to celebrate their hard work and achievements in a fun, engaging way.  

Encourage your teams to nominate each other across a variety of categories, from the prestigious Employee of the Year award to more unique ones like Best Listener.  

By keeping your awards diverse, you’ll ensure that everyone's contributions get the recognition they deserve – highlighting both professional accomplishments and the skills that make your team special. It's all about celebrating the full spectrum of talent! 

Idea #8: Unlock potential through mentorship 

It's very likely that you've got a team full of talented, ambitious people who want to develop their skills and grow in their roles. Many of them have probably got their sights set on leadership – and a mentoring scheme is a great way to support that journey.  

By pairing junior employees with more experienced team members, you can give them the opportunity to learn new skills, gain valuable insights and get first-hand guidance that can help shape their careers.  

How much time you dedicate to mentoring is up to you, but it should be enough to make the experience worthwhile.  

If you want to take things a step further, consider letting employees spend time in different departments. This helps them build cross-functional skills and understand the wider business, making them even more valuable to your organisation.  

Idea #9: Let your staff shape decisions  

Now, you probably don't want your most junior team members making business-critical decisions. But at the same time, there are plenty of areas where their input can be incredibly valuable.  

Think of it this way: as a senior leader, you don't have the same day-to-day experience as a junior employee. So, what better way to truly understand their perspective (and make informed decisions that actually improve their experience) than to give them a voice? 

And this isn't just about junior employees. People at all levels across all areas of the business bring unique insights that can help shape better policies and create a more inclusive workplace.  

The ROI of recognition  

According to research, employee appreciation and recognition: 

• Helps reduce turnover: 69% of employees say recognition and rewards would keep them in their current job 

• Boosts performance: 81% of employees would work harder if they felt more appreciated 

• Inspires positive behaviours: 92% of workers are more likely to repeat an action they’ve been recognised for  

• Fuels business success: Improving recognition by 15% can increase a company’s margins by 2% 

• Creates a higher quality of work: 37% of employees consider recognition to be the primary motivation for great work 

Recognise and reward with Perkbox | Vivup   

We hope you're feeling all set for Employee Appreciation Day – and even more inspired to make every day a chance to celebrate your team. 

If you're looking for more ways to enhance your company culture and boost the employee experience, we're here to help. From our Vivup highfive recognition and reward platform designed to make appreciation part of your everyday culture, to a range of solutions that support and engage your people, we've got you covered.  

Get in touch to find out how we can help you create a workplace where employees feel valued, motivated and ready to do their best work.