Friday, March 6th is unlike any other day of the year for business owners in 2015-Employee Appreciation Day! Why is it so special you ask? Think of it like this – Employee Appreciation Day is like the professional equivalent to Valentine’s Day for those in relationships. While it’s always important to make your employees feel genuinely valued and celebrated year-round, this is a special day to go the extra mile.

How should you go about doing so? Here are some fun ideas to get you started:

  • Make it personal: A simple handwritten note to each of your employees that acknowledges their accomplishments and contributions to the company is a great place to start. While sending an email may be faster and easier to do (especially when you have a larger team), it’s much more personal to drop a card off at their desk – it shows you took the time to do something for each individual person.
  • Treat them to lunch: Nothing will brighten up your employees’ day like treating them to lunch “on the house”. Whether you bring catering into the office or you take the team to a local restaurant, rewarding them with something tasty while you enjoy each other’s company is a win for everyone.
  • Consider tiny treats and sweets: Similar to Valentine’s Day, treat your employees’ sweet tooth to some chocolates! Leave a small box on their desk before they arrive to start their day off with a surprise. If candy isn’t their thing, you could always try a small gift such as a fun coffee mug or customized business card holder.
  • Change up the dress code: Depending on what your employees’ day looks like (i.e. if they will be seeing clients or not), give them a chance to leave the suits and heels at home with a dress-down day. Being comfy and casual in the office is the definition of a reward and something they’d be sure to love.
  • Give them some time back: Everyone could use an extra hour of sleep in the morning or more time with their family at night. To thank them for their service, treat your employees to a late start or an early release on Friday. It’s sure to start their weekend on the right foot!

No matter how you chose to spend the day, just be sure you are communicating to your employees how much you value their dedication to the brokerage on a daily basis. Do you have successful employee celebration stories to share?

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Image via Thinkstock.