Spring has sprung and so has appreciation event season! Not that you need another excuse to love on your team, but we think you should add these must-celebrate events to your calendar. Why? Because appreciation goes a long way in making your employees feel valued and shaping your company culture. How?
- Builds a culture of fun and positivity.
- Improves employee satisfaction with your company.
- Boosts employee performance, which in turn boosts your profits.
- Attracts new employees.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate these 20 springtime events!
March 30: National Doctors Day. They’re the heroes of healed patients everywhere and deserve all the appreciation on their special day. Patients, staff, and colleagues alike can make this a day to remember with appreciation gifts, notes, office activities, and more!
April 1: April Fool’s Day. This year, April Fool’s Day is on a Sunday, which means your employees or coworkers likely won’t expect it. Choose the Friday before or the Monday after to have some mild fun . . . or go all out with these best Jim Halpert office pranks—just keep in mind these April Fool’s Day dos and don’ts if you’d like to stay on your HR’s good side!
April 4: National School Librarian Day. Any readers out there? (Yeah, me too.) Librarians are another one of those under-the-radar people whom you should be celebrating, but aren’t. So, on their day, recognize their everyday awesome!
April 15–21: National Volunteer Week. Celebrating the dedication and sacrifice of your volunteers is a must. They play a special role in your organization and deserve extra thanks this week with events, gifts, notes, and more. Have a limited budget? No problem! Check out these low-cost and no-cost ideas.
April 17: Tax Day. Your tax preparers and CPAs have been working hard for you from sunrise to sundown since January. Treat them to a little extra appreciation today as a “thank you” for their hard work all tax season long!
April 19: National High Five Day. Recognition that’s easy, quick, and cheap? We’ll high five to that! Reach out with a simple gesture of gratitude to lift the spirits of any colleague.
April 22: National Jelly Bean Day. Here at Baudville, we’re hooked on jelly beans! You can tell by our new Fresh Kudos Candy Carrot (swoon!) and our mason jar and sweet treat jelly bean edible gifts. They’re the perfect size for celebrating this fruity day with all your employees.
April 25: Administrative Professionals Day. We talked all about how awesome these rockstars are in our Reasons Why We Love Admins post. Need we say more? Check out our administrative gifts just for them.
April 26: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. This was one of my favorite days of the year growing up. I loved going into work with my Dad and felt so proud seeing what he did all day every day to bring home the bacon.
April 30: National Hairstylist Day. These talented pros not only make you look good, they make you feel good. Send appreciation via social media by sharing a pic of your ‘do, along with a short message. Be sure to tag them and use the hashtag #HairstylistAppreciationDay. Referrals are the crux of their business, and they’ll “aww” at your gesture.
May 1: School Principals’ Day. Principals deal with the same joys and struggles that teachers do when it comes to investing in students’ lives and futures. For leading the way in education, for the difficult decisions they face, and for the unmeasurable difference they make in the lives of so many, send them appreciation today!
May 5: Cinco de Mayo. Ok, so while this might not look like an appreciation event, it can be! Plus, it’s one holiday we hate to miss. Whether you celebrate with a Cinco de Mayo potluck or take your team out at 3pm to enjoy happy hour, you should 100% organize a little fun to say “thanks” on this ultra-festive day.
May 6: National Nurses Day. Kick off National Nurses Week with a bang! May 6 is the day of all days for making your nurses feel extra special. Lavish praise on them with awesome gifts, heartfelt thanks, and definitely some break time snacks.
May 6–12: National Nurses Week. Celebrate your superheroes in scrubs by planning fun all week long! Decorate your break room, hallways, and bulletin boards; organize an activity for each day; give away prizes; and more!
May 7–11: Teacher Appreciation Week. I’m sure we don’t have to tell you why you should celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. But what you do need are some appreciation ideas to make this week a home run.
May 8: National Teacher Day. Fill social media with love for teachers on May 8 by sharing a picture of yourself with a favorite teacher (past or present) or a picture of your child with his/her favorite teacher and a note of thanks with the hashtag #ThankATeacher.
May 13: Mother’s Day. Celebrate all the work moms in your workplace! We know everyone has them, and they deserve a little appreciation of their own for supporting us, helping us, and being a listening ear in all the joys and struggles of the 9–5 grind.
May 19: Armed Forces Day. Pay tribute to the countless men and women who currently serve (or have served in the past) in the United States’ armed forces. Whether you pass someone in uniform walking down the street or know someone personally who’s served, reach out to say thanks today. Your words of gratitude mean more than you know.
May 20–26: EMS Week. This is the fourth healthcare-related appreciation event on our list! Which just goes to show how impactful healthcare workers are, including Emergency Medical Staff. As first responders, they’ve see it all, and they deserve to be celebrated with a company cookout or catered lunch complete with awards and/or gifts.
May 21: National Waitstaff Day. The restaurant industry can be tough. Dealing with unhappy customers, resolving employee or customer conflicts, and balancing a busy schedule can all take a toll on your waitstaff. Bring in some sunshine and boost their morale today with some recognition and appreciation, whether through a team appreciation event, gift, or note.
To Sum It Up…
We have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for this spring, and we hope this guide helps you in recognizing those around you! But remember: don’t overthink it. Make it great with your own personal touches and know that even the smallest gestures make the biggest impact.
Also, be sure to get a head start on summer with our Summer Employee Engagement Guide!
