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Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday of March. In 2026, it’s on...
Employee Appreciation Day is Friday, March 6th, 2026. If you’ve stayed up to date with the latest on reducing turnover while increasing engagement and retention, consider this a major holiday.
So what’s the catch? The catch is that inviting employees to eat a slice of sheet cake once a year does nothing, and that’s if you’re lucky. At worst, it feels like an empty gesture, and that this substandard pastry is all their presence is worth to the company.
We’re not suggesting that you toss out the cake altogether. But today, we’re going to take a look at different options, activities, and tips for making Employee Appreciation Day a bit more memorable and personal. At the same time, they remain affordable and scalable, naturally fitting a culture where everyone feels valued.
What’s inside:
Why you need to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day in 2026
How much should you spend on Employee Appreciation Day?
10 Inexpensive Employee Appreciation Day gift ideas
5 Cool Employee Appreciation Day activities for remote and hybrid teams
Writing meaningful messages of gratitude for Employee Appreciation Day
How to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day with HeyTaco
Join thousands of global teams in mastering everyday appreciation!
Employee Appreciation Day 2026 FAQ
Why you need to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day in 2026
We’re all about daily recognition and small wins over here. Intermittent recognition does not work, no matter how splashy it is. It feels even worse when you’re one of the 74% of employees who don’t strongly agree that recognition is equitable or fair in their workplace. You’re only being celebrated on Employee Appreciation Day because the company is obligated to include you.
So, if recognition hasn’t been very successful at your organization so far, use this Employee Appreciation Day as a jumping-off point, not a one-off. Recognition is the core component of improving employee engagement. Celebrate the day in a way that makes sense for the budget and current culture, but begin implementing more strategies for making everyone feel appreciated at least once a week.
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🤝Take advantage of this day and launch new team ritual ideas. Employee Appreciation Day 2026 is a perfect opportunity to turn the cultural tide. Rolling out reams of recognition can seem suspicious and inauthentic when it’s out of the blue. This March 6th, when employees get into the mood for gratitude or enjoy fun activities, no one will blink twice if you say, “You know what? We’re keeping this.” |
If recognition is moderately to smashingly successful in your workplace already, consider this a culmination of those efforts. On this day, whip out some of your culture’s most meaningful collaborative rewards, or pick a new gift or activity from our lists here.
How much should you spend on Employee Appreciation Day?
The consensus that overall recognition should be budgeted at 1-2% of total payroll remains. If this figure aligns with your company’s yearlong efforts, allocating a portion (no more than 15%) of that to Employee Appreciation Day is straightforward enough.
That’s the traditional way to figure out what to spend. Some surveys find companies end up spending $10/employee on Appreciation Day. Others exceed $100. Truthfully, these amounts don’t mean much.
After all, $10 can buy a fancy cup of coffee accompanied by the nicest thank-you card that the employee has ever received. They didn’t know you noticed how much extra effort they put in last quarter. It means a lot. Compare that to a $100 branded windbreaker in their least favorite color.
On the other hand, $10 buys some snacks that don’t really foster feelings of gratitude. If it’s been a challenging time, a bag of chips and some trail mix even feel insulting. A $100 gift card to the grocery store would help immensely, though.
You see where we’re going with this. Meaning, not money, brings the benefits of appreciation. Save money and increase the impact of a thank-you with:
- Personalized gestures and messages that speak directly to the recipient.
- Low-cost, low-pressure events where teams have fun together.
- Non-monetary rewards, such as scheduling flexibility.
- A double-dose of digital recognition that feels like a level up from their everyday recognition practices.
10 Inexpensive Employee Appreciation Day gift ideas
Looking to pair a thoughtful gift with a meaningful message? These small tokens of gratitude easily clock in below $50 per employee–much lower, if you shop around or take advantage of corporate and bulk discounts.
1. Food truck lunch.
Tacos, anyone? Bring a food truck to your office, and the average cost per person is around $20.
2. Stationery, journals, or planners.
Paper products are so back. Many paper companies will personalize or monogram journals and planners at a great price. Most come in under $30 apiece for a quality product.
(Psst! Toss in some of these pens for extra brownie points.)
3. Fidget toys and desk puzzles.
Stress busters, puzzles, and other tchotchkes are a good idea for teams who are masters of brainstorming and deep focus sessions.
4. Local gift certificates.
A local bakery, brewery, spa, grocery store, or restaurant may offer a bulk discount on gift certs. Shopping local is good for the community while still allowing employees choice.
5. Media subscriptions.
If your objective is to avoid wasting a single penny, gift cards for Steam, Spotify, Netflix, and other services rarely go unused.
6. A new feature for the wellness program.
Speaking of subscriptions, spring for mindfulness app memberships and make March the month everyone has time and space to practice stress management.
7. Personalized mugs or water bottles.
Companies with hybrid and remote teams love shipping out the latest water bottle or novelty mug–see how many you can spot on desks during the next Zoom meeting.
8. Equipment upgrades.
Software updates, new tools, office accessories, and other resources are welcome on teams who are already doing their best with what they’ve been given.
9. A tray of treats.
Hey, some teams just want to be left alone with a box of donuts. At least spring for some nice, artisanal ones. We can work on culture-building that’s more than just a sugar rush by Employee Appreciation Day 2027.
10. Flexibility.
A compressed workweek, more work from home opportunities, or starting late on the morning of Employee Appreciation Day. If you were hoping to find the ultimate gift that every employee actually wants, this is it.
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🎁 Presentation, timing, and equity matter. Read more about cost-effective appreciation gifts and discover how a little money becomes a lot of meaning. |
5 Cool Employee Appreciation Day activities for remote and hybrid teams
A kind message and a shipment of cookies are great. But what remote employees really need for engagement is a stronger connection to their teams. Bond over something fun for Employee Appreciation Day.
1. A mystery box challenge.
Livestreamed crafting sessions are a great activity for teams who share an interest in specific hobbies. A mystery box is accessible to all.
Send out a collection of regular, random items (a bag of balloons, three paper clips, a paper towel roll, etc.). Have everyone present what they were able to create from it. It’s silly, but a fun option for teams who need to flex their creativity and ability to innovate.
Pro tip: Do not present this collection of random items as an appreciation gift. Send it separately and let employees know it’s for an activity break you’re having.
2. Meme and GIF show-offs.
Memes and GIFs are funny because they’re relatable; it’s why we share them. Have employees make memes or share their curated collections in a series of categories:
- WFH Struggles: Pajamas from the waist down, an unexpected Zoom appearance from someone’s toddler, and more giggles that can only be had by remote workers.
- GIF Reaction Challenge: Have everyone respond to specific work scenarios with the most fitting GIF.
- Office Throwbacks: Remember when we had to commute? Share memes and GIFs that remind us of our former physical working conditions.
3. The Pet Parade.
Brenda has an iguana. Huh. Let virtual employees bring their pets online for Employee Appreciation Day. Have them share their most impressive tricks, cute costumes, or gripping backstories.
And don’t forget to have management participate. Every employee feels more connected to a leader once they hear the voice they use to talk to their dog.
4. Virtual Office Olympics.
The challenges you add to your Olympic lineup can vary across industry and skillsets. These are also decent activity ideas for afternoons that are light on work or during virtual team-building sessions.
- Typing Speed Challenge: Let’s brush up on the basics. Who is the fastest typist? The most accurate?
- Online Pictionary: Use tools like Skribbl.io to put artistic skills to the test.
- Fastest Email Response: Email a riddle or hypothetical scenario and declare a winner for the most timely, well-crafted response.
5. Random acts of kindness challenge.
Share your appreciation and then build on it by having employees spread the wealth all day long. Give them 15 minutes to share what they appreciate about their colleagues in the team chat, at will or in a structured compliment chain.
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💻Oh, but there’s more. Don’t sleep on engaging with remote teams in new ways. Get 10 additional virtual Employee Appreciation Day activities for all occasions. |
Writing meaningful messages of gratitude for Employee Appreciation Day
No matter what you decide to do for this work holiday, you have to express real appreciation. Don’t let any gesture go unaccompanied by a sincere sentiment of gratitude. Here are a few tips for that:
1. Don’t be vague or generic.
Mention a project they were especially successful with, or a quality that makes them a great addition to the team.
2. Deliver it on time.
Have messages ready to go the morning of Employee Appreciation Day. Doing it ahead of time demonstrates care. It also gives you time to choose your words and edit.
3. Describe their impact.
Share data where possible. An increase in customer satisfaction, productivity, accuracy, or anything else that proves their skill matters.
4. Keep it up.
Even if you wrote a whole sonnet about how great they are, saying it once a year isn’t enough. Short, sincere, frequent recognition is far more valuable than making it an occasion.
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📝Need an example? We have tips and sample Employee Appreciation Day messages that meet the mark. |
How to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day with HeyTaco
Knowing how to write a meaningful thank-you message is a great start. You also have to consider how to deliver it. Email, handwritten, or in a team chat.
Scores of hybrid teams all over the world deliver gratitude every single day using HeyTaco. If you’re already one of us, or thinking about starting on Employee Appreciation Day 2026, here’s how to ramp up appreciation activity into a full-scale celebration on the big day.
🌮 Taco Power Day
Timely top-down messages of recognition are important. But with HeyTaco, appreciation can be an all-day event that everyone participates in. Peer recognition is powerful even on Employee Appreciation Day, as individuals get compliments from coworkers that make the event feel even more authentic and honest. Here’s how to set it up:
- Increase taco limits. We typically get a handful daily, but consider a temporary boost for more activity.
- Get everyone on board. Share hints and tips for writing thoughtful messages of gratitude.
- Add a little gamification. If your teams are already checking the leaderboards, add an element of challenge. Remember that taco givers are just as commendable as recipients, if not more.
- Remember to keep it up all day. The beauty of Taco Power Day is that it won’t disrupt the busier parts of someone’s workday. Let them participate when it’s convenient for them.
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💥Turboboost! We have a few more ideas for spicing up Taco Power Day. Check out our guide to using HeyTaco for Employee Appreciation Day, including how to pair it with other gestures of appreciation. |
Join thousands of global teams in mastering everyday appreciation!
Now you’ve got 2026 handled. Make Employee Appreciation Day 2027 the culmination of a whole year’s worth of gratitude. It’s easy when appreciation becomes a habit.
Try HeyTaco for free. Roll it out in anticipation of Employee Appreciation Day, or on March 6th. Watch as fun, informal recognition that seamlessly integrates with the team’s existing tools boosts morale and workplace positivity.
“I appreciate how easy it is to share appreciation with teammates on Slack. It's as simple as sending an emoji, but it adds a thoughtful, personal touch to recognize someone's effort. This simplicity encourages frequent, genuine expressions of gratitude, which have positively impacted team morale.”
- Nick Z., Email Marketing Manager
Employee Appreciation Day 2026 FAQ
Is Employee Appreciation Day the same every year?
Employee Appreciation Day is always the first Friday in March. So, it occurs on the same day every year, but not on the same date. This year, Employee Appreciation Day is on March 6th, 2026.
What to give employees for Employee Appreciation Day?
Sincere, personalized messages of gratitude, flexibility, celebrations, and small gifts are all great ideas for Employee Appreciation Day. You can mix and match a few options to best fit your culture.
For example, a card thanking an employee for a specific contribution can be paired with the afternoon off. Or, you can hand out company swag during a pizza party.
How much should you spend on employee gifts?
You don’t have to spend money, but organizations that do typically spend between $10 and $100 per employee on team gifts. No matter your budget, make sure Employee Appreciation Day gifts are equally distributed across all employees and align with the company culture.
What gifts do employees really want?
Flexibility is at the top of most employees’ wish lists. The day or afternoon off, compressed workweeks, remote opportunities, and other perks are always appreciated.
What to say on Employee Appreciation Day 2026?
On Employee Appreciation Day, share your gratitude for everyone’s loyalty and hard work. Highlight the value it has added to the company in detail, if possible. It’s also best to wish employees a happy Appreciation Day early in the day.
