Throwing an employee appreciation party is a meaningful and fun way to recognize your team’s hard work and dedication.

However, planning an inclusive, engaging, and budget-friendly event that shows genuine gratitude is quite challenging.

Lucky for you, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to planning the best celebration.

From creative party ideas to thoughtful details, we’ll help you organize an event that boosts morale, strengthens bonds, and makes your team feel genuinely valued.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Why Employee Appreciation Matters

How To Plan the Perfect Employee Appreciation Day Party?

Corporate Swag: Adding a Personalized Touch

Employee Appreciation Party Ideas

Team-Building Activities and Entertainment

Why Employee Appreciation Matters

Showing genuine appreciation for your employees’ contributions is a heartfelt gesture that can yield incredible results.

Here’s what makes this initiative so noteworthy:

• Boosts employee morale by making them feel seen, included, and valued.

• Builds strong bonds by showing team members you support them every step of the way and are committed to their professional development.

• Increases employee engagement because workers who feel genuinely appreciated are motivated to go above and beyond for the company.

• Creates a positive work environment based on mutual respect, support, and recognition that encourages team bonding and personal growth.

• Reduces employee turnover by creating a happy workplace that workers don’t want to leave and building brand loyalty.

Now, let’s see how you can organize the perfect party for your staff.

How To Plan the Perfect Employee Appreciation Day Party

Employee Appreciation Day is a workday dedicated to employee recognition, typically celebrated on the first Friday of March.

While this day is not a national public holiday like Labour Day, it offers the perfect opportunity to throw a staff appreciation party.

Follow these steps to plan an event that will wow your team.

Set goals for the event

Decide what you want to achieve before you start planning. 

Do you want to celebrate milestones, improve teamwork, or simply show appreciation for your staff’s hard work? 

Clear goals help you determine the event’s focus.

Choose a theme 

Pick a theme that resonates with your staff to generate buzz around the celebration.

Scavenger hunts, talent shows, and escape rooms are popular office party themes.

Select a venue

When selecting the venue, take into account your team’s size.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly venue for a handful of people, the office break room might do the trick.

However, for larger teams, you could consider a local park or a trendy event space.

Either way, don’t forget the food and beverages as they are the key to creating a welcoming, celebratory atmosphere.

Decide the date and time

You don’t have to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day on the first Friday of March, but we recommend sticking to a Friday during work hours.

If you throw a party on a workday, most of your team members will attend and be excited to do so.

Moreover, you won’t disrupt your staff’s downtime, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Coming up next, we’ll show you how one-of-a-kind swag can enhance your event.

Corporate Swag: Adding a Personalized Touch

Employee appreciation gifts generate excitement around your event and encourage participation.

Moreover, a personalized gift offers team members a tangible reminder of your gratitude and thoughtfulness.

Whether offering corporate swag as prizes or company-wide giveaways, make the gesture more meaningful by holding a public recognition speech.

Check out some of our fabulous employee gifts.

1. MiiR Vacuum Insulated Camp Cup

Custom mugs are timeless appreciation gifts that in-person and remote employees will use daily.

Add a modern twist to your corporate gift with the MiiR vacuum-insulated cup, which keeps coffee and tea hot for hours.

Why we recommend it: You can personalize this mug with a motivational quote to boost morale and productivity.

2. Home Studio Set

The Home Studio set can inspire team members to practice yoga, promoting physical and mental health.

This healthcare promotional gift set includes a yoga mat and block, a fitness towel, and a stylish bag.

Why we recommend it: According to the American Osteopathic Association, yoga can reduce stress, sharpen concentration, and increase flexibility and muscle strength.

3. Slowtide Brushed Cotton Throw Blanket

The Slowtide blanket is made from 100% sustainably sourced cotton, making it an eco-friendly promotional product.

The extra soft, faux-cashmere feel of this custom blanket brings instant comfort and coziness to the recipient’s favorite relaxation spot.

Why we recommend it: Slowtide is committed to manufacturing high-quality products using natural fibers and recycled synthetics, promoting a sustainable company culture.

4. Moleskine Large Notebook and Kaweco Pen Gift Set

Show team members that you only want the best for them by opting for the Moleskine deluxe notebook.

This luxury promotional product is accompanied by a top-of-the-line pen made by the renowned German manufacturer Kaweco.

Why we recommend it: The high-quality branded notebook and custom pen will elevate your employee’s everyday writing experience.

5. iLive Portable Cordless Massage Gun

Incorporate the iLive massage gun into your employee rewards and recognition program to demonstrate how much you care about your staff’s well-being.

The massage gun has four interchangeable heads targeting different muscle groups for maximum relaxation.

Why we recommend it: Massage therapy can reduce stress, anxiety, muscle tension, low-back pain, and neck pain.

6. Weekender Deluxe Duffel Bag

A deluxe duffel bag is the perfect work anniversary gift as it can push senior employees to go on a well-deserved weekend getaway.

The Weekender bag features a spacious main compartment and multiple side pockets to fit all the recipient’s belongings.

Why we recommend it: This travel promotional item can also enhance job satisfaction for team members who frequently go on business trips.

7. All Wrapped Up Gift Set

The All Wrapped Up gift set is the ultimate remote work kit.

The cozy blanket will keep remote employees warm on chilly days, while the delicious cookies paired with a hot beverage will brighten their workday. 

Why we recommend it: Your staff can also use these promotional products to unwind outside business hours, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

8. Executive Wine Collectors Set

Raise a glass of wine in honor of your incredible leadership team with this sophisticated corporate gift. 

The exquisite cherry-polished wooden case contains nine essential tools that every wine connoisseur must have.

Why we recommend it: If you want to create a memorable experience, invite the leadership team to happy hour, but surprise them with a refined wine tasting instead.

9. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug

Wow staff members with a custom mug that keeps beverages at your desired drinking temperature all day.

Workers will set their preferred temperature using the Ember app, then wait for the smart LED to light up.

Why we recommend it: This tech swag item shows recipients you recognize all their hard work and want to brighten their workdays.

10. Parkview Insulated Coffee-to-Go Carry Tote

With nearly three in four Americans drinking coffee daily, you can rarely go wrong with a coffee-themed gift.

The Parkview gift set includes a stainless steel thermos with two mugs and spoons that fit perfectly into the modern, sustainable cooler.

Why we recommend it: This promotional gift can motivate workers to go on picnics or hikes and embrace the great outdoors while enjoying a cup of hot coffee.

How Swag-on-Demand Shops help

Planning an unforgettable employee appreciation party is already challenging, so you shouldn’t have to worry about finding the perfect corporate gifts as well.

That’s why we’ve come up with a hassle-free solution for you: swag-on-demand shops.

We’ll help you create a virtual gift shop that allows employees to pick the company swag they like best and even personalize it with their name.

Hence, you’ll create a more memorable gift experience and increase employee satisfaction.

Once all workers have redeemed their gifts, we’ll print, package, and deliver the promotional products to their doorstep.

Yes, it’s that easy! ?

Now, check out some highly engaging party ideas.

Employee Appreciation Party Ideas

There are plenty of fun ways to celebrate your team, and you can always come up with new ideas based on your employees’ preferences.

For now, get inspired by some of our favorite office party ideas.

1. Awards ceremony

Roll out the red carpet for your employees and host a glamorous awards ceremony to recognize their outstanding performance.

Create custom awards, like “Team Player of the Year” or “Innovation Champion,” and offer winners one-of-a-kind corporate gifts.

You should also pick a fabulous theme, like The Great Gatsby, to encourage workers to dress up and take photos for an unforgettable experience.

2. Create a wellness retreat

Treat your staff to a day of relaxation and renewal that promotes physical and mental health by setting up an office wellness retreat.

Organize yoga and meditation sessions, a Zumba class, or spa treatments.

Don’t forget to bring healthy snacks and offer employee wellness gifts.

A corporate wellness event shows your staff you care about their well-being, reinforcing your bond.

3. Game day

Gamification in the workplace promotes friendly competition and increases employee engagement.

If it’s warm outside, you can organize a fun outdoor sports day and reward winners with promotional fitness products.

On the other hand, if the weather is bad, you can always play trivia or board games in the office.

Just remember to stock up on promotional candy and snacks.

4. Employee recognition breakfast

It’s safe to say that nobody enjoys coming in to work early in the morning, especially on Mondays.

However, a recognition breakfast can boost employee morale and help the entire team start the workday energized.

Set up a rich buffet in the break room with all the ingredients for a healthy breakfast bowl, as well as mouth-watering pastries and high-quality coffee.

Break the ice with a heartfelt employee appreciation quote, then spark casual conversations to encourage team members to mingle.

5. Holiday party

Even if the budget is tight and you can’t afford to reward employees too often, you should at least host a festive holiday party.

Generate buzz around the event by announcing an ugly sweater or gingerbread contest. And don’t forget the cool Christmas gifts.

Get your staff into the holiday spirit by creating a playlist that everyone will dance to and decorating the office with a Christmas tree and colorful lights.

A word of advice: Don’t forget to celebrate your remote employees by transforming these office party ideas into virtual or hybrid events. 

After all, remote teams often feel disconnected and unappreciated, which reduces productivity, engagement, and employee retention.

Next, we’ll explore some fun activities you can incorporate into your celebrations.

Team-Building Activities and Entertainment

Adding team-building activities and entertainment to your employee appreciation party transforms it into a memorable, uplifting experience.

Team-building activities

Team-building activities cultivate team spirit and strengthen relationships among coworkers.

For example, you can host an escape room challenge where employees work together to “escape” in record time, building camaraderie. 

Alternatively, you can opt for a mystery-solving activity, where team members collaborate to solve clues, promoting effective communication.

Entertainment

Entertainment adds an element of fun, making the event feel like a true celebration, not just another work obligation.

Hire a comedian or a magician, or bring in a live band to make employees laugh and dance.

These interactive activities create shared memories, boosting morale and making team members feel truly appreciated.

Now, over to you!

Over to You!

You can throw an outstanding employee appreciation party with proper planning, creative ideas, and thoughtful touches.

This meaningful gesture can lift your team’s spirits, strengthen relationships, and create a thriving work environment, making it a worthwhile venture.

So, roll up your sleeves and start planning your next celebration.

Browse our SwagDrop Shop for more one-of-a-kind employee reward ideas.