Culture of Gratitude

 

Hopefully you have already downloaded our free Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar for 2023 so these celebrations may already be on your radar. If not, download it today and let’s get started!

Don’t forget St. Patrick’s Day on March 17! It’s always a fun occasion to wear green and have a little office fun. But the MOST important day of the month is …… March 20!

 

March 20 is the International Day of Happiness

This year’s theme is Mindful • Grateful • Kind. Don’t you love the simplicity? Be sure to check out the resources on the Action for Happiness website and use the #InternationalDayOfHappiness hashtag!

From the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy:

“Often worldly stressors are not necessarily within our control, and although we cannot change those outside forces, we can counter them with internal strategies. Of all the virtues that correlate with happiness (i.e. kindness, prudence, self-control), the strength that has the most notable impact is gratitude. This skill has been shown to improve happiness in multiple realms of life, offering emotional, social, personality, career, and physical and mental health benefits.”

 

Two of our favorite events are coming up and we want to help you celebrate: Employee Appreciation Day and Pi Day! You still have time to rev up the fun engine and plan ahead for these excellent opportunities to recognize employees.

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY (MARCH 3)

Let the tone of appreciation ring loud and clear! Celebrate with a team activity and message of gratitude, or use the occasion to kick off a new appreciation program.

Some activities can include:

• Tell your team about Action for Happiness’ “10 Days of Happiness,” a free, research-backed coaching program that “guides you through daily actions for happier living.”
• Facilitate an (optional) book club or group that gives employees 30 minutes a week to connect and talk about something that has nothing to do with work. The relationships they build will be a net plus for your company.
• Give your team gratitude journals. When you give out the journals, share research on their benefits and talk about your own experience. That’s more likely to inspire workers to try it themselves.
• Have a yoga instructor come in a few times a week to do short classes for employees who could use a break that’s both relaxing and revivifying.

PI DAY (MARCH 14)

When it comes to gratitude, we can keep it going forever! Serve up some delicious pie to celebrate the mysterious mathematical constant known as pi, or 3.14159….

Some activities can include:

• Host a breakfast with pie and coffee! Invite everyone to come indulge in a slice of pie and fresh coffee, allowing team members to mingle and chat.
• Ask for pie recipes ahead of time and distribute a digital or printed pie cookbook including employee names, photos and notes.
• Hand out pie gift certificates to all employees as a fun thank you to go pick up a pie to enjoy at home! We offer same day shipping for orders received by 3PM (CT), Mon-Fri. Our pie gift certificates are good for any brand of pie, cake, cheesecake or similar items — fresh from the bakery section or frozen. Redeem at virtually any U.S. grocery store chain. Your organization’s name will be printed on the gift certificates for free and Enclosure Cards with your custom message and logo (if desired) are FREE.

Ideas and Resources

2023 Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar

Inside this one-of-a-kind resource you’ll find the inspiration, creative ideas and current examples to help you keep employees feeling valued and important to the success of your organization in the year ahead. Why wait? Download Your Free eBook Now!

BIG List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas

This hefty gratitude resource offers ways to support and recognize the people who make your business work. It’s simple to download, share, print and use when you are planning ahead or need quick ideas.

The BIG List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas is broken down into helpful categories so it’s easy to find just the right gift or concept for whatever your objective or occasion may be:

• Support new ways of working
• Encourage employee wellbeing
• Reinforce teamwork and organizational values
• Celebrate holidays with flare
• Acknowledge milestone moments in work and life
• Recognize people anytime with simple gestures

We guarantee you can find something for everyone, regardless of their position and your budget. From free to extravagant, recipients will be wowed by your sincere acts of gratitude. Read to learn more here!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Pie photo by Jodie Morgan on Unsplash

 

January is full of forecasting, goal-setting, and looking forward to a successful new year. It’s also National Thank You month, which is why it’s the perfect time to plan ahead for acts of gratitude and appreciation.

Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! Check out these gratitude resources that will inspire and help you build and maintain a culture of appreciation and employee celebration ALL YEAR LONG!

We have a wide variety of FREE RESOURCES to help you
build your own employee engagement calendar.

 

2023 Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar

It is our tradition to publish a day-to-day appreciation calendar tailored to people who are committed to celebrating employees. This popular guide helps you plan for holidays as well as your own anytime celebrations; it offers tons of ideas to keep employee appreciation front-and-center all year long.

The 2023 Employee Appreciation Calendar is chock-full of awesome information: event ideas, topical articles, resources and much more!

This how-to guide walks you through planning for seasonal engagement and a wide variety of holidays, organized by month. You’ll also find important statistics, mini case studies, “anytime recognition” ideas, and tips for building a happier workplace through engagement and fun.

By planning ahead, you’ll lessen any stress and the recognition, enjoyment and positive responses will ensue.

Peruse this gorgeous resource and think about how you can implement ideas every month, every season. Employee appreciation best practices focus on frequent recognition and appreciation. Don’t wait for the holidays next year – your employees deserve so much more!

Download and share this free Calendar with colleagues, friends, and executive, social media and benefits teams and start planning 2023!

BIG List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas

This hefty gratitude resource offers ways to support and recognize the people who make your business work. It’s simple to download, share, print and use when you are planning ahead or need quick ideas.

The BIG List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas is broken down into helpful categories so it’s easy to find just the right gift or concept for whatever your objective or occasion may be:

• Support new ways of working
• Encourage employee wellbeing
• Reinforce teamwork and organizational values
• Celebrate holidays with flare
• Acknowledge milestone moments in work and life
• Recognize people anytime with simple gestures

We guarantee you can find something for everyone, regardless of their position and your budget. From free to extravagant, recipients will be wowed by your sincere acts of gratitude. Read to learn more here!

Download your free copy now and use it to inform your appreciation planning now and in the future!

 

 

Appreciation Planning Checklist

Don’t let the name fool you! Our Appreciation Planning Checklist is a helpful two-pager that serves as a terrific kick start to your employee appreciation and recognition conversations.

Here are some examples of when appreciation is key:

• Celebrating achievements
• Embracing seasonal activities
• Highlighting milestones
• Supporting core company values
• Encouraging smart behaviors

With this planning checklist you’ll be sure to both be inclusive and proactive! Download your free copy today.

Guide to Writing Meaningful Employee Thank You Notes

The foundation of having employees feel valued and appreciated is sincere gratitude. One of the easiest and most meaningful ways managers can share gratitude is with a heartfelt note of thanks. Thank you notes should be part of any employee appreciation plan. They are low cost, easy to do, and make both recipients and givers feel good.

A written thank you note that can make someone’s day can be as simple as “Thank You! You are Awesome” on a post-it note or “You are a Life Saver” on a roll of Life Savers.

At gThankYou, we are big believers in the power of a meaningful “thank you.” We believe leaders should be trained, held accountable for, and given resources to share thank you notes with employees, customers, and other vital constituents. Senior managers should model the behavior and peers encouraged to share their written gratitude through gratitude boards and appreciation stations.

Thank You Guides

We have two guides to writing thank you notes for workplace leaders. Be sure to download and share one or both with your appreciation planning team.

The first is our Writing Thank You Notes Employees Will Treasure.

This resource is your go-to for writing an employee thank you note.

Inside this book you will learn:

• The anatomy of a memorable thank you note
• What is the difference between recognition and appreciation and why that’s important
• Practical tips for writing great thank you notes
• How to build a culture of gratitude with written notes of appreciation.

Download and share your free copy today!

The second resource is our ever-popular, Put the Thanks in Thanksgiving; How to Write to Write a Thanksgiving Letter to Employees.

While we just closed out the holiday season, this book is really a year-round reference for how to write a company-wide employee letter of appreciation holiday-time or anytime, or a longer-form individual letter of thanks.

Inside this book you will learn:

• Real-life examples of well-written company-wide Thanksgiving letters from bosses in a variety of industries.
• Best practices for thanking employees and ideas for brainstorming your own unique approach.
• How-to details on crafting a meaningful and memorable employee letter of appreciation.
• Tips on how to share your Thanksgiving letter.

Download now and share with your team.

Plan Ahead with an Employee Engagement Calendar
and Everyone WINS!

Let gThankYou be your ally in winning the workplace appreciation game. An employee engagement calendar is a GREAT way to start! Plan ahead so you can focus on what’s really important, engaging with and personally appreciating employees. These gratitude resources will help you make employees feel valued, save time, lessen stress, build loyalty, and foster a culture of appreciation and gratitude.

We hope these resources bring creativity and inspiration to your employee engagement and appreciation planning this year and in the future.

We want to hear what ideas you implement! Shoot us a note any time to: info@gthankyou.com.

Good luck creating your own employee engagement calendar — your employees will thank you!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

 

Top Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Did You Know that January is National Thank You Month?

The holidays are an excellent time to give and receive, but January is the time to slow down and say THANK YOU! January is National Thank You Month and is the perfect time to invest in new activities to nurture gratitude and kindness in the coming year.

We’d like to revisit 5 ways to embrace gratitude in life and the workplace, setting the stage for a year full of thankful habits.

5 Ways to Embrace Workplace Gratitude Now

1. Make thank you note writing EASY and FUN for employees.

After the holidays, parents often sit their kids down to write thank you notes for gifts. However, we don’t often practice what we preach. January is a perfect time to think of the gifts not only received during the holiday season but in life overall. What are the intangible gifts that you receive from others that make life better? Take the time to ponder who deserves an extra thank you and write a special note to them.

In the workplace, share gThankYou’s how-to guide “Writing Thank You Notes Employees Will Treasure” to managers and provide supplies. Ask leadership to participate and make written appreciation part of your workplace culture.

Provide an “Appreciation Station” where all employees can grab thank you cards, colorful pens, markers, and stamps. Make it easily accessible and regularly encourage team members to write notes to each other, customers, business partners, or anyone else in their support system.

This small investment will instill a sense of gratitude that translates into feelings of goodwill and happiness in the workplace.

2. Practice gratitude journaling.

The act of written acknowledgement can be key in embracing gratitude. It puts words around feelings and can serve as a great reminder of all the positives in life, even when times are challenging.  There are volumes of research on the science of journaling. It can do wonders for our brain and how it impacts not just us, but also the people around us.

If you are a leader in your organization, we highly recommend starting a gratitude journal and giving them out as gifts to your team. It serves as a thoughtful, productive gift that may resonate deeply with others.

3. Embrace tech-based appreciation sharing.

We are huge fans of written thank you notes (see #1), but there are also many ways to infuse gratitude into other platforms. In honor of National Thank You Month, try something new. As you know, tech can take may forms, so what works for you? What would employees appreciate? Ask them!

• A group text sharing thanks can be a high point of someone’s day – it’s quick and easy!
• A shout out on an internal message board can make a team or individual feel like a VIP.
• A social media spotlight can express thanks to a wide audience with some imagery, a video or a link to a success story.
• A digital showering of “thank yous” when an employee is recognized by peers, customers or managers.

Organizations that have collaborative platforms, message boards, internal communications channels, and social media tools should embrace gratitude in tech-savvy ways.

4. Reach out and thank those who deserve extra appreciation this year.

Whether your team has worked extra hours, gone the extra mile, worked the front lines, or kept the company running from the back room, be sure to say thank you! We always think a Grocery Gift Certificate is appropriate – the gift of food is universal and always appreciated.

Looking for creative yet meaningful thank you gift ideas? Check out The Big List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas and be inspired!

5. Find a quote and make it visible.

Read it, say it, live it. Find a quote about gratitude that speaks to you and put it somewhere in your line of sight. It can be a sticky note, a screen saver, a note pinned to the wall. Let this visual item be a constant reminder that you are grateful. Encourage others to do the same, and watch how contagious gratitude can be. Here are some gratitude quotes to get you started.

Consider updating the office with a culture wall and even provide a budget for employees’ offices to display inspirational artwork. (The old inspirational quote posters have come a long way!)

Commit to Gratitude in the New Year

Let the new year inspire you to focus on nurturing gratitude in your personal and work lives. To go deep into understanding why gratitude is so powerful and how to harness it for the workplace, download our FREE eBook, “Transform Your Workplace with Gratitude“.

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

 

Top photo by Kevin Butz on Unsplash

Journal Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

gThankYou 2023 Employee Appreciation Calendar NOW AVAILABLE!

We are excited to once again share our annual gift with you — the Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar! It’s FREE and downloadable, as well as extremely helpful, insightful, and FUN!

We work all year to create this annual employee appreciation calendar for YOU, the people focused on employee engagement and appreciation; those who are actively building vibrant, loyal workplace cultures.

This colorful resource helps you stay ahead of the game with holidays, celebrations, and monthly ideas to keep employee appreciation fresh, exciting, and timely. It’s the ultimate resource to inspire and plan employee engagement and celebration activities for the new year!

“This is SO much more than a calendar!”

The 2023 Employee Appreciation Calendar is packed with valuable information including monthly Ready-to-Go-Celebrations and Don’t-Miss-Celebrations, helpful articles, event ideas, resources and more!

It is designed to include everything you need to keep you current, inspired and focused on  employee appreciation all year long.

We highly encourage you to:

• Share it with your colleagues and other HR and business professionals.
• Print it out or save it to your desktop for monthly review.
• Send it to your social media gurus, the benefits team, and all team managers and leaders.
• Encourage everyone to think ahead for how to illustrate employee recognition in proactive and creative ways.

 

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

It’s not too late to finish the year strong with gratitude!

Year-end can mean different things to people, depending on industry, role, personality type … and a million other factors! We hope you are thoroughly enjoying the holiday season with your friends, family and employees. Here are a few suggestions to finish the year strong as a leader who understands that appreciation is the greatest gift.

5 Ways to Finish the Year Strong:

Say THANK YOU to everyone you can. From your trusted advisors to the delivery folks to the administrative teams who make your world work. Who can you thank today?

If you’re budgeting for next year, consider ways to work in appreciation gifts and events (big or small) into your plans. You’ll be glad you did!

Share a practical gift that will offer a sigh of relief this time of year. Of course, we highly recommend grocery gift certificates! There is a lot of eating these next few weeks, and some help with the increased grocery bill can make a tremendous difference!

Consider gratitude and appreciation moments as they arise … who is retiring at the end of the year? Who is celebrating their first holiday with a baby? Who may need some extra help decorating or shoveling? Slowing down for a moment to help or acknowledge others can be a simple way to bring joy to the end of the year.

Ask for help; offer help. It’s okay to admit that this time of year can be overwhelming. By showing vulnerability and asking for help, that can be relationship-building. And if you are in a position to help when someone needs a little lift, some extra time off, more hands at work, or even a treat, do what you can. A “we’re all in this together” mentality can really help teams finish the year strong.

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Top photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

 

As we prepare for the season of giving, many people struggle with what to give, what to spend, or where to even begin. We have been in the gift-giving business for a long time, and let us tell you, groceries are the ultimate gift.

Here are 5 Reasons Groceries are the Ultimate Gift

Everyone eats.

There is truly no other gift as universal as food. Whether it’s a celebratory meal or simply milk and veggies, everyone needs food to survive and thrive! You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t want a little extra food in the fridge or pantry. With a gThankYou grocery gift certificate, it’s completely possible to bring a smile to every single recipient.

Simplicity rules.

Sometimes the process of selecting gifts can overwhelm even the most seasoned shoppers. It’s even more complicated when purchasing gifts for entire organizations! Simple, straightforward gifts like a voucher for groceries embody the beauty of simplicity. Practicality never goes out of style.

People love food gifts.

There is a lot of research to support the fact that people love edible gifts. Just ask yourself, your co-worker, your gym buddy, “Do you enjoy food-related gifts?” The answer is usually a resounding YES! Sometimes it’s in the form of popcorn, chocolates, candy or cheese and crackers. Those can all be great. But what’s even better? Providing the option for people to shop for the food they want the most!

Groceries appeal to everyday eaters AND foodies.

Everyone has their own food preferences and requirements. Some people savor every bite and have rows of beautiful cookbooks lining their kitchen walls. Others see food as fuel. Everyone grocery shops — but with a different set of eyes. A grocery gift certificate allows people to buy their favorite vegan cheese, that decadent dessert, a charcuterie spread, or just the basics.

It makes financial sense.

Pure economics come into play here. People are grateful when they can save money. So, whether or not your food gift helps them feed their family or add a level of decadence to a holiday meal, it’s a financial win! For the gift giver, the gift of groceries ensures that the gift is money well-spent. Say goodbye to misspent funds on overdone corporate gear, creative-yet-odd gift ideas or straight-to-the-trash-can novelty items.

There are many fun ways to augment a grocery gift certificate, too! Ideas include:

• Attach it to a beautifully packaged candy bar
• Put it inside a reusable shopping bag
• Include recipes from co-workers
• Pair it with a subscription to a streaming service for food and entertainment

The opportunities are endless. Mark shopping off your list and let gThankYou make everyone on your list happy and full!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Header image by Gorrin Bel on Unsplash

Let the fun commence! Here are 10 ideas for throwing year-end festivities in your workplace. This time of year can be stressful, but also full of gratitude, wonder and joy! Set the tone with simple, impactful festivities that spread the spirit!

Not only do year-end festivities offer a way to have some fun, but they are a strategic way to show employee appreciation and enhance employee engagement. Be true to your culture — what would be authentic and enjoyable? Tap some creative minds and enjoy the process!

Top 10 Year-End Festivities

Volunteer together at a food pantry or host a holiday meal at a shelter. Bring employees together to give back to the community, offering unity, perspective and goodwill to all who participate.

Pre-Holiday Potluck. Invite everyone to bring a favorite dish to share, along with a recipe card so people can take photos and add new items to their holiday dinner menus. When the meal begins, ask leaders to kick off a roundtable discussion about what they’re grateful for and why.

 

Thank You Wall. Start a workplace tradition by dedicating a window or whiteboard to a collection of heartfelt messages. Supply colorful sticky notes and Sharpie pens. Ask employees to post at least 3 messages about anything or anyone they appreciate. Soon, the wall will be filled with a rainbow of positive energy that will brighten spirits.

 

Silent Auction for Charity. Give employees a chance to give back by leveraging fundraising strength from across your organization. Vote on a local program to support. Coordinate an online auction of goods and services contributed by individual employees. Low-cost online software solutions like BiddingOwl make it easy to manage.

 

Help each other. Nominate coworkers who could benefit from assistance with fall projects. Then let individuals or teams sign up to rake leaves, clean gutters, buy groceries, deliver a home-cooked meal or decorate team members’ front doors.

 

Give away fall flowers or plants that staff can take home for the holidays. For remote workers, arrange delivery or pick at a nearby Home Depot or nursery.

 

Winter Wonderland Virtual Photo Booth. Make it easy with backgrounds and a full-featured app like Snapbar. Or roll out your own on your meeting platform. Post images on the event chat board. Build an album to share at the party and beyond.

 

Gingerbread Contest. Host an in-office party and vote on which person or team created the best house. For remote teams, send pre-packaged gingerbread house pieces in advance. Ask everyone to post photos and vote for the online winner. Want guidance? Check specialists like Gingerbread Wars.

 

Holiday Bingo. Search online for holiday Bingo boards to send with invitations. Choose a coveted prize and announce it in advance, so everyone will be excited to participate.

 

Cookie Exchange. For an in-person party, be sure to note in invitations how many cookies to bring, so everyone can swap, taste and vote for their favorites. Prepare a special display table with signage for cookie and baker names. Order decorative boxes in advance so participants have a festive way to pack up their selections. And don’t forget to post all the recipes online!

We have many ideas for year-end festivities, as well as other events and gift-giving ideas in The Big List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas. Download it free today!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Believe it or not, the holiday gift planning season is here! Here are some details you should know as you prepare to celebrate employees for a year of hard work. The good news? We can handle the heavy lifting for your holiday gift planning.

Many gThankYou customers are faced with the daunting task of distributing gifts to a large number of locations, employees working from home, or to clients across the country. With dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of offices and associates nationwide, it can be challenging and very time-consuming. Let us help.

gThankYou Exists to Make Your Holiday Gift Planning Easier!

gThankYou Gift Certificates can be:

• Mailed to individuals in households or offices through the USPS, AND/OR
• Conveniently bundled and delivered via UPS to any number of locations for easy distribution to recipients.
• Have a request that requires special distribution and mailing services? Give us a call!

Gift Distribution Made Easy

We make your gThankYou Gift Certificate distribution a breeze with 4 easy steps:

1. Give us a call at (888-484-1658) to discuss the form of distribution needed, timing, and type of Gift Certificates along with any extras to include such as a personalized Enclosure Card for your kind words of appreciation; a gThankYou Recipient Letter informing recipients how and where to best use their gift certificate; or your own uniquely crafted letter of gratitude.
2. Email us a completed, pre-formatted mailing address spreadsheet with all recipient or location addresses to be mailed or shipped. Individual mailings will be sent with First-Class postage through USPS. All addresses will be verified for accuracy and we will notify you of any undeliverable addresses, before they are sent. (Pre-formatted spreadsheet download here.)
3. Send us your Logo (optional) via email to be used on gift certificates, Enclosure Cards, or envelope.
4. Approve your order. Review and approve all invoice charges and artwork/copy for your Enclosure Cards or envelope, if included. Also, confirm the most appropriate Return Mailing Address for any undeliverable gift certificates.

What Will Individuals or Locations Receive?

Individuals – Mailings to individuals will arrive in a white #10 business envelope with your return address, including your company logo (optional). We also include an eye-catching ‘stamp’ in red stating “Important – Open Immediately!” to help stand out in the mailbox and provide a higher level of importance (also optional).

Each envelope will be stuffed with your selected gThankYou Gift Certificate(s), and any combination you choose of Free Enclosure Card, informative Recipient Letter, or your own Personalized Letter of Gratitude.

Multiple Locations – Delivery via UPS to any number of locations will arrive in a conveniently bundled package. Package size will depend on the number of certificates and optional pieces for the location. For bulk delivery to locations, Gift Certificates and additional materials can be:

• Inserted into individual #10 business envelopes, similar to individual mailings above (with or without company logo and/or recipient names printed on the front) OR
• Without envelopes, for stuffing of your own or delivery in your own special way.

When will these mailings take place?

The following dates have been established to provide you with flexibility in your holiday gift planning. Typically, mailed gift certificates are received in-home or office within 3-5 business days after the mail date.

* The dates and information provided below only apply to orders with many locations or individual USPS mailings through gThankYou’s distribution and mailing services.

gThankYou orders going to a single or few locations can be placed any day, online or by calling 888-484-1658, and will ship the same or next business day. If you are unsure what form of distribution you will need, please give us a call at 888-484-1658 and we will gladly help evaluate your needs.

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Today is World Gratitude Day!

Celebrated every Sept. 21, World Gratitude Day was started by the United Nations more than 50 years ago. It’s also known as the International Day of Peace.

In the workplace, World Gratitude Day is for celebrating the power of “Thank You” — from company leaders to employees, between coworkers, from employees to customers and, ultimately, as a building block for a culture of gratitude.

The scientific argument for gratitude in the workplace is strong and backed by rigorous research.

Numerous studies and business cases have shown the benefits of gratitude and the ill effects of a lack of gratitude — job dissatisfaction, turnover, absenteeism, burnout, gossip, negativity and exploitation.

When leaders exude gratitude, it sets off a chain reaction that builds a culture of gratitude that eventually circles back and betters the workplace for everyone.

In the end, employees deserve appreciation. Everyone deserves appreciation. Give a fist bump, a kind note, a small gift — or a simple, “I’m grateful for all you do!”

Happy World Gratitude Day, everyone!
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When leaders understand the importance of celebrating teams and organizational values, important messages resonate beyond an “event.” There are many opportunities to bring people together to underscore that your business is about people and values, not just work and the bottom line.

We’re in a time of heightened pressure to recruit and retain happy, committed employees and this big-picture thinking is critical. Here are a wide variety of ways you can incorporate “celebrating teams and organizational values” into your workplace. We hope this sparks inspiration for gifts of connection, belonging and shared joy.

Give the Gift of Connection

• Welcome new employees with a memorable first impression. Schedule coffee or lunch with the head of the company on their first day at work.
• Plan a field trip to tour the facilities of a supplier or client, so staff can learn more about partner businesses while strengthening team relationships.
• Organize casual group activities before, during or after work – walking, frisbee, lawn games (like Spikeball, pictured above), badminton, softball.
• Bring teams together over food! 60% of employees say they feel more valued and appreciated when employers provide meals. A few ideas:
  • Coordinate a series of in-person and virtual lunches to build relationships between unfamiliar teams. Deliver meals or send prepaid grocery certificates in advance to remote employees.
  • Cater monthly “Ask Me Anything” hybrid lunches, featuring a series of senior leaders.
  • Host virtual cooking lessons. Hire a pro chef or ask talented employees to teach their favorite recipes, while participants follow along or just watch all the action.

Give the Gift of Belonging

“Belonging” is more than a buzzword. It’s building a culture where people feel welcome to be themselves and thrive. It takes work to foster a sense of belonging and worth every ounce of effort. Here are some ideas to help as you plan periodic events where employees are free to mingle and strengthen team relationships.

• Create a “peer hero” recognition program, where anyone can recommend a deserving colleague or team at any time. Each quarter, publish a “recognition roll call” to share nominee stories. Then, everyone votes for the winner of a high-value prize.
• Involve everyone in long-term organizational planning. Host a quarterly meeting where leaders discuss key issues and the road ahead. Solicit staff ideas and feedback to build trust, enthusiasm and buy-in.
• Actively invite and encourage people to participate in a variety of activities — and consistently ask for new ideas from everyone.
• Audit what kinds of programs and activities exist with a lens of diversity and inclusion.

Give the Gift of Shared Joy

Friendships and unique bonds are created when people find joy and happiness with each other. We aren’t talking about “forced fun”, but embracing ways to bring people together beyond work-related meetings. Here are some ideas:

• To foster camaraderie, plan an online scavenger hunt or board game tournament. Build on digital versions of Monopoly or Settlers of Catan, or design your own Trivial Pursuit game based on company history and employee facts.
• Host in-person and/or digital activities that bring people together to share common interests in real-time.
  • Watch parties for popular movies or tv shows
  • Game-day spectator huddles
  • Book clubs
  • Take digital travel adventures up a notch by supplying virtual reality technology that engages teams in breathtaking shared experiences. For example:
    • Tour popular Grand Canyon hiking trails with the National Park Service
    • Explore the world’s most famous museums

• Help your team bond through engaging digital games from specialized services like JAM, which offers a variety of popular options like Escape Rooms, Office Olympics, and Jeoparty!

• Looking for an engaging virtual event or team-building experience, but overwhelmed by all the options? Let an online concierge help you make the best pick. For example, a guide can help you navigate the vast collection of virtual events at reELIVATE.
• Connect(or reconnect) offsite for face-to-face group activities:
  • Cooking or art classes
  • Laser tag or paintball
  • Cosmic night bowling
  • Dog parks with bars
  • Evenings at TopGolf
  • Outings at a pool hall or bocce club

 

When celebrating teams and organizational values, remember that there is a larger message. Let your actions speak louder than words: YOU BELONG HERE. We care about you! We are a team and we are stronger together.

For more ideas, download The Big List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas — FREE!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Building a culture of workplace gratitude could be the best thing you ever do for your business. In fact, author and speaker Toni Powell calls gratitude at work the key to success in “Why Gratitude in the Workplace?”

“Gratitude has the rather extraordinary power to change just about every aspect of life—in very surprising ways.”

When you practice workplace gratitude, you transform relationships, minimize complaints, and see satisfaction levels skyrocket. The effect is profound and long-lasting, Powell says, because gratitude rewires the brain to see and process the world differently. Gratitude:

• Increases resilience
• Reduces stress
• Facilitates positive relationships
• Makes people happier

And happy people work harder!

Let’s listen to some experts weigh in on the topic.

In his TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work,“ former Harvard professor Shawn Achor says happiness improves every aspect of business.

“Happy brains are 31% more productive than negative, stressed or neutral brains, and dopamine—released when we’re happy—turns on the brain’s learning centers.”

You and your employees can train your brains to look for positivity and happiness by, among other things, writing down three things you’re grateful for every day for 30 days.

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Even for the most capable givers, it can be a challenge to find employee gifts for the holidays. Or rather, it’s challenging to find gifts your employees will actually enjoy and use. Too often, employers give gifts as if they’re checking a box: Here’s a golf shirt emblazoned with the company logo, hope it fits! (And sorry if you don’t play golf or it’s not at all your style.)
The end result is that workers can feel more annoyed by a gift than if they hadn’t received anything — like, Yeesh, now I have to lug this home because I don’t want the boss to see it in my office trash. Obviously, that’s not an optimal outcome, especially not when at least one recent report says employers spend an average of almost $80 per employee on holiday gifts.
While we can’t guarantee you’ll find the perfect present for everyone on your team, we can offer a few critical tips and suggestions for employee gifts for the holidays.

Tip 1: Money Isn’t Everything

Don’t let that $80 figure upset you. Not only are you not obligated to spend so much, the value of a gift to the recipient also doesn’t necessarily correlate with its cost. As an expert quoted in an HR Dive discussion of good employee gifts for the holidays says, “The best holiday gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive, but show an understanding of the recipient.”
Makes sense. Would you rather have, for instance, $500 worth of movie gift certificates if you never go out to the movies, or a $50 gift card to your favorite coffee shop? This comes down to the difference between recognizing and appreciating employees.
Money, of course, can be very welcome in the form of a holiday bonus. Just be careful that you’re issuing them fairly. Employee gifts for the holidays should bring joy, not cause resentment.

Tip 2: Be Consistent — But Treat People Like Individuals

Writing for Fundera, Rieva Lesonsky advises: “Choose a price range for your gifts that’s reasonable for your business and one you can stick to in the coming years even if your budget gets tighter.” You might not want to get your employee Jill and her cubemate Jack the same gift — if he’s a caffeine fiend, he might love a desktop coffee warmer; while she, with her green thumb, may prefer an elegant succulent that sits next to her monitor. That’s fine; just don’t spend $50 on one of them and $8 on the other. They’re likely to notice the discrepancy, and it could have a deleterious effect on both their relationship with you and their relationship with each other. At the same time, don’t be too rigid: Small differences ($5-$10) are fine. Most people will be much happier with a gift suited to their wants and needs than upset that you spent a little more to make a co-worker feel just as appreciated.
If a gift is customizable, that works too and is a way to get everyone the same thing while making it theirs. Whatever you land on, do maintain about the same budget from year to year, as Lesonsky suggests. If you decide to go overboard at the end of an unusually successful year, that’s probably OK. Just make sure your employees understand it’s a special occasion and not the new normal in employee gifts for the holidays.

Tip 3: Shared Experiences Are Treasured

We know that shared experiences make for better learning and stronger teams. But research has shown that even outside of work, shared experiences tend to make us happier and strengthen our memories of the experience. This is probably because social needs fall just below air, water, food, and shelter as critical to our well-being.
If you want to give employee gifts for the holidays that will be remembered and treasured, look for ideas that will allow employees to spend time with other people. There’s a good chance they’ll look back on your gift as something truly special for years to come.

Tip 4: Make It Personal

We harp on this one a lot, but only because it’s so crucial: Whatever employee gifts for the holidays you decide on, do everything you can to deliver them in person (with a big smile and a handshake) and include a handwritten note. Both of these things are gestures that demonstrate that you see your employees as people and sincerely care enough to spend a few minutes acknowledging that.

A Few Ideas for Employee Gifts for the Holidays

You can check out some excellent ideas in recent posts at Fundera, Business News Daily, and the Strategist. Some of the common themes we’ve seen are:

• Gifts for someone’s work space are nice — as long as you know their style.
• If your employees travel for work, there are useful and inexpensive travel accessories out there.
• Tickets to shows, fun classes, and food items can be a wonderful treat, and mean way less clutter!
• One of the most popular employee gifts for the holidays, across all industries, is time off from work. (And it requires a lot less wrapping on your part, too.)

Of course, we want to remind you: If you’re looking for a customizable, inexpensive gift that can be part of a happy memory, gThankYou! Turkey and Ham Gift Certificates or any of our other Certificates of Gratitude make perfect employee gifts for the holidays. You can also order and get them delivered quickly (in large quantities if necessary), in case you’re still looking as we get closer to year’s end! Find out how they work now.
Whatever gifts you decide on, we wish you and your employees the very happiest of holiday seasons!

Learn More: Download gThankYou’s Guide to Better Employee Holiday Gifts

Inspired to give amazing employee holiday gifts this year and share your seasonal gratitude in your workplace? Download your FREE copy of gThankYou’s Ultimate Employee Gift-Giving Guide and begin the process now — just in time for holiday appreciation and gift-giving!
gThankYou’s new, updated Ultimate Employee Gift-Giving Guide has fresh case studies, more resources and the latest research in HR management. It’s the perfect resource for planning employee gift-giving at the holidays and recognition efforts for the New Year.
Download it FREE today!

Hopefully you are already aware that July is National Ice Cream Month! This is the month to celebrate our love of all things ice cream, including sorbet, Popsicles, sundaes, floats, shakes — we could go on and on. It’s a lot like a good employee engagement program: it brings people together, makes everyone feel happy, and is endlessly creative.

That doesn’t mean you can drop off a tub of vanilla in the break room with a scoop and expect magic. But this tasty treat as a vehicle for employee engagement is powerful. Not only is it just plain fun and delicious, it reminds us of happy memories that we share with other people — our parents, kids, siblings, or maybe a special date night with our significant other. It’s special. It’s a treat. It speaks a language of happiness.

Let’s look at how ice cream (and its dairy-free alternatives) can be a great team-building activity, reward for hard work and overall boost to employee satisfaction.

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Some of the most effective, easy ways to thank employees can be done on the fly, or with just a few days’ notice – just remember to keep the message of gratitude in mind!

Try it! You have your chance coming up with a holiday that’s easy to celebrate in the workplace: the 4th of July.

Independence Day has themes that bring people together — patriotism, community, family — plus it has traditions everyone loves: fireworks and sparklers, parades, neighborhood barbecues and events for kids.

Some businesses shut down over the 4th of July weekend, giving their employees some well-deserved time off. Many companies have no choice but to stay open, particularly those in the service industry.

If you have employees working on 4th of July or over the 4th of July weekend, take the opportunity to acknowledge that they’re working over a popular holiday and let them know how much you appreciate their valuable time (grocery gift certificates are always a good choice).
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Organizations often shy away from celebrations when on a tight budget. We’ve all been there! But a small budget shouldn’t impede employee appreciation and recognition. Never forget that a “thank you” is free! But there are many ways to share gratitude that don’t end up costing a fortune. We have many ideas for how to celebrate with little time or money.

Volunteer Together

A wonderful idea is to organize a service opportunity for teams. By partnering with a nonprofit, there is often very little prep work to do but to bring people to help! Public Service Day is June 23, providing an excellent reason to start thinking about community relations. Not only is it usually good PR and goodwill, but the act of service really brings people together.

“America’s Charities Snapshot Employee Research found that 71% of employees surveyed say it’s imperative or very important to work where culture is supportive of giving and volunteering.  When strategically integrated with your company’s business goals and values, involving employees in a mix of volunteer work, skills giving, workplace giving programs, and matching gift opportunities gives employees a sense of purpose, and makes them feel more connected to the community and your company-wide social responsibility efforts.”

Build Experiences

A tight budget is an excellent reason to focus on spending TIME together. Tap into talented employees to offer special experiences for others. Ask staff with strong skills to share their gifts with the team. For example, arrange an employee talent show, art exhibit, origami demonstration or guided meditation session. The possibilities are as endless as your team’s talent and enthusiasm.

Quick, Easy & Impactful

For a quick solution, instead of focusing on fancy gifts, put what’s already at your fingertips to good use:

1. Praise people early and often on email and on your collaboration platform.
2. Submit a LinkedIn recommendation or skills endorsement for a stellar employee.
3. Gather your team together. Thank them and lead a hearty round of applause.

PRO TIP FOR A TIGHT BUDGET

For inexpensive gifts that keep on giving, consider buying subscriptions for information, services, entertainment and more, such as:

• Online music
• Books
• Videos
• Training
• Industry publications
• Personal productivity apps

Check out our Big List of Employee Appreciation Ideas for ANY budget, any season, any industry, any time!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Everyone loves this time of year — wrapping up school, planting flowers, planning summer trips and simply enjoying the outdoors. The last few summers weren’t as carefree, so we want to help YOU make summertime at work FUN again! Here are some creative ideas from our 2022 Day-to-Day Employee Celebration Calendar to help.

Top 10 Ways to Make Summertime at Work Special Again:

• Celebrate LGBTQ+ Month with free flags and T-shirts for employees.
• Host an ice cream or food truck once a week.
• Present employees with a summer-themed gratitude journal.
• Host a family day at a local park with food, games, and music.
• Rent out a public pool or amusement park.
• Organize a few morning walks with leadership — exercise AND good one-on-one time.
• Have a summer reading program with incentives at the end of the summer. Remember that? Everyone loves to read for a personal pizza! Bonus points for books on business, leadership, and personal development.
• Incentivize employees to volunteer hours, walk miles, donate clothing, or do something else positive. Offer grand prizes that will bring on the heat of competition.
• Take a poll on what would make casual Fridays cool again. What do your employees crave?
• Give everyone gift certificates for ice cream, groceries or candy!

It’s important to remember that employee appreciation is a year-long endeavor. It’s a long time until the holidays, and it’s best not to wait to say, “thank you.”

If you haven’t downloaded our FREE calendar, it’s never too late. We have a variety of resources to help keep employee recognition and workplace well-being front-and-center every single month of the year.

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Nurse appreciation is the focus of National Nurses Week, which begins May 6. Plan your Nurses Week celebrations now!

According to Gallup, nursing is among the most highly regarded and trusted professions, ranking higher than military personnel, doctors and teachers.

So why aren’t nurses feeling the appreciation?
One major factor could be the overall lack of employee recognition across all industries. General respect and trust for a profession doesn’t automatically translate into concrete acts of appreciation.

First Step: Raise Awareness

In the fast-paced, hectic environments nurses work in — hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care, hospice — appreciation can get lost in the shuffle, or be reserved for doctors.

In a classic HuffPo article “Why Every Week Should Be Nurse Appreciation Week,” Brian Secemsky, M.D., writes, “Throughout history, the culture of medicine has revered the role of a physician as the core to patient care and medical recovery. Yet in my personal work experience, absolutely no care would be delivered without the critical role of a nurse.”

Simply raising awareness of the special job nurses have is a big part of nurse appreciation.

“Nurses are often quick to say, ‘I am just doing my job,’ and to some degree that is correct,” Mary Jo Andre, chief nursing officer at Texas Children’s Hospital told the Houston Chronicle. “However, it is not the task of passing medications that makes their role special. Their role is special because they are in the position of being present with (and for) our patients and their families when they are experiencing their most challenging times.”

Nurse Appreciation Week continues May 6 through May 12. Read on for nurse appreciation ideas to inspire your workplace celebration. Even if your organization doesn’t have nurses on staff, Nurse Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to engage employees in community outreach and gratitude-building!
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Looking for a team bonding activity that gets people talking, laughing and learning together? Share stories that inspire teacher appreciation! Stories about the teachers we appreciate are a window into our own values and aspirations, and telling and listening to these stories with coworkers helps us connect and builds a culture of gratitude. A broad interpretation of “teacher” can include anyone whose knowledge and influence had a lasting impact.

Broadening the Definition of Teacher

In an older, yet still extremely relevant, newspaper article in the LA Times, members of the newsroom shared their thoughts on teachers. Journalist Dexter Thomas calls for a broad interpretation of “teacher” to include anyone whose knowledge and influence had a lasting impact.

“We seem to view ‘teacher’ too narrowly. A lot of the people who made me who I am today didn’t have teaching credentials. Some of them I’ve never even met,” Thomas wrote. “So as we were talking about teachers in the Los Angeles Times newsroom today, I realized —  we’ve all been influenced by a variety of people. You’ve probably got a favorite childhood teacher or coach. You probably owe your sense of fashion, or music sense, or interest in a hobby, to some influential person.”

Workplace mentors also count! We all have a coworker, boss or other influential person in our life who teaches us new skills, motivates us to do our best work and keeps us on track in moments of doubt.
Read on for three great stories to inspire teacher appreciation this week.

Who are you going to reach out and thank for changing your life?
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NEWS ALERT: The work world has shifted. Priorities have changed, hybrid and remote working has become status quo, and flexibility is key. Collectively, we are figuring out how to navigate new ways of working.

What’s really keeping HR people up at night is how to RETAIN talented and hardworking staff. If we thought retention was important before, we have a tighter grip now. But what is the secret sauce to keeping employees happy, healthy and gainfully employed by you? Appreciation and recognition go a long way. Here are some ways to navigate new ways of working:

Pay attention equally to employees regardless of their location.

With a shift to remote and hybrid workplaces, it is important to “spread the love” to those who may be working elsewhere. “Out of sight, out of mind” is the wrong approach. Be sure to show appreciation equally for people across town or the globe.

Focus on wellbeing.

There are staggering statistics on COVID-related stress and its impact on mental and physical health. It is extremely wise to take a look at how your organization addresses wellbeing and fosters an environment where people can thrive — or at least ask for help. Here is a great resource on this topic from the folks at Achievers Workforce Institute.

Ask questions.

When status quo drastically changes, it’s an excellent opportunity to shake things up. Ask questions about what the workplace can and should be — not just what it’s historically been! Use pools and open forums and conversations to reveal new ideas for this new world of work. Employees are your subject matter experts!

Communicate effectively.

While this phrase can seem obvious or trite, now is a critical point to audit your internal communication practices. Are you reaching employees? Is there 2-way communication? Are you being creative in ways to inform, educate and involve team members? Consider new ways to communicate and forgo the methods that don’t work.

Show gratitude at every turn.

At gThankYou, we are passionate about gratitude! We believe employee recognition and appreciation is at the heart of a sound organization. Fostering a workplace filled with personalized appreciation blooms into a happy, productive workforce. Try gift certificates as a company-wide thank you. Grocery gift certificates are always well-received.

While no one asked for the challenges that we’ve collectively faced, we may as well be positive. We’ve made great strides and can apply these lessons to improve. Our organizations can — and should be — stronger than before. Let’s take our newfound agility and continue to be grateful, productive and resourceful as we rebuild the workplace and navigate new ways of working.

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com