Celebrations, Contests, and Fun

 

Labor Day celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate your workplace and have fun — especially if you have team members working on Labor Day itself or over the weekend.

Officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1894, Labor Day was born out of the rise of workers’ rights during the peak of the Industrial Revolution. To this day, we enjoy the benefits of this movement: minimum wage, overtime law, the weekend and more.
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UP AHEAD: summertime — sunny, lazy, distracting summer, with vacation days and “summer Fridays” tempting employees at every turn. In other words? A recipe for disengagement. And your task is keeping employees engaged. Summertime workplace celebration ideas are plentiful AND enjoyable.

Keeping up engagement levels through the summer months depends on a good balance that integrates fun, freedom, fitness, and focus. If employees have opportunities for regular, low-key summertime celebrations that center on accomplishments, family, and/or wellness, they’ll be more likely to be productive the rest of the time.

Let us inspire you with the following summertime workplace celebration ideas to plan your own employee engagement calendar for the season. (more…)

 

Summer gifts keep employees engaged through the distractions of the season. The ability to leave the office early on Friday afternoons — “summer Fridays” — is a popular perk. But showing appreciation with schedule flexibility just doesn’t work in all businesses and industries. What always works? Food gift certificates! And ice cream is especially special and fun in the summertime (or popsicles or other frozen treats). A gThankYou gift certificate for ice cream is affordable, quick, and brings a smile to people of all ages.
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Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May, and we’re here to help everyone yell, “THANK YOU” from the rooftops! (But get down quickly before a teacher catches you.)

There are more than 4 million public and private school teachers in the U.S. Of course, that number multiplies when you expand into higher education and into the world of training, development, mentors, and other roles. It’s generally agreed upon that teachers are amazing people who are underpaid and underappreciated. YOU can make a difference in how teachers feel – this week and year-round.

According to Zippia.com and WeAreTeachers.com:

• The average teacher impacts more than 3,000 students throughout their career.
• 83% of students credit teachers with improving their confidence and self-esteem.
• 87% of people wish they had expressed more appreciation to their teachers.
• 88% of individuals acknowledge that teachers played a significant positive role in their lives.
• 79% of students have been encouraged to follow their dreams by a teacher.
• 54% of students have had a teacher who helped them through difficult times.
• 75% of students view teachers as mentors and role models.

“The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves.”
– Joseph Campbell

How to Easily Show Teacher Appreciation

Expressing gratitude to teachers is essential, as they play a pivotal role in shaping our lives and futures. Here are some heartfelt ways to thank teachers year-round:

A Sincere Thank You Note: Write a heartfelt thank-you note expressing your appreciation for their dedication, guidance, and impact. Whether it’s a handwritten letter or an email, your words will mean a lot to them.

Personalized Gifts: Consider giving a small gift that reflects a teacher’s interests, or something related to their subject. It could be a book, a grocery gift certificate, or even thoughtful classroom supplies.

Public Recognition: During Teacher Appreciation Week or other school events, publicly acknowledge teachers’ hard work. Share positive stories about teachers in your organization, make a donation to a local school, or find other ways to share your gratitude for this important profession.

Volunteer Your Time: Offer to help in a classroom, assisting with tasks, organizing materials, or assisting during events. Teachers often appreciate extra hands.

Remember Special Occasions: Celebrate teachers’ birthdays, Teacher Appreciation Week, or other milestones. A small token of appreciation on these occasions goes a long way.

Spread Positivity: Share positive stories about how teachers are making a difference in your organization or community. Word of mouth can create a ripple effect of appreciation.

Additional Ways to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

Teachers of Tomorrow offers some wonderful ideas for how to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. Here are some of our favorite ideas from their list:

• Organize a Lunch for Teachers
• Gift Cards (Gift Certificates)
• Refill Classroom Supplies
• Create a Thank You Book
• Put Together a Gift Box
• Create a Staff Spotify List
• Plant Trees in a Teacher’s Name
• Present Certificates of Appreciation for Teachers

Whether you lead a district, partner with schools, or simply respect the world of teachers, there are many ways to show appreciation to these people who shape the future of our world. A simple gesture, like writing a personalized note, giving or making a small gift, can go a long way in showing your gratitude. If you were in a classroom all day, what would make YOU happy?

 

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 Gratitude cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Top Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash

 

Nurse appreciation is the focus of National Nurses Week, which begins May 6. Be sure to plan your Nurses Week celebrations now so you can adequately thank the fabulous nurses you know or employ!

Nurses remain the most trusted profession, with 78% of U.S. adults currently believing nurses have high honesty and ethical standards, according to Gallup’s 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll.  In addition to being trusted, nurses are universally respected due to their deep knowledge, kindness, and overall care for people. Anyone who has needed healthcare in any capacity is likely to underscore that nurses are truly the heartbeat of medicine.

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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.

Mark your calendars: Employee Appreciation Day is March 1 and Pi Day is March 14 – every year!

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Spring in the workplace is full of fresh starts. It’s also a great time to make sure that your employee recognition program has a fresh set of eyes. 

There isn’t just one recipe for success when it comes to employee recognition; there are many thoughtful ways to acknowledge employees’ dedication. Leaders who take the time and energy to show employee gratitude year-round end up with happier team members and a more enjoyable workplace. Each season provides multiple opportunities to recognize employees, partners, and other stakeholders. Below are some ways to celebrate spring in the workplace.

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Acts of kindness are one of the most powerful ways we have to connect with others. They not only foster a sense of community but also enhance our mental well-being. Small gestures can make a significant impact, creating a more positive and supportive work environment for everyone involved.

February is the perfect month to share workplace kindness – with Random Acts of Kindness Day (17th) and Week (February 11-17), and Valentine’s Day! These February themes for work provide excellent opportunities to highlight and celebrate kindness within your workplace. By planning activities around these days, you can inspire your colleagues to engage in kind acts, thereby cultivating a culture of compassion and empathy at work.

Planting seeds of kindness yields improved moods and productivity. Better yet, it’s contagious. When you share a little kindness, it has a ripple effect that can transform the atmosphere of your office. A single act can inspire others to act kindly, creating a chain reaction that promotes a healthier and happier workplace for everyone.

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Holidays at work can be a delicate subject. Diverse workforces mean that there are different ways to celebrate a variety of holidays. However, it’s possible to ensure that the season is festive and fun for everyone. Holiday work parties go one of two ways — something people (leaders and employees alike) have to do or want to do.

We’re in the peak season for companies throwing a holiday work party for their employees. Most parties happen before the New Year, but for many in the service industry, the season continues through the end of January.

How can your company pull off a warm and inviting experience for everyone? Here are some considerations for making your holiday work party an appreciated event that employees of all ages want to attend.

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Managers: It’s Your Time to Shine!

Employee Christmas gifts are the perfect way to share end-of-year gratitude and strengthen manager-employee relationships. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report, “the manager is the linchpin of engagement. Seventy percent of team engagement is attributable to the manager.”

This holiday season, managers should feel empowered to celebrate their team’s hard work, even if it’s a small gesture. It’s important to remember: giving employee Christmas gifts and notes of gratitude is not a one-time transaction. It’s an opportunity to build and strengthen relationships. Encourage all managers in your workplace to take advantage of this communication opportunity!

At gThankYou, we pride ourselves as a manager’s BFF, helping you simply give thoughtful appreciation gifts.

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As the holiday season approaches, companies seek ways to express gratitude to their employees for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Employee gift baskets are a thoughtful and fun way to show appreciation. A basket with an ornament, some candy and a gift certificate are a perfect gift. And if you have company swag, now’s the time to share it! Here are some compelling reasons why employee holiday gift baskets are a great idea:

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As the holiday season approaches, thoughts turn to gatherings with loved ones, festive feasts, and of course, the delectable treats that grace our tables. Among the culinary staples that evoke the spirit of the holidays, ham holds a special place. Its rich flavor, versatility, and symbolic significance have made it a timeless choice for both celebratory meals and thoughtful gifts.

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The holidays are often a time to take stock. What’s working? What’s not? How can we improve the human experience? (Hint: Holiday gift certificates meet many human needs!)

One way to look at how employees, partners, volunteers and others are treated is to look at how their needs are addressed all year long. Organizations likely have an HR department or someone who is charged with ensuring that people are safe, paid, and generally taken care of. However, it’s a useful exercise to think through this lens for gift-giving, too.  Everyone has “wish lists,” but what do people really need to live … and live well?

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Whether on top of buildings, fixing plumbing or electrical, or any other in-demand trade work, our blue-collar workers work hard every day. These individuals form the backbone of our economy, keeping our infrastructure functioning, our homes comfortable, and our lives running smoothly. And while we’re grateful all year long, now is the time to say, “thank you!” for their dedication, long hours, and challenging work. (more…)

‘Tis The Season for Holiday Corporate Gifts! 

The holiday season is a time for giving and gratitude, and businesses are no exception. Many companies choose to send or deliver gifts to their employees, clients, and partners as a way to show appreciation. However, it can be difficult to choose the right holiday corporate gift, especially when you want to make sure that it is both personal and practical.

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Good old-fashioned holiday pie continues to be the quintessential holiday treat. It is perfect for dessert, as a snack, or even as breakfast with a rich cup of coffee. Traditionally, after enjoying a juicy turkey and savory side dishes like stuffing and potatoes, a sweet bite is just what everyone craves. To answer that call, we offer pie gift certificates to send to employees and other stakeholders whom you would like to thank for their support and hard work throughout the year. With their delicate nature, pies are not easy to transport, let alone ship. Pie gift certificates offer the best-case scenario for sending a sweet gesture of gratitude. With gThankYou, sending pie as a holiday gift is actually easy as pie!

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If your organization has a history with giving frozen turkeys to employees for the holidays, or even if you’re a new company looking to do something along these lines, a turkey gift program is easy to implement!

What’s a Turkey Gift Program?

There is longstanding tradition in employers providing their hardworking employees with the centerpiece of a holiday meal: turkey! But now, it’s quick and easy and no need to order heavy frozen birds. With gThankYou, you can order gift certificates for employees (local or around the country) and we do all the heavy lifting.

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It’s Always Time for a Delicious Treat So Give A Sweet Treat Gift!

We hope you had a Happy Halloween and have a little extra pep in your step today with a pocketful of sweet treats! Overall Halloween spending was predicted to be over $12.2 Billion in 2023, up 15% over last year. What does that say? PEOPLE LOVE SWEET TREATS! This is your friendly reminder that sweets are a welcome treat all year long! It’s never too late to order up some sweet treats gift certificates for your employees, partners, neighbors, clients and other stakeholders.

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Who’s ready to gobble up some turkey? Now is the time to purchase Turkeys for your employees!

If you are charged with Thanksgiving gifts this year, fear not! Thanksgiving Turkey gift certificates are a nostalgic and thoughtful gift. Let us help you as you navigate gratitude season.

Bulk Turkeys – The “New” Way!

Gone are the days of waiting in the winter cold while frozen turkeys are being dispersed to a line of employees before Thanksgiving. Stay inside and surprise your hardworking employees with gift certificates instead! gThankYou gift certificates offer recipients the flexibility to purchase a turkey OR ham OR grocery (or other options) at the store of their choice. Please see our store locator here. 

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The Countdown Has Begun!

The holidays have a tendency to come like a freight train once the calendar flips over to the “BER” months. Be ahead of the game this year! As you prepare for your seasonal parties, activities, and year-end chaos, it’s possible to swiftly check off EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS GIFTS. Based on our experience and recent conversations, we’ve rounded up a list of the best Christmas gifts to help you out.

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Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to bring the spirit of this festive holiday into the office. Embracing Halloween in the workplace brings excitement to the daily routine and creates a sense of camaraderie among colleagues. Check out these ideas for making your Halloween office celebration a memorable experience.
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Giving at Thanksgiving

The season of gratitude is coming up, and it’s an important time of year to make sure that each and every employee knows that you’re thankful for what they do. What’s the best way? To gift a Turkey! Whether you work in a small office where people wear a variety of hats or oversee a multi-site organization, the fact remains: PEOPLE make the business work. And an employee Thanksgiving gift is the perfect way to say thank you to the individuals who show up every day and give it their all. We certainly think that a Turkey Gift Certificate checks all the boxes.

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Are you looking for exciting Halloween contest ideas for the workplace? There is still time to plan ahead and give your team tools to help them unleash creativity, foster teambuilding, and create a memorable experience.

With a record 179 million Americans expected to celebrate Halloween this year, you can take the lead by offering ideas like asking employees to submit creative Halloween themes for work and plan an event with that theme. Provide Halloween costume ideas for everyone in the office. Throw an office costume contest and your employees can enjoy festive energy and positive team dynamics.

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Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 8 – May 12. It can be argued that teachers are the most hardworking group of people on the planet. We think they deserve to be celebrated all year long. Thank you, teachers! Be sure to send your kids to school with handwritten thank you notes. (Teachers love them!)

Mentors and Trainers are Teachers, Too!

As we honor the teachers who educate our children, we should also show gratitude for those who teach in the workplace. Mentors and trainers should be celebrated for their critical roles, too.

According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD), “Training is one specific and common form of employee development; other forms include coaching, mentoring, informal learning, self-directed learning, or experimental learning.”
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Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day April 26.

Administrative professionals play a vital role in the success of any organization. These key team members are at the heart of everything. Take the time to shower them with appreciation for all they do to keep the engine running.

Administrative staff are responsible for a wide range of tasks, from managing schedules and calendars to handling customer service and providing support to employees. Without administrative professionals, businesses would not be able to function smoothly.

Here are some ways to celebrate administrative professionals:
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Earth Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the planet and take action to protect it. Whether or not sustainability is a core pillar of your business, sharing ways to care for the Earth is a wonderful message for employees.

Celebrate Earth Day at work. Here are a few ideas:

• • Host an Earth Day event. This could be anything from a potluck lunch to a tree planting ceremony. Get your employees involved in planning and organizing the event, and make sure to promote it to the community.
  • Encourage employees to take public transportation or carpool to work. You can offer incentives, such as a free parking day or a gift card to a local business, for employees who choose to take alternative transportation.

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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

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The holidays are coming up quickly, as they do every year, so now is a great time to gather your lists of Christmas favorites! Lucky for you… we did it for you!

We are so grateful for our family, friends, employees, customers and partners. Thank you for your support all year round! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Top 5 Christmas Carols (New York Public Library)

While the list has 18, here are the top 5, according to the author.

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Millions of Americans will work on Thanksgiving.

Will employees at your company be spending Thanksgiving at work? If so, bring the gratitude (and treats) and make it a workplace celebration they’ll appreciate!

Spending the holiday at work isn’t where most of us want to be for this traditional at-home celebration. But with the right attitude and activities, sharing Thanksgiving at work with colleagues is an opportunity to highlight workplace gratitude and celebrate your work family.

If your company has employees spending Thanksgiving at work or in the office, (more…)

Halloween is one of America’s favorite holidays.

According to the National Retail Federation, 69% of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween this year. People love getting into costume, putting up scary decorations, and sharing their favorite treats. With interest like this, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to bring your workplace together for a holiday celebration.

Download gThankYou’s “Halloween Team Building Guide” — a one-page PDF that highlights 20 time-tested exercises, games and activities for Halloween team building to help you engage your staff in a meaningful celebration. (more…)

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.
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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! 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. (more…)

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 sweet treat! Bonus points for books on business, leadership, and personal development.

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It’s almost spring and Easter will be here soon! Now’s the time to start your Easter employee appreciation planning.

Why thank employees at Easter?
Besides being a widely celebrated family occasion, it’s a springtime holiday with cultural, non-religious traditions that appeal to everyone.

Easter employee appreciation is a great idea, regardless of employee religious affiliation, because it generally marks the beginning of spring and the sense of renewal and gratitude that accompany the new season.
And, as is often the case, Easter coincides with Passover.

In a diverse workplace where the majority of employees may not be Christian, focus on the secular aspects of Easter. Put employee accomplishments and community first!

Read on for five reasons to include Easter employee appreciation in your spring planning this year.
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Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and celebrating traditions. Turkey has long-been the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, making it the symbol of the holiday, gratitude for the bounty of the meal, shared history and family and friends. So, why is a Thanksgiving turkey gift so meaningful?

While every group or family is different, there is something special about time together, gathering around the table, and enjoying each other’s company at the holidays. At gThankYou, we are passionate about what we do because it provides employers a way to celebrate team members in a way that honors gratitude and tradition.

A Thanksgiving turkey gift is so meaningful, it positively impacts both giver and recipient. You may not know this, but turkey gift-giving has been a workplace tradition for over a century.

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Last year, workplace Halloween festivities took place virtually. Despite the distance — and perhaps the initial awkwardness of dressing up for a Zoom party — events everywhere were successful! Halloween is a favorite holiday for many, offering an opportunity to tap into creativity and kid-like behaviors (candy binge, anyone?). In our current environment, everyone appreciates a chance to relax and have fun at work.

In this new world of work, workplace Halloween festivities may continue to be a hybrid event. Some workplaces will resume all-things-Halloween, with elaborate decorations, cutthroat costume contests and sugar-laden parties. Others are still remote, but with full intentions of celebrating. Either way, the options to have Halloween fun are endless.

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Celebrating Thanksgiving in the workplace is an appreciated and valuable way of showing gratitude to employees. Don’t miss out this year!
SHRM calls Thanksgiving workplace celebrations an “incredible tool” for managers.
A business veteran and author quoted by SHRM says that “in so many organizations, employees go through their days assuming that their co-workers, and especially their bosses, don’t notice or appreciate all of the hard work that they do.”
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Share Your Workplace Love with Donuts!

Friday, June 1st is National Donut Day and a perfect opportunity to celebrate colleagues with a donut, coffee (and maybe a side of fruit)!
Donuts are a time-honored workplace treat, so it’s fun to have an excuse to pick up a box for the office. After all, they’ve been a sign of appreciation since at least World War I!

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Brighten up the last few weeks of winter with these employee team-building ideas for Pi Day on March 14!
Pi Day — not to be confused with National Pie Day, our other favorite excuse to enjoy pie — is a holiday made up by math geeks to celebrate the irrational number that describes the ratio of a circle’s diameter to its circumference.
That number is typically rounded up and shortened to 3.14, so the holiday is celebrated on March 14. And 3.14 backwards spells … you guessed it, P-I-E. As PBS describes it, “Pi Day is a holiday for math (and pie) enthusiasts to celebrate their love of numbers.” (more…)