Everyone appreciates a little recognition for their hard work. Taking the initiative to acknowledge your employee's efforts and reward them for a job well done not only improves company culture but makes employees feel valued and more satisfied in their roles. Not to mention, when people feel appreciated and engaged at work, their motivation and productivity levels also increase. Here we've highlighted a few ways you and your team can celebrate together over the coming months. 

June - International Yoga Day

Start off the Winter with a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga or meditation practice on June 21st for International Yoga Day. While this day not only provides an opportunity for you to promote healthier lifestyles, it's also a great way to show how much you value your team and care about their mental and physical well-being.

Desk Yoga

Sitting at a desk for hours a day can cause pain and strain on employees' backs, necks and hips. Organise a yoga instructor to come in and demonstrate the various moves employees can do right from their desk to properly stretch and alleviate tension built up throughout the workday.

Meditation program

Mindfulness in the workplace can contribute to more engaged, happier and healthier employees. Following the lead of major brands like Nike and Google who offer meditation programs in their offices, consider starting one up in your own organisation. Gather all those interested and find a quiet, private space to meet for guided meditation. Apps like Headspace can be helpful in guiding your practice.

 July - National Workaholics Day

National Workaholics Day falls on the 5th of July. Despite the name, this day is great for showing appreciation for your employees who constantly put work first.

Personalized thank you

A short, hand-written thank you note is a thoughtful and cost-effective way to acknowledge your employees and remind them that you're aware of the great work they're producing.

Company happy hour

Organise a day to treat your employees to an opportunity to let loose and enjoy a drink. Organising an early dismissal and complimentary happy hour event at a local pub/restaurant is a fun way to thank your employees and encourage interoffice friendships.

August - National Relaxation Day

Stress causes numerous issues, including reduced productivity. Offering your employees a chance to relax and unwind on August 15 can help improve individuals health and your office environment.

Massage breaks

Sitting at a desk all day can be taxing on employees backs. Outsourcing an in-office chair massage therapists for your team to enjoy on their lunch break can be just the recharge they need.

Nutrient Boost

Give your employees a day off from packing their lunch and actually enjoy their break by offering a complimentary, energy-boosting spread. Nutrient-packed salads, lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables can provide your team with the fuel they need to finish the day strong.

September - World Gratitude Day

What better way to show appreciation for your employees than celebrating a day of gratitude? World Gratitude Day is September 21st. Encouraging employees to reflect on all they have to be grateful for and come together to give back is both rewarding and important for your company culture.

Food drive

Organising a food drive within your office to donate to your local food bank is a great way to give back to your community. You can make it a little more fun and streamlined by assigning specific food categories to each office department. For example:

Accounting - Breakfast

Marketing - Lunch

Human resources - Dinner

Talent share

Have a special skill your team excels at? Consider sharing your talents at a local youth centre. Whether it be a typing course, accounting basics or coding, organizing a workshop can be rewarding for both recipients and your team.

October - International coffee day

Coffee in the office is a no-brainer. Offer your employees a special take on their favourite coffee on the first of October for International Coffee Day.

Coffee & doughnut break

Invite employees to take a mid-morning break for provided coffee, doughnuts and conversation.

Guest barista

Depending on the size of the organisation, look at bringing in a barista for the morning to whip up more specialized coffee drinks for your team.

November - National Recycle Day

On November 15th encourage your office to make the effort to recycle and reduce waste for Recycling day. Celebrating this holiday with your employees is a great opportunity for raising awareness and reinforcing environmentally responsible practices within your organisation.

Reduce & reuse

Reduce waste in your office by surprising employees with branded coffee mugs, water bottles and lunch bag. By providing your team with a replacement for their disposable dishware you can help reduce their plastic use in and out of the office.

Office recycling program

Organising a company-wide recycling day can help prevent employees from throwing away items that could be recycled. Send out a reminder a few days leading up to November 15th in case employees have any electronics or items from home they'd like to recycle properly. You can find local e-waste hauliers by Googling “e-waste haulier {your city}.” Items to look out for in your office recycling initiative include:

E-waste - cell phones, computers, cables, CDs, etc.

Light bulbs

Batteries

Ink cartridges

Cardboard

Aluminium

Creating a pleasant company culture can dramatically improve your employee satisfaction in their jobs as well as overall production. Whether you choose to celebrate each of these holidays or just a couple, we're certain your team will thank you for it!