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Employee Appreciation Day is the perfect opportunity for organisations to show appreciation for their employees, through big and small gestures that help foster happier, more engaged workplaces.
Employee Appreciation Day 2025: Recognising an employee’s best work can help him or her feel valued and lead to other positive workplace outcomes. (Image: Shutterstock)
Happy Employee Appreciation Day 2025: Celebrated on the first Friday of March every year, Employee Appreciation Day is dedicated to recognising and thanking employees’ hard work towards the success and advancement of their company. On this day, employers have an opportunity to convey appreciation for the unwavering commitment, loyalty and ingenuity displayed by their workplace. This unique approach celebrates teamwork, lifts the morale of employees, and supports them with appreciation and acknowledgement.
In 2025, this day will be celebrated on March 7. The day was first introduced in 1995 as an unofficial holiday. As the day approaches, let’s take a closer look at the history, significance, inspiring quotes, and wishes for this day.
What Do You Say On Employee Appreciation Day?
- Acknowledging The Individual: The most effective recognition is being honest, authentic and tailored to how each employee wants to be recognised. Acknowledging employees’ best work can be a low-cost endeavour; it can be as small as a handwritten note or a thank-you card. From public recognition or acknowledgement via an award or certificate and private recognition from a boss or customer to promotions and monetary awards such as a trip, prize or pay increase, know what makes it memorable for the employee.
- Recognition From All Sides: The best managers foster a recognition-rich environment in which praise flows from all directions and everyone is aware of how others prefer to be appreciated. This type of employee feedback should be frequent and timely to ensure that the employee knows the significance of the recent achievement and to reinforce company values. Recognising an employee’s best work can help him or her feel valued and lead to other positive workplace outcomes.
Employee Appreciation Day 2025: History
National Employee Appreciation Day dates back to 1995. Dr Bob Nelson, a founding member of Recognition Professionals International, proposed Employee Appreciation Day as an unofficial holiday in 1995.
He recognised the importance of appreciating and valuing employees’ contributions to the workplace. With this initiative, Nelson aimed to highlight the role of employees’ in business tasks, reaching out beyond their sets of responsibilities to ensure the smooth working of companies.
Inspired by a study that highlighted the benefits of building the employee-employer bond through proper acknowledgement, Nelson understood that employee satisfaction is critical to a company’s success. This day serves as a sign of the importance of recognising both employers and employees working in the office cultures.
Employee Appreciation Day Wishes
- Wishing you a very happy Employee Appreciation Day! We are incredibly grateful for your hard work and dedication. You’re an essential part of our team’s success!
- We are so grateful for your creativity, hard work, and passion. Your dedication to your job is inspiring, and we are fortunate to have you as a member of our team. Happy Employee Appreciation Day.
- Thank you for always going the extra mile. Your willingness to help and positive attitude make a real difference. Happy Employee Appreciation Day!
- Happy Employee Appreciation Day! We recognize the effort and energy you put into your work every day. Thank you for being an important part of our team.
- Wishing you all the best on Employee Appreciation Day and every day! We appreciate everything you do.
- Your positive attitude and can-do spirit are contagious. Thank you for always bringing a smile to the workplace. Happy Employee Appreciation Day!
- We are so lucky to have you as part of our team. You are a true asset to our company. Happy Employee Appreciation Day!
- Thank you for your continuous learning and growth mindset. You are always striving to be your best. Happy Employee Appreciation Day!
- On this Employee Appreciation Day, we want to express our gratitude for your tireless efforts and unwavering commitment. Your contributions are invaluable, and we are lucky to have you on our team.
- Your hard work and dedication are the backbone of our organisation. We appreciate all that you do, and we are grateful to have you on our team. Happy Employee Appreciation Day.
Employee Appreciation Day 2025: Quotes
- “By putting the employee first, the customer effectively comes first by default, and in the end, the shareholder comes first by default as well.” — Richard Branson
- “Good manners are cost-effective. They not only increase the quality of life in the workplace, but they also contribute to employee morale, embellish the company image, and play a major role in generating profit.” — Letitia Baldrige
- “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person—not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, and more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.” — Anne M. Mulcahy
- “So, being a good man is not an exam or a qualification, it changes, and it incorporates being a good friend, a good father, a good employee, a good boss, a good neighbour and a good citizen.” — AA Gill
- “Employee of the month is a good example of how somebody can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.”— Demetri Martin
- “Employee loyalty begins with employer loyalty. Your employees should know that if they do the job they were hired to do with a reasonable amount of competence and efficiency, you will support them.” — Harvey Mackay
- “One thing an exceptional employee never says is, ‘That’s not in my job description.’ Exceptional employees work outside the boundaries of job descriptions.” — Travis Bradberry
- “It might be said that it is the ideal of the employer to have production without employees and the ideal of the employee is to have income without work.” — E. F. Schumacher
- “If you are only doing what you are getting paid for, and doing it no better than the average employee, then your pay is most likely right where it should be.” — Bo Bennett
- “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” — Albert Schweitzer
Employee Appreciation Day 2025: Importance Of Employee Recognition
The importance of Employee Appreciation Day is multifaceted. Recognising and appreciating employees’ hard work and efforts can boost their morale, motivate them, build culture, reinforce company core values, retain top employees and enhance their performance.
This day shows that their contributions are valued and that their efforts are not going unnoticed. And those workers who feel valued are also more likely to be engaged and committed to their work.
Employee Appreciation Day is the perfect opportunity for organisations to show appreciation for their employees, through big and small gestures that help foster happier, more engaged workplaces.
