No Cost/Low Cost Appreciation Activity Ideas - PowerPoint Presentation

No Cost/Low Cost Appreciation Activity IdeasThank each employee personally, don’t forget about those in an off-site rural area. If you can’t thank them in person, draft a hand-written note, make a phone call. Write a letter of recommendation or commendation to be placed in the employee’s personnel file.Display pictures of your unit employees in a visible area as a “Hall of Fame” collection. Offer employees a dress-down day.Feature state employees on the state website for their work in the community and/or their contributions to public service.Post banners, signs, flyers or posters in a prominent area to celebrate Employee Appreciation Week.Take pictures of your team and make a collage adding things they do for the unit you are thankful for.Ask a senior manager to attend a staff meeting when recognizing employees.Post an “Appreciation Bulletin Board” in each department or division and encourage employees to write accolades about co-workers.If you have a public information officer, have them contact your local newspaper and provide them with a news article or suggested story idea for State Employee Appreciation Day. Ask them to feature one or two of your employees using quotes or pictures. Choose an off-site location and plan a lunch provided by management. The 2019 Nevada State Employee Appreciation Week is May 5th–11th, with State Employee Appreciation Day Wednesday, May 8th.State Employee Appreciation Day was initiated in 2001 by the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE).Many states have proclamations signed by the Governor proclaiming a Public Employee Appreciation Day and/or Week.There are approximately two million state government employees across the country. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill May 5th - 11th, 2019

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” ~Steve JobsTips for Effectively Recognizing SomeoneTell them exactly what they did that was right.Tell them what value or goal they met.Explain how that impacts the agency or an individual.Express appreciation. Communicate clearly and often. More No Cost/Low Cost Appreciation Activity Ideas Hold a recognition breakfast, snack, lunch, ice cream social, or pizza party. Don’t ask your employees to cook or help out. Remember, this is to celebrate your employee’s hard work and dedication to public service. Sponsor a snack-related event, featuring cake, popcorn, or chips and dip and include a written message of thanks to employees for their dedicated service. Award certificates or plaques. Post banners and signs with employee’s names and make it an “Employee Appreciation” theme. Decorate your employee’s work area with bright and festive decorations. Provide mugs, pens, or t-shirts with an agency logo. Give gift cards for books, CDs, or a favorite coffee shop.Plan an employee barbecue for Employee Appreciation Day or communicate that it will be held at a later time if more planning is required.Purchase items such as planners and/or portfolios, business card holders, special name plates or clocks. Purchase note cards and have each employee recognize a co-worker. Distribute Employee Appreciation Day buttons or ribbons to wear.Plan a fitness walk. Invite employees to participate in a walk, such as around the State Capitol. Provide healthy refreshments and entertainment (music) for an hour or so after the walk.

Past Nevada Agency ActivitiesDHHS had a week of themed dress-up days, such as “cowboy hat day” and “mustache day”. Every morning, employees would receive a little gift at their desk to include them in the theme of the day. Participating employees were also entered into a raffle, and all employees were permitted to wear jeans for the week.The Department of Public Safety employees voluntarily contributed to gift baskets which were then raffled. Each unit/section used the proceeds to recognize employees throughout the year with special events. Additionally, employees were permitted to wear jeans during appreciation week.The Department of Motor Vehicles recognizes agency employees by sending out thank you letters and notes from leadership, holding a barbecue and fun social events every day of appreciation week.The Public Utilities Commission management staff visited each employee individually and served desserts from a traveling “Ice Cream Wagon” (a transformed computer cart that acted as an ice cream smorgasbord).The Attorney General’s Office’s management team held a nacho lunch and each employee received a Mouse Pad with the Attorney General’s logo.The Director of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services sent a motivational email to all department employees, and the Reno office held an onsite potluck barbecue.The Department of Wildlife held regional barbeques with funds donated by their Leadership Committee. Special awards were given, simple and fun games were played and the Employee of the Year was announced.The Department of Administration, Risk Management Division, hosted a luncheon, gave staff flowers, handmade stars, and had a “Minute to Win It” challenge with other Department Divisions. “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. ~ Henry Ford