January 28, 2025

3 Employee Appreciation Ideas for your San Francisco Team

Want to show employees that you truly care and appreciate their efforts? Read on for insights.

Employee Appreciation Day might sound like a novelty to some employers even though it first appeared on workplace calendars almost 30 years ago. It’s meant to recognize and reward the staff for their efforts and loyalty. While there is a designated Employee Appreciation Day every year (the first Friday of March), you don’t have to stick to the rules. Appreciate your employees any day of the year!

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Praise and recognition can be given in different ways. You might opt for a monetary incentive especially if your secondary goal is to boost retention, however as Forbes advises, employees respond better to an incentive that leaves a memorable emotional impression, no matter the form.

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In fact, any group activity you organize for your team that doesn’t involve actual work might be considered as showing appreciation. Take the cocktail crafting class that Spaciously can arrange right in your office. You’ll both recognize your team’s contributions and make a toast to them (that is, if someone manages to craft something drinkable).

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Spaciously has a wide network of small San Francisco businesses and can help you organize your next team activity that will speak appreciation louder than words. Here are ideas to get you started.

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Classic Team Socials that Enhance Team Bonds

If you want to show how much you value your team’s accomplishments, why not organize a whole day of play! Treat your team to a virtual reality experience—go to a local arcade or rent vintage game stations to transform your office into an imaginary (though seemingly quite real) universe. Your team can enjoy single or multiplayer experiences which require teamwork and collaboration. You can organize contests and give out prizes to make it feel even more special. Other fun activities that promote team bonding and help build relationships include board games and crafting.

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Bond Over Food

Who doesn’t like a thoughtful and useful gift? Let your employees decide what’s useful for them by thoughtfully planning a pizza making class. You can just tell your staff that it’s okay not to eat that crispy-black crust.

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If that paragraph didn’t make you think of cheese, perhaps a charcuterie and cheese board class will? Not only will your employees learn how to twist meats and swirl cheeses to make them look appealing on a rustic board, but they will also get to taste their creations!

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Foster Connections

Another great way to give kudos to your team and show your employees that you believe in their potential is to organize an art therapy session. A typical group activity would be to create a collage made of smaller paint-by-number images colored by different employees. Prepare the black and white images in advance so those who think they can’t draw or paint don’t feel intimidated. This exercise has a great therapeutic potential. It also promotes creativity and helps build partnerships as employees would have to put all the images together into one. Trust us, that does require coordination. If that sounds too mellow, you can add wine tasting to the session. Fair warning, someone might attempt to paint with wine, though.

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Spaciously has many other options but if you aren’t sure which one to pick, let us help.

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Consider an Employee Appreciation Day to thank your staff for their efforts and contributions. Employees are a company’s most valuable asset to be nurtured and recognized.

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Browse all team activities