12 Creative Employee Appreciation Ideas for Large Companies

1. Why Is It Important to Appreciate Employees in Large Organizations?

Particularly in bigger organizations, individual employee contributions can get lost in the maelstrom of the workplace. Taking the time to implement even no-cost employee appreciation ideas for large companies can have a positive impact on staff engagement, morale, and retention.

Research by SurveyMonkey found 63% of people who are “always” or “usually” recognized at work consider themselves “very unlikely” to seek a new job in the next 3-6 months, whereas only 11% of those who are “never” or “rarely” recognized feel the same way.

2. Employee Appreciation Ideas for Large Companies

2.1. Organize a Company Trivia 

Trivia is a great way to show company-wide appreciation for your entire team. Your team members get a fun opportunity to showcase their knowledge and expertise on different aspects of the company. It also adds an element of entertainment to the appreciation process. If you are looking to run it on a large scale minus the hassle of figuring out in-office logistics, you can try a Virtual Trivia session with a professional team building company like Hooray Teams.

From company history, milestones to employee quirks and much more, you can enjoy 4-to 5 rounds of rapid-fire trivia questions led by an engaging host.  This fun virtual team building platform helps you organize a hosted trivia by tailoring the session with questions related to your company. The only thing your team needs to do is log in to the provided link to have an amazing time together.

2.2. Host a Mixology Party 

Considering large numbers can be difficult to plan for an in-office event, raise a toast to your employees with the help of a  Virtual Mixology Class by Hooray Teams. In this exciting 60-minute session, a seasoned bartender will guide you and your group through the art of crafting delectable DIY drinks alongside timeless favorites. Employees will enjoy learning and sampling concoctions that otherwise they might not get to try out.

Hooray Teams handle all the organizational details, ensuring that you and your team have a delightful time. Ahead of the session, a carefully curated kit containing all the necessary ingredients and garnishes will be sent to your team member's homes. Your only task is to assemble your team and prepare to savor the concoctions.

2.3. Solve a Murder Mystery

If you are looking for a more unconventional way to appreciate your employees, consider some spine-tingling virtual Murder Mysteries with Hooray Teams. This fun virtual team-building platform offers an amazing selection of six mystery sessions for you and your team to explore.

Our top recommendation for a team gathering is the popular Virtual Murder at the Manor. Immerse yourself in this murder mystery where you and your teammates must figure out the clues to crack the case of Lord Falconer's murder. An engaging host will lead you and your team  through the event to ensure you have a great time 

2.4. Participate In a Virtual Escape Room

Offbeat but highly engaging, virtual escape rooms have been a popular choice for employee engagement and one of the best options to express employee appreciation too. Hooray Teams, a fun hosted team building platform offers six themed  Virtual Escape Rooms, so you and your theme can choose. 

If an air of mystique appeals to your team, choose The Alchemist. For those inclined towards a more chilling atmosphere, options like Patient 360 or Dungeon Things await. Alternatively, you can transport your team to a retro-themed setting with the Mafia 360 experience. The choice is yours for an unforgettable celebration.

2.5. Give Out Concert/Movie Tickets

Movie tickets are a solid employee appreciation idea for large companies because they provide flexibility and choice for the employee. Staff can choose what they would prefer to see, whether it’s the latest rom-com or a detective thriller. 

You can also give out gift cards for popular sites like Ticketmaster or Live Nation as part of your employee recognition program. So your team can choose what theater shows or concerts they might like to go and see. Even if the vouchers are for a modest value, they will still be appreciated for offsetting the overall cost. 

2.6. Host Annual Award Programs

If you are looking for employee appreciation day event ideas, an annual awards ceremony or program is a great way to provide a formal platform to acknowledge great work and star performers. They also come with the additional benefit of acting as a motivational tool, encouraging other employees to strive harder so they, too, can receive an accolade or prize. You can help employees feel more involved in the process by letting them nominate their peers for deserving categories..

These events can be as elaborate or as simple as your budget requires. The most important part of hosting an awards event is the public recognition that you give your employees.

2.7. DIY Workshops 

Yet another creative employee appreciation idea to consider is do-it-yourself creative sessions where teams can learn while having fun. This works great when you have small to medium-sized teams like hosted DIY workshops by Hooray Teams. This virtual team building platform plays host to a plethora of activities that you can pick and choose for your employees based on their preferences.

If your employees want something art-inclined, there is Paint a Tote and Virtual Paint Class available. On the other hand, if the majority are seeking a culinary experience, choose quick and easy Cooking Pasta at Home or Hot Sauce Making Class. This creative and interactive approach adds a personal touch to appreciation, ensuring employees get to explore a variety of interests

2.8. Sponsored Vacations

If you are looking for classic employee appreciation ideas for large companies that will always be a hit,  then look no further than sponsored vacations. Give team members the flexibility to choose from a variety of destinations and experiences to ensure they pick something that fits their interests the best. 

Companies like Airbnb provide their employees with travel credit each year. This is used to book stays or experiences on the Airbnb platform. 

2.9. Send Gifts on Their Special Occasions

Giving staff small presents on special occasions is a more personal way for managers to show they are invested in their team. Special occasions such as welcoming a child into their home, getting married, purchasing a new house, or even work anniversaries can be acknowledged. Universal favorites like scented candles, a box of chocolates, or desk plants are all simple gifts that won’t break the bank and will always be valued.

To ensure consistency across the organization, it's advisable to allot a budget to respective line managers for each employee on their team to spend per year on these occasions. 

2.10. Introduce Flexi Hours 

Introducing flexible working hours is a great way to show appreciation for your employees, acknowledge their diverse needs and empower them with a better work-life balance. Everybody needs to take a day off, whether for a doctor’s appointment or perhaps just because they’re going through a particularly stressful time at work or home. 

Being flexible with days off and hours shows you appreciate someone’s contribution and are, therefore, willing to give them some leeway when it comes to taking a necessary break. You might even consider letting people take the day off for their birthday as a bonus. 

2.11. Make Appreciation Public

It is important to reward employees in a public manner. It helps boost morale, inspires others, and contributes to a positive company culture. From social media shout-outs to creating a dedicated slack channel there can be a 10-20% boost in revenue and productivity if people receive weekly praise. 

Working employee appreciation into your regular team or 1:1 meetings allows you to call out positive behaviors and actions without having to make any scheduling shifts or introduce new procedures or software into the mix.

2.12. Customized Company Swag

Customized company swag is a great way to show your employees that you care while promoting company pride. These items typically feature the company logo, colors, or a special appreciation message. Branded merchandise can include items like T-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, coffee mugs, tote bags, and even hats. To make it even better, think about adding things for employees' pets and kids to your company swag program.

You can consider setting up a virtual company store to offer employees more freedom and variety in their swag choices. This online store would allow employees to pick and choose the swag items they like best, making the experience more personalized and accommodating to their preferences.

3. FAQs

3.1. What are some employee appreciation food ideas?

Company picnics are one of the long-standing employee appreciation ideas for large companies. You can also organize an annual dinner or treat your staff to a meal once in a while, whether in person or via delivery. Consider providing sweet treats like donuts or cupcakes to celebrate a team win.

3.2. What are some creative ideas for employee appreciation week?

If you have a whole week dedicated to acknowledging staff contributions, you can get creative by trying out different employee appreciation activity ideas, such as arranging fun activities, like talent shows, office Olympics, or even a food truck cooking up trendy eats.

3.3. Name some employee appreciation day ideas for large companies.

Some employee appreciation ideas for large companies include hosting a Recognition Awards Gala, Employee Picnic, Personalized Gifts, Charity Events, Wellness Fair, Professional Development Day, Team Challenges, Surprise Celebrations, Food Trucks, Employee Art or Talent Show, Appreciation Wall, and Recognition Video.

3.4. What are some employee appreciation week ideas?

Some great employee appreciation week ideas include personalized thank-you notes, virtual team-building activities, themed dress-up days, surprise virtual guest speakers, and a virtual awards ceremony to recognize outstanding contributions.

While hiring a skilled workforce is the first step to creating a successful business, making sure that the workforce is engaged and motivated is the key to sustained success. In today’s market, there’s greater competition than ever for talent, which makes having a clear retention strategy more important than ever. This is where employee appreciation ideas for large companies come in.

Acknowledging and praising your team for a job well done is one of the pillars of successful company cultures. To give you some inspiration for how this can be achieved, we’ve assembled some diverse examples of employee appreciation ideas for large companies below.