Virtual employee appreciation ideas: Games, apps, gifts & more

Did you know that the first Friday of March is employee appreciation day? While celebrating this day is a great idea, every day should be like an appreciation when you have an amazing team.

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With a few simple steps, you can make your usual virtual team building activities more appreciation-based. In this article, you’ll find all the virtual employee appreciation ideas you need to make your team feel special. 

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Idea 1: Try Appreciation Shower on Gomada

Peer-to-peer recognition is one of the most powerful tools to strengthen team bonds and boost morale. Appreciation shower lets you channel that power by having each person share something they appreciate about another team member. This could be a specific contribution that person made, a skill or talent they possess, or something they enjoy about working with that person. You'll leave the session feeling more valued for your own contributions and more grateful for the team. Try it for free on Gomada. 

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Check out what your session could look like:

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Idea 2: Set up virtual employee appreciation games yourself

Games can help remote employees bond and learn more about each other. As a result, you will have happier, more motivated, and more engaged employees. To find virtual employee appreciation games, all you need to do is to get creative. Or, let Confetti plan one for you!

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A) Create a Kahoot! quiz about your team’s accomplishments.

You can turn Kahoot quizzes into employee appreciation activities by creating questions about your employees’ accomplishments. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
- Who closed an important deal with X company this Friday?

- Who is the newest member of our team that we look forward to working with?

- Which team member graduated from Oxford University with honors? 

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B) Show that you appreciate their feelings by playing Complete the Sentence.

Companies with engaged employees make more profits. And 69% of employees say that they would work harder if they felt better appreciated at work. Why not ask your team what can be improved at work? In this game, you would ask your employees to complete sentences according to their feelings: 

- What I love the most about our team is…
- I feel appreciated when…
- I like it when…

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C) Spare some time to set up a murder mystery game.

Taking the time for people shows that you appreciate them. If you have some extra time, you can set up a fun murder mystery for your team to enjoy an interactive game.

Idea 3: Create a virtual recognition wall

A virtual recognition wall, also known as a virtual recognition board or kudos wall, helps celebrate your team’s wins and makes them feel seen. If you want to start with a free virtual recognition wall, look no further than your company’s Slack channel. You can create dedicated channels to highlight your employees’ achievements and encourage them to recognize each other. 

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If you want to get more out of your virtual recognition wall, consider investing in an engagement tool:

• Kudos helps with peer-to-peer recognition, engagement, and employee milestones.
• Motivosity helps with public recognition.‍
• Lattice helps with goal-related recognition.

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Idea 4: Use rewards to show appreciation

Rewards motivate employees and show that you care about them, especially if they’re personalized. Thanks to some online tools, giving good gifts and rewards is easier: 

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• Give experience-based rewards with Blueboard. Blueboard’s rewards offer a wide range of experiences, from barista training to pottery classes. Whether you have a team of foodies, art lovers, or outdoor enthusiasts, you can find an activity that matches your employees’ interests.
• Distribute points to your employees with Bonusly. In Bonusly, team members gather points from each other, which can be exchanged for cash or gift cards later on. This is also a great way to build a connection between your team.
• Offer worldwide perks and discounts with Perkbox. Perkbox has over 4,000 perks and discounts from the biggest brands worldwide.

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How do you appreciate employees virtually?

You know what they say; a simple thank you goes a long way. You can send a digital thank you card to put a smile on your employees’ faces. Setting a reminder is a good first step if you want to turn it into a habit. While at it, you can also plan virtual team building activities into your schedule.

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How do I show gratitude virtually?

You can use apps that build a gratitude culture in your company. For example, in HeyTaco, everyone has five tacos to give per day. Tacos are tokens of gratitude, and you can also add a personal message while giving them. 

What are some good ideas for employee appreciation day?

This employee appreciation day, consider sparing some time to ensure that your employees are happy with work. Planning a personal activity and sending a lovely gift would be thoughtful gestures.

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1. Your personal & thankful activity: Gomada’s 1:1s

Gomada’s 1:1s activity helps you plan one-on-one sessions with all your employees simultaneously. You can strengthen your bonds and thank team members privately by spending some personal time with them. While you’re talking with one person, the other employees will be chatting and bonding, too — two birds with one stone!

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2. Gift a work-from-home stipend

It’s important that your employees are comfortable while working remotely. A good idea for rewarding remote team members is to treat them with a WFH stipend. This will make sure that they have all the equipment they need. 

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3. Send a care package

If you’ve played enough team-building games, chances are, you already know what your employees like. A personalized care package with their favorite sweets and scents can be a great gift.

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How do you thank a colleague virtually?

There are many creative ways of thanking remote colleagues, from reward apps to virtual game nights. You can start with some free team building activities to build the connection between your employees. 

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Want to know which team building activity suits your team best? At Gomada, we will analyze your needs and match you with the right virtual employee appreciation ideas.