Employee appreciation is typically celebrated at the end of April, but showing appreciation to employees should be a yearlong initiative for every company. Read on for some imaginative ways to show your employees how much you value their commitment to your organization.

Hold a management-prepared potluck lunch for all employees. Ordering lunch is a great way to say thanks to employees, but if you want to make your event a little more special, have the management team make the lunch .  This will show them you really went the extra mile.  Make sure to include cards in front of each dish so customers know who made it.  Hand out lunch gift packages to each employee.  Package them in a lunch or event cooler and include useful items such as a folding umbrella, travel mug and a photo frame.

Arrange an employee picnic at a local park.  Give employees an early dismissal on a Friday in spring or summer and hold a picnic at a local park.  Grill dinner for everyone and bring outdoor games such as volleyball, baggo and bocce for employees to play.  Give each employee in attendance a logoed camp chair.  They can use them at the event and take them home to use all year long.

Promote a stress-free work environment with a relaxation break.  Bring in a smoothie bar and a massage therapist and rotate employees for a half hour of relaxation time during their busy day.  Hand out relaxation sets or stress balls to each employee with an invitation to their 30 minutes of stress relief.

Implement an employee of the week program. Pick an employee who has gone above and beyond each day or week and recognize them in front of the team.  Hold an impromptu gathering at the end of the day on Fridays to pull the team together and recognize the employee.  Give them a travel duffel or luggage piece and put their name in for a chance to win a weekend getaway.  Choose a winner at the end of each quarter to win a trip and use their new luggage.

Be creative in your employee events and make them as fun and stress-free as possible.  Everyone loves to receive a gift, so make sure to include a small token of thanks in your appreciation efforts.  When providing a gift it should be something useful or it's likely to be put in a desk somewhere and forgotten.

Best Promotions has a large selection of innovative and useful gifts for employee appreciation.  Visit our appreciation gifts store to find a product that will enhance your next thank you event.  Call us today for samples or a price quote.