When everyone is focused on meeting goals, it can be difficult to set aside time to celebrate company wins. But according to one survey, more than 40 percent of employees considered leaving their position in 2018 because they didn’t feel recognized for their contributions. Whether you want to celebrate an employee’s work anniversary or a company milestone, it pays to have creative employee appreciation ideas at your fingertips. Here are 12 employee appreciation ideas you can pull together with a little planning.

1. Throw a Theme Party

Take a quick survey to discover your office’s shared obsessions. Then give them the gift of a party to unwind, catch up, and celebrate recent successes. Order swag bags, party decorations, and on-theme catering for your blowout.

2. Relax, Nap, or Meditate

Help your colleagues ditch the stress headache. Offer chair massages, meditation sessions, a pre-lunch yoga session, or go all out and rent a nap pod to give your team some extra zen.

3. Rent Pets for a Day

Petting a furry friend can reduce stress and improve your mood. Rent a conference room’s worth of puppies or kittens to show employees your appreciation for all their hard work.

4. Host a Peer-to-Peer Awards Show

Peer recognition can feel just as good as a thumbs-up from a manager, and it can be a great way to encourage collaboration in the office, too. Organize an awards afternoon with bubbly kombucha, gift certificates, and office-friendly party food.  

5. Combine Happy Hour with Entertainment

Plenty of employee appreciation events start and end with beer or wine tastings. But you can amp up your happy hour with karaoke, live music, a ping-pong tournament, or bar trivia to keep conversation flowing. 

6. Beautify Your Break Room

Create a comfortable break room to help employees unwind. Stock up on snacks, board games, and adult coloring books to help your team recharge. 

7. Meet Your Mentor Day

Professional development is a great way to boost employee retention, so try to make it a regular occasion. A monthly “Mentor Day” for employees and their supervisors to catch up, eat lunch, and plan for the future can make this employee appreciation program beneficial for everyone involved.

8. Take a Break with Team Building

Take your company on a team-building outing in your city. Try rock climbing, hiking, or signing up for a charity race. Food trucks and coffee carts also give everyone a chance to head outside and blow off some steam.

9. Give Back

Employees who have the opportunity to volunteer their time feel more engaged in their work. Plant trees, fix up a local playground, or establish a relationship with a nonprofit in your city. Your team will feel energized, excited, and full of good will.

10. Welcome Wellness

If you don’t have a company gym, look for smaller ways to encourage your employees to take care of themselves, whether that’s launching a step competition or scheduling walking meetings.

11. Enjoy a Catered Fiesta

If your team has worked overtime to complete a big project, consider holding an on-site fiesta to celebrate crossing the finish line. DIY taco bars, bottomless guacamole, tortas, tamales, and other Mexican catering favorites make a festive menu for a special employee appreciation event.

12. Viva Vacation Days

To prevent job burnout, encourage your employees to take a day off. After all, one of the best ways to show employees your appreciation is to give them some well-earned rest.