Thanksgiving is a time to reflect, give thanks, and express gratitude. While traditionally celebrated with family and friends around a hearty meal, this season also presents a golden opportunity to foster appreciation in the workplace. After all, employees are the backbone of every organization, and acknowledging their hard work can boost morale, improve engagement, and strengthen team spirit. Whether your team is in-office, hybrid, or fully remote, here are some fantastic workplace thanksgiving Ideas for employees to make everyone feel valued and connected this holiday season.
Why Celebrate Thanksgiving at Work?
Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pumpkin pie – it’s about gratitude. In a workplace setting, that translates to recognizing employees’ contributions and creating a culture of appreciation. Celebrating Thanksgiving at work is a chance to:
- Thank employees for their dedication and hard work.
- Strengthen bonds between team members.
- Foster a positive work environment.
- Remind everyone how much they’re valued as individuals.
Now that we’ve established why Thanksgiving matters, let’s explore workplace thanksgiving ideas for employees that will help you celebrate in style.
1. Host a Gratitude Wall or Virtual Gratitude Board
Encourage employees to share what they’re thankful for by setting up a Gratitude Wall in your office. Provide sticky notes, pens, and a designated space where team members can write down their thoughts. This simple activity promotes positivity and brings the team closer together.
For hybrid or remote teams, take this concept online. Use collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Miro to create a virtual gratitude board. Employees can post messages, images, or even short videos expressing their thanks. After all, compared to manager-only recognition, peer-to-peer recognition has a 35.7% higher chance of boosting financial results.
2. Organize a Thanksgiving Potluck or Recipe Swap
Food brings people together, and a potluck is a perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving. Invite team members to bring their favorite dishes to share. To make it more inclusive, consider labeling items with dietary preferences and allergies.
For remote teams, host a virtual recipe swap! Employees can share their favorite Thanksgiving recipes via email or a dedicated Slack channel. Take it up a notch by creating a company recipe book, which can be shared with everyone as a token of appreciation.
3. Send Thanksgiving E-Cards with Personalized Messages
Sometimes, a heartfelt message goes a long way. HR leaders or managers can send out Thanksgiving e-cards to employees, highlighting their unique contributions to the team.
Personalized messages show that you see and appreciate each employee’s individual efforts. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to spread gratitude, especially for remote or hybrid teams.
4. Gift Employees an Experience They’ll Cherish
Rather than traditional gifts like mugs or tote bags, consider giving your employees the gift of an experience. Through Virgin Incentives, you can provide experiences such as hot air balloon rides, cooking classes, wine tastings, or relaxing spa days.
Our Gift cards are a fantastic way to let employees choose their own adventure, whether it’s an adrenaline-pumping supercar drive or a serene river cruise. It’s a thoughtful, memorable way to show appreciation – and one they’ll never forget.
5. Host a Thanksgiving-Themed Trivia or Game Night
Inject some fun into your celebrations with a Thanksgiving trivia quiz. Divide the team into groups and test their knowledge on topics like Thanksgiving history, famous foods, or holiday movies. Offer small prizes to the winners to make it competitive and exciting.
For remote teams, organize a virtual trivia night or games session. Platforms like Kahoot or Jackbox Games make it easy to engage everyone, no matter where they are.
6. Create a Thanksgiving Charity Drive
Thanksgiving is also a time to give back to the community. Organize a food drive, clothing collection, or fundraising event to support local charities. Employees can drop off donations at the office or contribute online to a company-organized fundraiser. Here are some charity ideas your business can use.
For remote teams, consider setting up a virtual charity campaign where employees can donate directly to a cause chosen by the company.
7. Offer a Day of Thanks with Extra Time Off
One of the simplest ways to show your appreciation is by giving employees a little extra time to relax and recharge. Offering an additional day off around Thanksgiving allows employees to spend more time with their loved ones, which they’ll surely appreciate. 61% of people said being able to see family or friends who live far away was what they were most looking forward to for Thanksgiving.
8. Host a Virtual Thanksgiving Toast or Coffee Chat
Gather your team for a virtual Thanksgiving toast to wrap up the holiday season. Encourage managers and team members to share what they’re thankful for and reflect on the year’s accomplishments. This informal gathering helps build camaraderie, even when miles apart.
Pair it with a small gesture like sending employees a coffee shop gift card so they can enjoy their favorite brew during the call. Our upcoming multi-choice gift card, Leisure Choice can be perfect for this! Especially with brands such as Starbucks to choose from.
9. Showcase Employee Achievements
Take this opportunity to highlight specific achievements or milestones reached by employees. Whether it’s a company-wide shoutout, an awards ceremony, or a simple email recognition, acknowledging hard work is a great way to show gratitude.
10. Celebrate with Thanksgiving-Themed Decorations and Music
Decorate your office with Thanksgiving themes, such as pumpkins, autumn leaves, and cozy lighting. Play a Thanksgiving playlist in the background to set the mood.
Remote teams can also get involved by joining a virtual “decorate your space” challenge. Employees can show off their festive home setups during a video call, with a prize for the most creative design.
Bring Gratitude to the Heart of Your Workplace
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to foster appreciation and connection in your workplace. By implementing these workplace thanksgiving ideas for employees, you can create a celebration that leaves a lasting impression, no matter where your team members are based.
If you’re looking to go the extra mile, Virgin Incentives can help you say thanks in a way your employees will never forget. From unique experiences to flexible gift cards, we offer options that show you truly care. Ready to make this Thanksgiving unforgettable for your team? Get in touch with our team below to find out about our range of employee rewards and gifts today:
