A Month of Savings with 4 Weekly Appreciation Themes Employees Will Actually Use

Employee appreciation is a value your company can celebrate beyond an annual appreciation day. Make employee appreciation a month-long celebration with focused weekly themes to allow intentional elevation of your benefits, discounts, and people. Check out these four weekly theme ideas to spark inspiration for your organization’s next campaign.

1. Work-Life Balance Benefits for All

Start broad during week one and then zoom in on your company’s work-life balance benefits package. Use this week to showcase everything they get access to as a member of the team. Elevate each employee discount’s value in financial terms, as well as time savings and life enhancement.

Workplace discount programs democratize access to valuable deals on daily expenses and annual indulgences. When your program maximizes your employees’ take-home pay, the benefits go beyond dollar value. Employees can afford to take more time off to rest, recharge, and have new experiences that enhance their lives.

Pair discount opportunities with core benefits like paid time off, flexible schedules, and shift work options. If your company operates on multiple shifts, employees might be able to flex their time or take advantage of differentials. This type of flexibility can be a game-changer when managing family demands that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Showcase the customization your team has to curate their work-life balance model within the bounds of your company policies. Offer example schedules, employee stories, and tips to help employees get the most out of their day.

One employee might start their day 30 minutes earlier to allow for a long lunch break. During their break, they fit in a workout at the nearby gym where they enjoy a discounted membership. Cost-effective wellness initiatives like these become a reality when employees gain time flexibility and access to affordable wellness.

2. Mental Health Matters

Life is stressful, but it’s hard for many people to articulate, let alone understand, how cumulative stress impacts their wellbeing. That’s why elevating the importance of mental health and how your organization supports employees’ ability to access care is crucial.

Focus a week on mental health, what it is, and how team members can foster positive mental well-being each day. Showcase your employee resources through your employee assistance program, often accessible to employees and their families. From one-time mental health check-ins to online wellbeing platforms, there’s an option for everyone.

Mental health workplace resources can be a lifeline to employees who are struggling, as reaching out for help is difficult. Provide an overview of benefits, perks, and discounts that support mental health. Share the discretion that providers offer, an important clarification as stigma often discourages people from getting help.

Collaborate with teams and small groups to normalize conversations about mental health. This can reduce social stigma and fear while extending the message of your company’s support options to every department.

3. Health and Wellness Expo

A healthier team is happier, more productive, and safer at work. Individuals managing health conditions like sleep apnea can experience life-altering accidents at work that could be avoided.

Help your workforce improve their health by connecting them with resources, programs, and incentives designed to facilitate lasting change. Population health trends can help identify key areas to improve, such as diabetes risk and management, a widespread health risk.

Host a health and wellness expo that highlights program benefits and offers activations on-site. Encourage sign-ups for wellness challenges by incentivizing with rewards, giveaways, and discounts that further support company wellness goals.

Get the whole team involved by making a game of signups and the goal at large. Kick off a company-wide challenge where there are major rewards and bragging rights on the line. Set a goal, a reward, and a deadline where the winner will be announced to get people motivated to improve their health.

4. Reward Discovery Zone

Sync your schedules with the whole family for a rewards fair that everyone will love. Invite program vendors to your event site to showcase their food, products, and opportunities for employees and their families.

Take inspiration from a summer festival, no matter what time of year it is, and focus on fun. Blow up photos of top vacation sites and outline an affordable itinerary fueled by your corporate employee discount program. When your employees can see the value that’s available to them, they’ll be more likely to start planning their next trip.

Oftentimes, there’s one family member that manages the budget, travel planning, or both – and there’s no guarantee they’re your employee. Family events like these allow key household members a chance to learn about programs first-hand, often leading to increased utilization.

Celebrate Your People with Intention and Enthusiasm

Get your leadership team and company thought leaders involved in your initiative to align your efforts with employee sentiment. This strategy reveals valuable insights that surveys and team meetings otherwise might miss. Structure your campaigns to meet every employee at every phase, stage, and shift to ensure inclusion.

Treat your initiative as you would a marketing campaign, striving to relate to each customer type. When your people feel seen, appreciated, and acknowledged for their contributions, they bring their best work forward every day.