Here’s what Andy Holt, Principal of Engagement and Experience says:
“Anybody who’s read my selected musings/rants on Linkedin about ‘special days’ might know I have a bee in my bonnet about ‘national days of this and that’. So, faced with the opportunity to face off with my good colleague Tom, the prospect of a good old boomer bashing Gen Z seemed too good to pass up the chance.
“Confession here though, I’m not technically a boomer. I exist in that hinterland between Boomer and Gen X. Something I’m reliably informed is called ‘Generation Jones’ and apparently the characteristics assigned to us are pessimism, distrust of government and general cynicism. That bodes well!
“Especially for someone who’s generally optimistic!
“Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Today, it’s National Employee Appreciation Day. A day to appreciate your colleagues, connect with them, offer authentic praise while listening to their experiences, challenges, and successes and, no doubt, eat considerable amounts of cake.
“All good stuff, I’m sure we’d all agree, so what’s my beef with it?
“It’s simple, really. As someone who values his colleagues and works in the profession of engagement, I’m a fully paid-up member of the ‘pat-on-the-back’ club. For me, it’s much more important to live the appreciation philosophy day-in-day-out. While I recognise there are moments when we need those special moments (recognition awards, celebrations, etc), employee appreciation is a continuous process, not something we store up for a one-day splurge. Especially one that was dreamt up by a US marketing company!
“Do we really need one day of superficial ‘thank you, mate’, or is it more important to build a culture of appreciation that is central to the organisational DNA, owned and lived by its people? I definitely subscribe to the latter and, thankfully, have benefitted from those who believed that recognition is a continual process throughout my career. Every thank you, every public plaudit, every special work well done moment meant something and went into my emergency ‘backpack of success’ which sustained me through the tough times.
“And believe me, I’ve worked in some, frankly, tragic, sick work cultures where belligerent and demotivated managers would actively undermine their colleagues, so every little supportive comment mattered.
“So, my appeal is to, yeah, enjoy the day, but it’s what you do every day to support your colleagues that truly counts. Anyway, Trump and Musk will have it scrapped by next year!”
Over to Tom Mangham, Writer
“Andy… ever the sceptic.
“I do agree with one thing – recognition should absolutely be a year-round commitment, not just a one-and-done event. Cultures thrive when acknowledgment is embedded in the everyday, and no dedicated appreciation day can make up for a lack of that.
“But here’s where I take a different stance. Just because we should celebrate and appreciate employees every day doesn’t mean that setting aside a special day for collective recognition isn’t needed. I’d argue it’s pretty valuable.
“Think about birthdays and anniversaries… Should we care about our loved ones all year? Of course. But does that mean we should skip marking the occasion and making them feel extra special? Definitely not. National Employee Appreciation Day is like that. It’s an opportunity to pause and publicly acknowledge the people who keep us moving forward.
“It also serves as a great reminder. Even proactive managers can forget to shout out others in the hustle and bustle of deadlines, projects, and meetings. A dedicated day creates an occasion to spotlight contributions that could otherwise go unnoticed. It doesn’t replace everyday appreciation. It amplifies it.
“And let’s be honest, most of us don’t mind an excuse to celebrate. If it takes a ‘special day’ for people to feel seen and valued, why not embrace it?
“So sure, let’s weave recognition into our everyday work culture, but let’s celebrate loudly today because while appreciation should happen year-round, extra gratitude never hurt anyone.”
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