“What can I do for my employees on Employee Appreciation Day?”

On March 5th, businesses the world over will celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. Employers will thank their employees for their hard work and dedication over the past 12 months. The lucky ones may even get a surprise half-day!

While Employee Appreciation Day is an opportunity to remind your employees of their importance, it’s something that could be happening on a daily basis. Below, we look at how you can support your employees, especially when it comes to wellbeing.

Burnout and the importance of a healthy work-life balance

The World Health Organisation specifically describes employee burnout as a syndrome resulting from ‘chronic workplace stress that has not been managed successfully’.

Burnout follows if work-related stress isn’t properly managed and can have a broad and negative impact on business operations. Employee wellbeing takes a hit and as a result, so too does productivity.

However, by promoting a healthy work-life balance, you can reduce the risk of employee burnout. Here are some tips on getting the balance right:

Make praise part of your day

Employee Appreciation Day is all about thanking your employees for their hard work. But it’s also a great time to begin a healthy new habit. Thanking your employees for their work on a more regular basis – no matter the task – is a great way to reinforce the impact their work is having.

Offer access to an Employee Assistance Program

Employees may have issues they would prefer not to bring directly to management. That’s where an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) comes in handy. An EAP provides employees with a range of supports, including:

  • Inclusion of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with face-to-face sessions.
  • Access to a confidential 24/7 helpline.
  • Helpful online resources for wellbeing.
  • Online health assessments.

An EAP means employees can access whatever support they need throughout the year. Outsourcing this support to wellbeing professionals also frees up time for you to get on with the running of your business.

Need our help with your employee issues?

For further advice on handling any employee issue, speak to one of our advisors now on 01 886 0350 or request a callback here.

Book a call with a consultant

Complete the form below and a consultant will call you as soon as possible.

Book a call with a consultant

Complete the form below and a consultant will call you as soon as possible.

Latest Resources

Employer’s guide to lay-off in Ireland

lay-off in Ireland
It’s common for businesses facing a downturn in trade to let employees go on a temporary basis. As an employer, you may also need to […]

Long-term sickness absence: When to conduct an informal welfare meeting

Everyone gets sick, so short-term sickness absence is something all employers will have to deal with from time to time and tends to cause minimal […]

Notice periods: an employer’s guide

Notice periods: an employer’s guide
Notice Period: Within a business, it’s constantly necessary to re-evaluate and adjust workforce planning. Whether this is due to employees looking for different career paths […]

Olga Shevchenko

Director/Advocate, Immigration Advice Bureau

Olga Shevchenko specialises in immigration advocacy and consultancy, in particular, employment permit, visas, family reunification, citizenship, etc, for those seeking to visit, reside or invest in Ireland.

Olga provides extensive information, knowledge, and support to her clients, enabling access to positive solutions for people struggling to handle the immigration law.

Minister Neale Richmond

Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Neale Richmond TD was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business and the Department of Social Protection in January 2023.

Much of his work at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is with businesses, workers, their representative bodies and the State Agencies to ensure that the economic recovery and growth extends to all parts of the country. He works closely with the SME sector, including retail, on building resilience and on the transition to the green and digital economies.

Mark Carpenter

Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Sky

Mark Carpenter is Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs at Sky Ireland. In this role he has responsibility for External and Internal Communications, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs and the company’s ‘Bigger Picture’ (CSR) programme. He also works closely with Sky Group teams on a variety of matters, in particular our partnerships with domestic broadcasters.

Prior to working at Sky, Mark worked as a Policy Officer in Houses of the Oireachtas and as a Management Consultant at Accenture. He has a BA in History from Oxford University and a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin.

Nora Cashe

Litigation and Compliance Manager, Peninsula

Nóra studied Law in Griffith College Dublin and qualified as a Barrister in 2008, practising in the area of Criminal law. She is also member of the Irish Employment Law Association.

Nora has extensive experience representing clients at Employment Tribunal hearings, Conciliation / Mediation meetings before both the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. 

Nóra is a member of the Irish Employment Law Association and engages with the WRC Adjudication Service as part of their stakeholder engagement forum.

Deiric McCann

Managing Director, Genos International Europe

Deiric McCann leads Genos International Europe – The EU division of a world-leading provider of emotional intelligence solutions. 

With over two decades experience at the highest levels of management, Deiric supports clients to develop the resilience, emotional intelligence, psychological safety and engagements of their employees.

Rhiannon Coyne

Senior HR Consultant, Graphite HRM

Rhiannon Coyne is a Senior HR Consultant at Graphite HRM and will be providing an overview of best practice on how to deal with complaints of bullying and harassment in the workplace. 

With a number of recent updates to employment laws, Rhiannon will take a closer look at employment equality and how it is interlinked to Health & Safety and what employers can learn from recent case laws.

David Begg

Chairman, Workplace Relations Commission

David Begg was appointed Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in January 2021.

David is also a professor at Maynooth University Institute of Social Sciences. Mr Begg’s extensive history in the trade union movement included leading the ESB Officers Association and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, stepping away from the latter in 2001 to chair international aid agency Concern.

David Begg was also previously a director of the Central Bank of Ireland between 1995 and 2010.