Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash
How do you celebrate your local gov team?
Employee Appreciation Day was March 6th, but why limit your celebration of employees to just one day, when you can celebrate your team throughout the year! Nearly every professional organization has identified a day, week, or even month to celebrate and appreciate the contributions of their profession, and local government pros are no exception.
Why it Matters.
At a time when Gallup reports that only 35% of US employees are “engaged” at work and workplace culture is an increasingly important factor in employee retention, you can help celebrate the contributions of your co-workers, staff, and volunteers on their special day. And no, it’s not just the job of your boss or HR manager to build a workplace culture of appreciation, it takes a village.
How to Celebrate.
Whether it’s a proclamation or recognition, thoughtful note, social media shout out, community celebration, or the fan favorite…food, collectively, we can help to create an organizational culture that celebrates the contributions of our professionals. Check out this (nearly) comprehensive list of local government appreciation days, weeks, or months and get engaged in the conversation of appreciation.
January
1/6 – National Technology Day
1/9 – National Law Enforcement Day
1/27 – Community Manager Day
1/28 – National Fun at Work Day
February
2/16 – 2/22:
National Engineers Week
March
Building Safety Month
Social Work Month
3/6 – Employee Appreciation Day
3/8 – International Women’s Day
3/13 – K9 Veteran’s Day
3/18 – Transit Driver Appreciation Day
3/22 – World Water Day
3/27 – World Theatre Day
April
4/12 – 4/18:
Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
4/19 – 4/25:
National Volunteer Week
National Library Week
4/7 – World Health Day
4/16 – National Librarian Day
4/20 – Volunteer Recognition Day
4/22 – Administrative Professionals Day
4/22 – Earth Day
4/23 – Take Your Kids to Work Day
4/24 – Arbor Day
May
5/3 – 5/9:
Public Service Recognition Week
Correctional Officers Week
Municipal Clerk’s Week
5/10 – 5/16:
National Police Week
5/17 – 5/23:
National Public Works Week
5/4 – International Firefighters Day
5/12 – International Nurses Day
5/13 – Receptionists Day
5/15 – Peace Officers Memorial Day
5/15 – Bike to Work Day
5/31 – Web Designer Day
June
6/5 – World Environment Day
6/17 – Global Garbage Man Day
6/18 – Recess at Work Day
6/30 – Social Media Day
July
Parks and Recreation Month
7/31 – System Administrator Day
August
8/4 – National Night Out
8/10 – National Lifeguard Appreciation Day
8/12 – International Youth Day
8/15 – City Hall Selfie Day (Observed 8/14)
8/19 – Aviation Day
September
National Preparedness Month
9/14 – 9/18:
Finance & Accounting Appreciation Week
9/17 – IT Professionals Day
9/26 – Human Resource Professional Day
October
National Community Planning Month
National Crime Prevention Month
10/4 – 10/10:
Code Enforcement Appreciation Week
Accounts Payable Appreciation Week
National Fire Prevention Week
Water Professionals Appreciation Week
Customer Service Week
10/5 – World Architecture Day
10/7 – National Coffee with a Cop Day
10/16 – National Boss Day
10/28 – National First Responders Day
November
11/2 – Traffic Directors Day
11/6 – Love Your Lawyer Day
11/10 – International Accounting Day
11/11 – Veteran’s Day
11/15 – America Recycles Day
11/18 – World GIS Day
December
12/4 – Extraordinary Work Team Day
12/5 – International Volunteer Day
Follow-up Questions for Reflection:
- What creative ways do you celebrate your local gov colleagues?
- How do you engage your community in the appreciation of local gov professionals?
- Is there a day you or your organization celebrates that we’ve missed on this list?
Leeanne Singleton, AICP, LEED AP, is an Environmental Analyst at City of Hermosa Beach.