Father’s Day: Top 10 Ways to Celebrate Dads in The Workplace

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Happy Father’s Day from Recruiter.com! According to some research, 81.7% of fathers were also working. You likely have some fathers at your company who will celebrate Father’s Day soon.

It can boost your employee brand, culture, and retention when you show appreciation to these fathers on this special day. But what can you do to show that you care about your employees?

Keep reading for a few ideas to make your company’s dads feel appreciated.

Why It’s Important to Celebrate Father’s Day

Any celebration in the office can help boost employee morale (and productivity). Father’s Day gives you the perfect opportunity for a celebration where you can show appreciation for all the dads that work in your office.

These dads may have missed important moments with their children to work for your office. Or they may have been up all night with their crying children and then showed up to work bright and early the following day to be productive staff members.

Taking this Father’s Day to show appreciation for these employees can make them feel valued.

Father’s Day Celebration Ideas in the Office

1. Offer Tickets to an Attraction or Experience

The one thing that matters most to these working dads is their kids, so why not offer them an experience that they can share with their kids? You might want to give them complimentary tickets to the zoo, a museum, an event at a community center, or a local sporting event.

If they work from home, you can send them a gift card for Uber Eats or another food delivery service to have a special meal with their family. You could also offer some at-home activities they can share with their children.

2. Plan a Family-Friendly Picnic

You could also host a company family picnic at a local park. This event will show how important family is to your company culture and give your employees a chance to spend some time with their children.

Hosting a company picnic can also boost employee morale by allowing coworkers to meet each other’s families and learn more. You can also hold different events, like potato sack races or a pie-throwing contest.

3. Create Gift Bags for Their Children

If you want to make your dad’s Father’s Day special, create gift bags for their children. This could include a kit to make some crafts for their dad as a gift. For example, you could create blank Father’s Day cards that the children can fill out and give to their dads to show them how much they matter.

4. Host a Bring Your Kids to Work Day

If you don’t want to set up a work picnic, you could offer to let the dads bring their children to work. You don’t have to make this event last the entire workday, but it can be an excellent way for parents to bond with their kids and show them what they do daily.

This can also be great for team morale. You can plan events for the children while they’re there to keep them entertained. After all, most kids may not want to sit in a cubicle all day.

If you’re working remotely, you can do this through Zoom. Set up Zoom meetings that parents can share with their children and do different events together.

5. Offer Time Off

Nothing can be a better way to show your dads that you appreciate them than offering them time off to spend with their kids. For example, you could offer them a three-day weekend by giving them Monday or Friday off.

You’ll want to tell them they can have the day off ahead of time and make sure they take that time off. However, if you do this, you must also offer the same to mothers for Mother’s Day.

For employees that don’t have children, you may also want to offer them a day off at some point so they don’t feel left out either. If you can afford it, you may even want to offer the day off to your employees in honor of all the working dads.

6. Give Corporate Gifts

If you give the dads a gift, don’t give them a stereotypical mug or other tacky gifts. Ensure that it’s a gift that’s thoughtful.

For example, you could get them a Yeti coffee cup instead of a classic coffee mug. You could also gift them something a little bit more expensive. If you aren’t sure what to get, you can never go wrong with Amazon gift cards.

7. Take Employees Out to Lunch

There’s nothing wrong with taking out your dad’s to an employee lunch. If you have a lot of employees, it might be better to have each manager take them out in each department. You may even want to host a poll to let the dads pick where they want to go.

If your business has a smaller budget, you may want to have an office potluck. To make it even more special for Father’s Day, ask each dad to bring pictures of their children and share some memories or fun facts about them. This way, each employee gets to know each other a little bit better as well.

If your office is virtual, you can send them an Uber Eats card and host a Zoom meeting.

8. Host a Team Bonding Competition

If you have a lot of dads at your company, you may want to host a friendly competition. You could have the dads join teams and host competitions that can build employee morale.

You may even want to include the children if you have a work picnic. They can team up with their dads to bond together to win cool prizes.

9. Host a Virtual Team Event

If your team is in a virtual office or a hybrid environment, it can be challenging to get everyone together. However, Zoom allows you to hold all kinds of different events.

For example, you could host a Zoom trivia event where you ask different dad-themed questions. Invite all of your employees to participate and win cool prizes. Since you’ll be virtual, you may even want to invite your dads to bring their kids along for some extra help.

You could also hold a Dad joke contest if you don’t want to do trivia. Have your dads bring in their best Dad jokes and have the children vote on which ones are the best (or worst).

10. Offer Flexibility

Remember that not all of your employees are going to be fathers. Some may have lost their father figures, can’t become fathers, or don’t wish to celebrate fatherhood or the holiday. This is why it’s always important to be flexible and sensitive to your employees’ needs.

Don’t force them to participate in any events or Father’s Day celebrations if they don’t wish to. Before you host an event or do anything special, ask yourself how it will affect other employees at the company. Remember that mentality whenever you’re planning anything for Father’s Day or any other future celebration. If you’re unsure what is appropriate, talk with your HR professional.

Discover More Ways to Celebrate Dads in the Workplace

Any of these events are a great personal gesture for the dads at your company. These will allow your working dads to be in their children’s lives and show that you care about them and their families.

Regardless of how you celebrate Father’s Day at your company, ensure it’s intentional and boosts your employee culture. 

Concluding Thoughts

Celebrating Father’s Day in the workplace may seem like a small act, but it can significantly impact your team’s morale and productivity. Recognizing the hard work and dedication of father figures in your company shows your appreciation for their contribution and establishes a culture of respect and inclusivity.

You can choose from various ideas to celebrate this special day, but remember, the most valuable thing you can offer is a sense of belonging and recognition. Whether it’s a family-friendly picnic, a bring-your-kids-to-work day, or a simple gift, these gestures can greatly make your employees feel valued and appreciated.

One of the keys to a successful Father’s Day celebration at work is ensuring that it aligns with your company’s culture and values. You want to make sure that your celebration not only honors the fathers on your team but also reinforces the culture you’re working to build. This can also help build a stronger connection between your employees and your company, boosting loyalty and engagement.

While celebrating Father’s Day, don’t forget to acknowledge that not all employees may feel comfortable participating. Ensure your celebrations are inclusive and considerate of all employees’ feelings and backgrounds. Offer alternatives or simply the freedom to opt out if they wish.

Remember, the goal of these celebrations is not only to honor fathers but also to foster a sense of community, unity, and respect within the workplace. While Father’s Day comes once a year, these values should permeate your company culture throughout the year.

Finally, don’t forget that celebrating Father’s Day in the workplace is a wonderful opportunity to create shared memories and experiences that can strengthen bonds within your team. The happier your employees are, the more productive they will be, leading to a more successful business overall.

Check back with us regularly at Recruiter Today for more insightful articles and tips on improving your workplace culture, fostering employee engagement, and celebrating the diverse contributions of your workforce. We wish all the hardworking dads a joyful and relaxing Father’s Day!

By Alyssa Harmon