13 Special Days Every HR Team Should Have In Their HR Calendar

Updated January 1, 2025

Human resources teams have busy plates and busy calendars. On top of all the regular to-do lists, they're also largely responsible for helping maintain high employee engagement and a thriving company culture. 

One simple way to support both employees and culture is to celebrate the holidays and other important dates that occur throughout the year. Doing so helps you to build connections while also highlighting the values important to your employees and necessary to your company’s success.

Here is a comprehensive list of all the ‘other’ special days and months that likely aren't already in your holiday calendar already (i.e., we’re going beyond things like Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day, which you presumably already have plans for). 

Incorporating these special days into your HR calendar can be a great, affordable way to boost employee engagement and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

So plan ahead for 2025 by adding these 13 fun events to your HR calendar. We'll also include some easy ways to celebrate these HR dates, no matter what your budget for employee engagement. 

#1
National Fun at Work Day
January 31

You know what they say about 'all work and no play,’ which is why this can be a great way to kick off your calendar year on the right, fun foot.

National Fun at Work Day is observed on the last Friday of January, which falls on January 31 in 2025.

This day is dedicated to creating a fun and enjoyable work atmosphere. HR professionals can organize team-building activities, games, or themed events to boost morale and strengthen team cohesion.

The best celebrations are those that align with your company culture—whether that's hosting a trivia game, dressing up in themed outfits, or giving out quirky company swag. Keeping it authentic to your team ensures everyone has a great time while strengthening the sense of community.

For inspiration, take a page from our Operations Administrator Karlie Scheifele, who celebrated Giftbit's renewed SOC 2 compliance by sending out branded socks ('socks' for 'SOC 2', naturally!).

#2
Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 17

Here's a day designed to encouraged spontaneous acts of kindness—another great value to promote around the office. 

HR teams can promote a culture of compassion by organizing activities that encourage employees to spread kindness both inside and outside the workplace.

You might set up a “kindness board” where employees can share or acknowledge kind acts they’ve witnessed. On that note, you could also provide small gifts like digital gift cards for employees who go above and beyond, or encourage team members to write thank-you notes to colleagues.

For a community-focused twist, consider organizing a volunteer event or sponsoring a local cause to extend kindness beyond the office walls.

#3
Employee Appreciation Day
1st Friday in March

Here's a great one for every workplace, and a great opportunity to recognize and thank your employees for the hard work they put in every day. 

Taking place on March 7, 2025, Employee Appreciation Day takes place on March 7 in 2025. Celebrating this awareness day demonstrates that you care about your employees’ well-being, which can lead to increased morale, improved job satisfaction, and ultimately higher productivity. 

Consider hosting a team lunch, giving personalized thank-you notes, or handing out small gifts or digital gift cards. Even simple gestures like a company-wide shoutout or extra time off can go a long way in showing your appreciation.

#4
International Women’s Day
March 8th

International Women’s Day offers space to acknowledge the contributions of women in the workplace and show your support for gender equality. Celebrating this day signals a commitment to building a more inclusive workplace for everyone.

Use this day to highlight accomplishments, host discussions on important topics like equal pay or career development, or share resources that support women’s growth and success.

#5
Mental Health Awareness Month
May

Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to prioritize employee well-being and encourage more open conversations about mental health. Highlighting mental health during this month reinforces your commitment to creating a supportive and balanced workplace.

To note this date, consider sharing stress-management resources, organizing wellness workshops, or promoting mental health days. For example, Giftbit's PTO policies include wellness days which are designed to be used as flex or mental health days, something great to highlight and encourage this month.

#6
International Day of Happiness
March 20

Observed on March 20, this day emphasizes the importance of happiness and well-being.

To celebrate, create initiatives that foster a positive work environment, such as team-building activities, gratitude exercises, or providing small tokens of appreciation to boost morale.

🍕And since nothing makes people happier than pizza, this might be a great opportunity to have a remote pizza party, sending everyone a Domino’s or California Pizza Kitchen gift card they can use for a team lunch.🍕

#7
International Pride Month
June

Pride Month generally, and International Pride Day on June 28 specifically, are a great time to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community while fostering inclusivity in the workplace.

Use this month to highlight your commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment. Organize events like panel discussions, share educational resources, or display visible signs of support, such as inclusive workplace policies or Pride-themed decor.

Celebrating this key date shows employees that inclusivity is more than just a buzzword—it’s part of your culture.

#8
International Self-Care Day
July 24

Recognizing International Self-Care Day is a great way to emphasize the importance of balancing personal well-being with work responsibilities. By encouraging employees to take time for themselves, you foster a culture that values rest, recovery, and personal growth—key components of a healthy workplace.

Consider marking the day with small gestures that encourage your team to rejuvenate. For some, that might be spa-themed gift cards. For others, it might be resources like Lowes and The Home Depot cards that help them reach their home improvement goals. Others might like a Barnes & Noble card to check out some self-help books.

We're all different, and 'self care' is a very individual process. That’s why offering your employee their choice of a gift often be a great option here.

#9
National Wellness Month
August 

Similarly, National Wellness Month is a great opportunity to promote physical, mental, and emotional health in the workplace. Starting with acknowledging and support a better work-life balance can be a great place to start. 

Many workplaces don’t acknowledge or promote work-life balance, but it's so essential to retain happy, satisfied employees. 

In fact, maintaining a good work-life balance is one of Giftbit's Cultural Principles. And our leadership doesn't just pay lip service to this fact. Our CEO Leif Baradoy recently published a new collection of poetry, noting, "I think our individual creativity gives us lessons that can be applied to our professional lives, with coworkers and customers. At Giftbit, one of our principles is that 'work supports prosperity in the fullness of our lives.' Art is a great tool that can be used to explore some of the messiness of life, make it beautiful, and move forward. That has positive consequences in our professional lives." 

Consider organizing a wellness campaign throughout August and offering incentive rewards to the top participants.

#10
National Work-From-Home Week
1st week in October 

National Work-From-Home Week (#WFHWeek) is a chance to acknowledge the flexibility and productivity that remote work offers. It’s a great thing to celebrate, in large part due to the impact that offering remote and hybrid work options can have on talent acquisition and retention.

To celebrate this week, you might consider sending DoorDash or other food delivery gift cards, so that your team can enjoy a shared lunch from their home offices. These types of ‘camera on’ team lunches are popular here at Giftbit.

Additionally, consider following the example of Molly Quinn at Distinctive Schools, who sends Starbucks gift cards to remote staff before virtual meetings, encouraging them to have their coffee delivered.

“Even just a cup of coffee has been a nice gesture,” she says.

#11
World Mental Health Day
October 10

Acknowledge World Mental Health Day on October 10 by offering meaningful support to your team.

Share practical stress-management tips, provide access to mental health resources, and remind employees about any benefits your company offers, such as counseling or wellness programs.

You might also consider hosting a short mindfulness session or webinar on work-life balance to encourage open conversations about mental well-being.

#12
National Gratitude Month 
November 

National Gratitude Month is the perfect time to reward employees for their dedication to the company.

Show your appreciation throughout the month by sending digital gift cards at random times, offering additional PTO days, bringing in catered lunches, and even just sending out heartfelt “thank you” emails. 

#13
Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day
December 4

Finally, December 4 is an annual celebration of workplace teams. Whether you send eligible employees a digital gift card code or allow the top-ranking team to leave early on a Friday, you’ll showcase that teamwork makes the dream work. 

It’s also a great time to reward any milestones.

An easy way to reward employees throughout the year 

Any celebration is a chance to show your staff how much you value them and to let them know that their contributions are appreciated.

And the more you can streamline employee gifts and rewards, the easier this process will be—even when a date comes up quicker than expected.

For example, working with a gift card distributor like Giftbit lets you immediately send bulk employee gifts in a wide variety of denominations. Options like email delivery or shareable links make it easy to reach employees no matter where they are.

For larger teams or ongoing initiatives, you can set up bulk orders or schedule deliveries in advance, saving time and effort.

Reach out if you’d like to learn more about revenue sharing or bulk discounts.

Whether it’s a coffee card for a morning boost or a spa-themed gift card for self-care, using digital rewards ensures your employees get something they’ll actually enjoy. With a little planning, you can seamlessly incorporate employee recognition into your calendar all year long.

Giftbit gives HR teams a straightforward, flexible, and easy way to send cost-effective employee rewards. It’s free to sign up and use the platform, and there’s never added fees or minimums. Create your account now.