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

Updated Jan 1, 2026

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.

✏️🗓️ Mark your calendars:

· National Fun at Work Day (January 30)
· National Pizza Week (January)
· Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17)
· Employee Appreciation Day (March 6)
· International Women's Day (March 8)
· International Day of Happiness (March 20)
· Mental Health Awareness Month (May)
· International Pride Month (June)
· Take Your Dog To Work Day (June 26)
· International Self Care Day (July)
· National Wellness Month (August)
· International Day of Happiness (March)
· Programmers' Day  (September 13 )
· National Work from Home Week (October)
· International Coffee Day (October 1)
· World Mental Health Day (October)
·National Gratitude Month (November)
· Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day (December 4)

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 thinking beyond all those important yet standard events 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 2026 by adding these 18 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.

(Psssttt . . . there's also a little bonus day for HR pros at the end 😉)

#1

🎈National Fun at Work Day

January 30

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 30 in 2026.

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. Keep it authentic to ensure everyone has a great time and feels connected to your culture.

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

🍕National Pizza Week 

Second full week in January

What's more fun that pizza?

Nothing makes people happier than pizza, so National Pizza Week is a great excuse to have a remote team pizza party. Sending everyone a Domino’s or California Pizza Kitchen gift card they can use for a team lunch.

Everyone orders delivery at the same time and enjoys their pie on camera! 

#3
❤️ Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 17

Here's a day designed to encourage 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.

#4
🤝 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. 

Employee Appreciation Day takes place on March 6 in 2026. 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 Visa incentive cards. Even simple gestures like a company-wide shoutout or extra time off can go a long way in showing your appreciation.

Find more inspiration here: Easy Employee Appreciation Day Gifts (& More)

#5
♀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.

#6
🧠 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.

#7
🤗 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.

Find more inspiration here: Gratitude Gifts for Employees

#8
💻 Administrative Professional's Day
April 22

Held on Wednesday in last full week of April, Administrative Professionals Day is all about celebrating the hardworking assistants, coordinators, and office managers who keep your organization humming. In 2025, it lands on Wednesday, April 23—an ideal moment to acknowledge the behind‑the‑scenes heroes who manage schedules, smooth out logistics, and support every department’s success.

One of the simplest, most sustainable ways to honor your administrative team is with digital gift cards.

Electronic rewards remove the need for shipping or packaging, cutting down on waste and lowering your company’s carbon footprint (learn more about the carbon footprint of traditional rewards here).  

Plus, a global rewards catalog means you can recognize hybrid or international staff just as easily as those in the office.

💳 One of the simplest and most eco‑friendly ways to honor your administrative staff is with digital gift cards—from a $50 coffee card to fuel their morning routine all month, to a spa‑and‑wellness gift card redeemable at over 8,000 spas for a well‑deserved escape.

You can also bring the team together by sending food‑delivery gift cards (think Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and the like) for a shared lunch, whether in‑person or remote.

❤️ To support local communities, consider a prepaid virtual Mastercard®, which you admins can use to explore neighborhood cafés, boutiques, or bakeries. You might also pair their cards with a small bouquet or box of cookies from a nearby vendor.

And for the ultimate in personalization, offer full recipient choice so each admin professional can select exactly what they love from Giftbit’s catalog of nearly 1,000 top brands—guaranteeing a memorable Administrative Professionals Day that feels thoughtfully tailored to their individual tastes.

For more inspiration here:
Easy Administrative Professionals' Day Gift Ideas (Send In Minutes!)

#9
🏳️‍🌈 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.

#10
🐶 Take Your Dog To Work Day
June 26

Celebrated each year on the Friday after Father's Day, here's a fun, genuine, and widely recognized holiday for boosting morale (we've all heard the studies on how much joy dogs bring us! 🐕). 

As a bonus for the marketing suite, it's also a highly photogenic day that's great for employer branding on social media. 

And be flexible! You might make it 'Show Us Your Pet On Zoom' day for remote teams. Maybe it's time for a 'cutest' pet contest on Slack (winner gets a Petco and/or PetSmart gift card!). Or perhaps everyone gets a small charity gift card that they're encouraged to donate to a local animal shelter.

  #11
🧘🏿 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 employees their choice of a gift can often be a great option here.

#12
🧖🏾‍♂️ National Wellness Month
August 

Similarly, National Wellness Month is a great opportunity to promote physical, mental, and emotional health in the workplace. Acknowledging and supporting 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.

#13
👩🏼‍💻Programmers' Day
September 13 (the 256th day of the year!)

Celebrated on the 256th day of the year—a number that holds special significance in the binary world—Programmers' Day is your chance to recognize the brilliant minds who build, fix, and maintain the software that keeps your business running.

Understanding and appreciating developer culture is key to making this day meaningful. While stereotypes often involve pizza and caffeine (although to be honest, who doesn't appreciate pizza and caffeine?!), genuine recognition goes a long way.

Consider celebrating with gifts that cater to their interests, such as digital gift cards for electronics retailers, gaming platforms like Steam, or their favorite food delivery service for a fueled-up coding session.

For a zero-cost celebration, try declaring a "no-meeting afternoon" to give your dev team uninterrupted time to get into their "flow" state—a gift they will truly value.

#14
☕  International Coffee Day  
October 1 

Here's another low-stakes, high-engagement day that works for natural community-building. Use it as an opportunity to playfully acknowledge the 'fuel' that powers your workforce.

Indeed, this is a particularly easy win for HR: host a morning coffee break, hire a barista for the office, or send digital coffee cards (Starbucks, Dunkin', etc.) to remote employees.

#15
🏠 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.

#16
🙂 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.

#17

🙏 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. 

Find more inspiration here: Affordable Thanksgiving Gifts For Employees

#18
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.

Bonus!
HR Professionals Day
September 26

It's the People Ops team that keeps everything and everyone running, and that includes your recognition programs. That's why we like to call out HR Professionals Day, which is a great opportunity to recognize the people who are normally doing all the recognizing! 

You might hear this day called 'Human Resources Day' or 'HR Appreciation Day.' Either way, the purpose is clear: to honor all the work HR teams do, from managing employee relations to ensuring compliance. 

So all you HR folks reading this article, 
make sure to include yourself on your calendar! 😉 🙌

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 gift card 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 all year long. It’s free to sign up and use the platform, and there’s never added fees or minimums. 🚀