Customer Service Week is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers daily. Since 1991, the Customer Service Group has sponsored Customer Service Week. But it wasn’t until 1992 that the event became nationally recognized by the U.S. Congress. And, to this day, it’s celebrated every year during the first full week in October.
This year’s celebration is Oct. 7-11, 2024, with the theme, Above and Beyond. And, like other organizations in the service industry, Reindeer Logistics is excited to commemorate this important occasion! After all, our constant dedication to service is the single most important factor in our business.
And what better way to celebrate than to honor the members of the Reindeer team who go above and beyond for our customers every day.
My personal favorite way to celebrate Customer Service Week is with theme days. Pick a theme for each day of the work week and coordinate activities, food and costumes. When choosing a theme, think about what your employees would look forward to; and what goes well with your industry.
Here are my ideas for all five days of the week to show your appreciation to employees.
Table of contents
01
Pajama Day
If you’re a casual office, perhaps a Pajama Day would be a popular idea.
Make coming to work easier by doing it on Monday. Couple it with a pancake breakfast or other comfort food that goes perfectly with their snuggly PJs.
Host a pajama-themed fashion show and award a small prize to the employee that wears it best. Perhaps a fuzzy pair of socks to go with the theme?
If you have remote employees, encourage them to participate by wearing their PJs at home. They don’t have to pretend they aren’t wearing pajama pants with a dress shirt on this day!
02
Taco Tuesday
Everyone likes tacos, so make a whole theme day out of it! The most important part, of course, is the food.
Host a taco bar for lunch and encourage employees to sit and “taco ‘bout it” while they eat. The extra camaraderie is always good for your employees and your business.
Have everyone dress up in their best costume for a Mexican fiesta, Nacho Libre, Day of the Dead, etc. Or, better yet, dress like tacos and let the hilarity ensue! Instead of playing BINGO, play AMIGO and award a prize for the winner, such as a taco kit, the game Taco vs. Burrito or a burrito blanket (for those cold days in the office).
03
Wellness Wednesday
Another popular theme is Stress Relief Day or Wellness Day. Give employees a break during the workday to relieve stress by hosting a yoga class, offering 15-minute chair massages or even Zen out with a guided meditation. Even a small break can do wonders for recharging their batteries.
Allow employees to wear their favorite yoga pants or active wear to work that day. That way, they’ll be ready to go into any of the activities you choose without feeling restricted. Give everyone a stress, fidget or sensory toy to help them stay relaxed every day at work.
For an afternoon snack, serve spa-inspired foods such as finger sandwiches, hummus platters, fruit-infused water and herbal teas. With all the relaxing, you may need to designate a nap area for the afternoon!
04
Throwback Thursday
Introduce a little bit of nostalgia into your celebration by throwing it back to your favorite decade. Whether you choose the decade or let employees, it’s sure to be a winner with the costume possibilities.
If you go with the 60s, you’ll probably get an office full of hippies; the 70s will bring out the disco in everyone; the telltale 80s wear is big hair and bright colored clothing. The 90s might just be a mixture of grunge, punk and preppy styles as the era was all about personal expression.
Let’s say you decide on the 80s. For an afternoon snack, you could provide some uniquely-80s foods and drinks such as Capri Sun, Cool Ranch Doritos, Bagel Bites, Cheez Balls, Fruit Roll-Ups and more!
And no throwback day is complete without a little embarrassment. Have employees share old photos of themselves during school, in an outdated work outfit, using an ancient piece of office equipment, etc.
05
Fun Friday
End the week with a bang…and a lot of fun. Fill the day with random acts of fun like a minute-to-win-it challenge (doesn’t take much time away from work!), a creative scavenger hunt or even a contest to see who can come up with the best meme caption.
The prize could be passing on a work perk, so it costs little to nothing to do. Most of your leadership probably has air miles, a gift basket from a vendor, tickets to a local sporting event, etc. So, pass on the perk!
Keep the dress-up theme simple by having everyone wear their favorite sports team. After all, we are right in the middle of football season. And it’s pretty easy for most people to participate in this one.
Go a step further than ordering lunch. Bring a food truck to the office (or two for a “Food Truck Friday”). It’s always a fun experience, and it’s a way to treat employees to food that might be a change from the standard soup and sandwiches.
If you really want to go nuts, and without hurting your business operations, end the day early! If your team has been working long hours already, there’s nothing sweeter than an email from the boss that says, “office closes at 2:00 pm today!” The surprise is definitely something they’ll remember…and appreciate.
Ready, set, go!
Whatever way you decide to celebrate Customer Service Week, do it in a way that employees will remember, appreciate and build a strong team bond along the way. Recognition-rich cultures have been proven to improve engagement, reduce turnover, and even increase productivity, too.