April 2022 - Employee Engagement Calendar
June 21, 2022by Emma McILwane in Workplace Wellbeing
Important dates and employee engagement ideas for the month of April.
April Showers Bring May Flowers!
April is here and spring is in the air! Now that the clocks have shifted, our days are longer, the sun is shining and the temperature is warming up. Use this time to spend more of your day outside!
Take a walk on your lunch hour, bike to work, or even just roll down your windows on your way to work! National Parks theme for April is "Something New to You ", whether thats a new experience, place, job, story - take time to discover something new this month!
Engagement Ideas
- Encourage your team to connect over a call and learn something new about each other with these get to know you questions
- Host a recipe round-up where people share a favourite recipe and everyone can try something new!
April Fools - April 1st
April Fools Day is filled with practical jokes and hoaxes worldwide! Bring out your inner jokester and pull a prank on your coworker. Although the origin of this day still remains a mystery, engage in some lighthearted pranks and just have fun!
Engagement Ideas
- Share some fun facts and learn more about the history of April Fool’s Day
- Play a lighthearted prank on your coworkers in the office! Here's a few ideas for the virtual workplace:
- Change your Zoom background to something silly or use a funny filter
- Joke meeting invites - simply send teammates calendar events with ridiculous names
- Create teammate emoji's - use a coworker's company directory picture or a funny photo
- Host a Humour Hunt - create a Slack or Teams channel for teammates to share amusing stories and stunts with each other. At the end of the day, ask staff to vote on their favourite post, and award the contributor with a prize!
World Autism Awareness Day - April 2nd
This year marks the 15th annual World Autism Awareness Day. Use this day to improve your understanding and acceptance of people living with Autism across the globe! This years theme is to help improve inclusion in the workplace with all the changes and improvements post-pandemic.
Engagement Ideas
- Take the pledge and help to create a world where people with Autism can reach their full potential
- Join the Kindness Campaign with your coworkers to encourage acceptance and inclusion of people with Autism!
National Beer Day - April 7th
Beer is a beverage that has been consumed for over 5000 years, making it the oldest recipe known! With the wide variety of flavours, styles and proofs, surely there's one out there for everyone to try.
Engagement Ideas
- Host a pub night either in person or virtually - play beer themed trivia , have people share their favourites or try something new from the beer bucket list!
- Have people trade their afternoon tea or coffee for a lunch-time happy hour with these zero-proof brews
- Share some fun facts and learn more about the history of beer
Vimy Ridge Day - April 8th
On this day, we honour those who fought and died during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. Take time out of your day to commemorate the casualties and deaths of the Canadian Corps, and help celebrate Canada’s most widely known victory in World War I.
Engagement Ideas
- Take some time to understand the significance of this battle and how it has helped to shape further Canadian historical wars.
Easter Sunday - April 17th
While Easter is classically a religious holiday, many other traditions have become popular, including the Easter bunny and chocolate egg hunts. Take advantage of the joy of the arrival of spring and Easter to celebrate the hope and gratitude that comes with the changing of seasons.
Engagement Ideas
- Pay a virtual visit to beloved Easter animals via webcam
Wear your PJs to Work Day - April 19th
Snuggle up in your tackiest, most cozy pajamas and trek on over to your workplace (unless you work from home, then just show them off over zoom with your team!). Use this day to ease up on yourself and relax in the comfort of your pj’s.
Engagement Ideas
- Wear your jammies to work! Share photos and have everyone cast a vote for the best or coziest PJ's
- Host a virtual pajama party and stream a movie for everyone to cozy up to
- Have everyone share their favourite ways to get cozy, relax and wind down
Give High Fives - April 21st
Celebrate and show your support by giving a high five to someone who’s achieved great things, or just 'cause. High Fives are a symbol of a good job and can immediately boost someone’s spirits!
Engagement Ideas
- Give an employee or coworker a high five! Or during these times, maybe a virtual or air five! More remote friendly high-five ideas here.
Earth Day - April 22nd
Join the World’s largest movement and fight for environmental protection! There are many small, daily changes you can make to help improve the health of our planet - something as small as a reusable bag at the grocery store! Use this day to learn what you can do.
Engagement Ideas
- Try a Simple Act of Green - a small but impactful change to your daily routine!
- Share these 52 ways to improve our earth with your coworkers! If everyone contributes to at least one, the impact will be incredible!
- Join a virtual fun run linked to a green cause or charity and have employees find pledges for each lap they run
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) - April 27th
Known as Yom Hashoah in Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the day of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during World War II. Yom Hashoah recognizes this day by lighting candles for all Holocaust victims, engaging in religious ceremonies and memorials prayers.
Engagement Ideas
- Light a candle to recognize all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, and those who survived and live to tell their stories.
National Take your Kid to Work Day - April 28
Let your kid see your day to day life on the job by bringing them into the action and letting them explore! If you work from home, let them sit beside you! If you don’t have a kid, share the day with a friend or coworker who does! Kids love to explore and use their imagination, so let them do just that.
Engagement Ideas
- Encourage employees to show their kids or a friend or co-worker's child what they do for their job by hosting a kid-friendly "lunch & learn"
- Have some fun and let the kids run a meeting!
Adopt a Shelter Pet Day - April 30
Adopting a pet is a huge commitment, but if you’re ready, head on down to your local humane society and adopt a furry friend! If you’re not looking for a little companion just yet, spend some time with the animals, destress and have a little play date.
Engagement Ideas
- Plan a team trip to your local humane society or adoption centre to volunteer time with some furry friends!
- Have employees share animal adoption stories and pics of their own shelter pets!
