The fourth quarter of the year can get very busy and hectic. Life seems to pick up the pace as children adjust to a new school year and the country celebrates holidays back-to-back-to-back. It can be easy to lose track of time during this busy season. But there’s one special occasion coming up that building service contractors shouldn’t forget: Thank Your Cleaner Day.

Thank Your Cleaner Day occurs on October 20, 2021. It’s the perfect opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation to your employees who have worked tirelessly over the past eighteen months. Their job has become more important than ever as the country emerges from the grimmest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people returning to offices, stores, stadiums and more, the work done by cleaning service professionals is instrumental in helping them feel safe and comfortable in our new normal.

Here are a few ideas about how to celebrate your employees on Thank Your Cleaner Day.

Throw a Party or Picnic

Depending on COVID-19 rates in your area, you may be able to host an in-person event to show your appreciation. Consider hosting an employee party or picnic — outdoors, weather permitting — to celebrate their accomplishments over the past year. Such an event will allow your employees to relax and socialize while you show them that their work is important and does not go unnoticed.

Create Gift Bags

If infections are surging in your area or if your employees do not feel safe gathering in person, you may want to create gift bags and send them to your workers’ homes. This way, you can still show your appreciation while respecting their comfort level with in-person events or socialization. The gift bags could include company swag, fun snacks and gift cards to a local coffee shop.

Shout It From the Rooftops

Is your company on social media? Consider showing your gratitude to employees via social media platforms. Over the course of the day (or even several days), you can create threads thanking different employees individually and lauding their accomplishments.

Write an Old-Fashioned Thank You Note

If saying thanks via Facebook or Twitter seems to fall short, go with a tried-and-true method: a written thank you note. This gives your employees something tangible to remind them that you appreciate them and their work. Plus, in a digital age when everything is online, it can be a nice surprise to receive a written card.

Give Them Some Well-Deserved Time Off

Your employees have worked so hard — before the pandemic, during the pandemic and as the country starts to emerge again. If you can accommodate giving them some surprise time off, that would go a long way in showing your gratitude. After all, there’s no better way to say “Thank you!” than to allow them some time to relax and unwind after eighteen months of nonstop action.