Funny Awards

Fun at Work Day 2010

2010-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fun at Work Day, also known as National Fun at Work Day, always occurs April 1 - at least according to some websites. Other sites claim the date is always January 28 in the United States. Still others claim that the event occurs in 2010 on January 30.

International Fun at Work Day is always on April 1 - unless the date falls on a weekend. According to playfair.com, Thursday April 1, 2010 is the Fourteenth Annual International Fun At Work Day.

It's not unusual for holidays to have different dates for National and International celebrations. For example, National Teacher Appreciation Day is May 4, 2010 in the United States, while most countries celebrate October 5, 2010 as World Teachers Day.

So when is Fun at Work Day 2010 in the United States - January 28, January 30, or April 1?

The truth is, we don't know. Feel free to chime in on the subject using the comments section.

And remember, every day can be Fun at Work Day with Funny Employee Awards!

Download 101 Funny Awards Certificates!
PDF download includes 101 Hilarious Printable Certificates + 6 Award Templates for making up your own Funny Nurses Awards! Download now and start using right away!

Funny Employee Awards for CoWorkers on CNN

2009-12-11T09:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks to CNN.com for naming "Funny Employee Awards" one of 10 Fun Gifts for Co-Workers in a recent news item.

#9 Funny Employee Awards
Bring your office holiday party to life by presenting your co-workers with funny employee awards. With 101 different categories ranging from a job well done to poking fun at each other, there's sure to be an award for everyone. ($29.99) - Source: cnn.com

The article by Rachel Zupek originally appeared on Careerbuilder.com before CNN picked up the story. She encourages you to forgo predictable gifts like coffee mugs for your boss, a gift card for your co-worker, or fruit baskets for clients. Instead, give something fun like Funny Awards for Coworkers.

Office Party Etiquette - Holiday Office Party Do's and Don'ts

2009-12-10T09:05:00.001-05:00

Can't get enough of your coworkers during office hours? Don't despair! Company holiday party season is upon us. Follow these tips to make sure you adhere to the highest standard of office party etiquette:

Do attend.
Unless you've got a killer excuse (the old "kids have swine flu" always works), make sure you show up at the holiday party. The organizers of this bash (i.e. your bosses) can be a very touchy bunch. They may take your no-show personally and hold it against you. That's not how you want to start the New Year.
Leave the date at home.
If you're already nervous about attending a holiday party, you may be tempted to take a date or spouse to have someone to talk to. Forget it. Going alone frees you from the burden of worrying about whether your date is having fun, and it opens up the opportunity of browsing through important computer files while everyone else is drunk. Read more...
Plan conversations ahead of time.
Find out who will be there. Check the sports pages. If you're not good at making conversation, just ask a lot of questions. "So, how are the kids?" People would rather talk about themselves than hear about you, anyway.
Don't talk too much shop.
The Christmas party isn't the time to drone on about how hard you've been working on that market research project for the big client you just landed. Nor should you complain about the disappearance of coffee creamer from the break room fridge It's a party. Loosen up.
Dress sensibly.
This is not a night club, it's your office party. That means no peacocking. If it looks like you're about to hit a bachelorette party on the Jersey Shore, you need to change.
Have a bite before you go.
Sorry you didn't get that year-end bonus you wanted, but don't try and make up for it by eating $2,000 worth of cocktail shrimp. Have a snack before you hit the party.
Don't over-indulge in drink.
Nothing good will come if you drink too much. Nothing.
Don't be amorous.
Men: the Christmas party is no time to morph into Pepé Le Pew. Ladies: likewise. Keep your hands to yourself and your hugs and kisses to a minimum. And please, no dirty dancing. It's going to be tough to land a new job if you have to explain that post-party harassment suit.
Be aware of cameras.
Hello... Facebook calling. What happens at the office party stays on Facebook. Forever. Don't do anything you wouldn't want plastered on a roadside billboard.
Arrange a ride beforehand.
Don't wait until you're tipsy to figure out how to get home. If you plan to have a drink, make your travel arrangements before you leave the house.
Don't forget to say thanks.
No matter what you think of your boss or the party, say thank you. It's literally the least you can do.

Need more free tips and office party etiquette advice? Just join our free newsletter! And please add your own tips in the comments section below.

Discount Code for Funny Employee Awards

2009-12-08T12:05:00.001-05:00

Looking for a discount code for Funny Employee Awards? There's only one source of Funny Employee Awards discounts, coupons, promos, sales and deals - and that's directly from this site. If you want to know the latest news and deals, you've got to be connected. Here's how:

Join our Email Newsletter
Keep up-to-date on the latest Funny Employee Awards certificates, trophies, and offerings. If we post a discount code for Funny Employee Awards, you'll definitely find it here. Plus, you'll get some free funny awards via email.

Become a Fan on Facebook
Go to our Facebook page and click "Become a Fan" to keep up with the latest Funny Employee Awards news, coupons, and promotions.

Follow Larry Weaver on Twitter
Love to tweet? Follow the creator of Funny Employee Awards, Larry Weaver, on Twitter. Besides funny awards, Larry loves to talk about the comedy business, mixed martial arts, travel, and all kinds of other fun topics.

So there you have it. If you see other sites offering a Funny Employee Awards discount code don't trust them. We're your only source for Funny Employee Awards coupons, discounts, sales and deals.

Note: There are no posted discount codes at this time.

Certificates of Recognition - Download Free Recognition Certificate

2009-12-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

Searching for a quick and easy certificate of recognition? We offer printable certificates of recognition in PDF format. Unlike Microsoft Word certificate templates, our templates are pre-designed and offer limited ability to change their look and feel. But the advantage is that it's super-quick and easy to do.

Available in PDF format, "Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining, and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony" contains 101 Printable Funny Award Certificates, such as the free printable certificates of recognition pictured below:

Download a certificate of recognition for free

These examples come pre-filled with funny phrases for recognition certificates. The PDF also contains 6 Awards Templates for adding your own certificate of recognition wording. The templates are really just blank versions of the awards pictured above. So imagine the second example without the wording "The Loch Ness Award" and "For Least Likely To Be Found". The templates include:

• Recognition Award Template
• Appreciation Award Template
• Excellence Award Template
• Leadership Award Template
• Teamwork Award Template
• Achievement Award Template

Again, these are not Microsoft Word templates. You can not change the design or colors of the awards. You can not change the fonts using the Free edition of Adobe Reader (but you can change the fonts and save changes with Adobe Acrobat). The best way to understand the template is to try it out for yourself:

Certificate of Recognition Sample

Be sure to download the free sample employee recognition certificate to make sure the PDF is right for you before making a purchase.

Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining, and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony

Funny Awards for Restaurant Staff

2009-12-03T07:35:00.001-05:00

I'm looking to create some funny awards for restaurant staff. Working in the food service industry is a constant source of humor from both customers and coworkers. What better way to blow off some steam than with a little humor? I need ideas for waiters, waitresses, hostesses, kitchen staff, cooks, busboys - anyone involved in food service.

These are for employee awards that you might hand out to coworkers at an end-of-the-year awards ceremony. Plays on restaurant terms like weeds, 86, busing, etc. make great award names. Or focus on common characteristics like always mixing up orders, forgetting the daily specials, or most likely to drop a plate. Examples might be:

The Eighty Six Award - for the wait person who is always out
The Weed Whacker Award - for being able to handle any situation
Jack and the Beanstalk Award - for best upsell

If you look around this site, you'll find tons of free award ideas you could use for food service professionals. Awards like these can be used for any worker - not just those who work in an office environment:

Download Free Funny Staff Award

I really just need ideas and terms specific to the restaurant industry. Don't worry too much about making the awards funny - I can do that. If I get a strong enough response, I'll put the collection together in a new eBook as a companion to my current best-seller Funny Employee Awards. And if I up use your funny award idea in the eBook, I'll make sure you get a complimentary copy when it comes out.

Please submit your award ideas here, post them in the comments section, or email me directly.

Office Holiday Party Planning Checklist

2009-12-02T12:19:00.001-05:00

Planning a Christmas party, year-end meeting, or holiday event for your office? Follow these 12 simple guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration.

Don't go at it alone.
Planning the office party may be your responsibility, but no one says you have to do by yourself. Form a committee of 2-3 people to share the workload. If you have the budget and authorization, consider hiring an outside event planner.
Plan a theme party.
A simple theme can go a long way towards setting expectations and making the entire planning process more focused. Popular office party themes include Casino night, Hollywood theme, and Office Awards show.
Consider an off night.
Here's an idea - don't have your office party on the first or second Saturday of December like 99% of everyone else in the county. You'll get better deals and more options if you host your party on an off night.
Deck the halls.
Whether you're having the party in-house or off-site, pull out the decorations to make the event festive. You don't have to break the bank, just some small, tasteful touches will do.
Break up cliques.
Avoid an office party where coworkers mingle with the same cliques they hang out with all year. Consider assigned table seating, or use "standing" tables to encourage mingling.
Serve food.
When planning the menu, look for food that is easy to eat and won't end up on someone's clothes or the floor.
Have drink options.
If you're going to serve alcohol, go out of your way to think up equally fun and festive non-alcoholic drinks. Offer mocktails, festive punch, unique soda options... anything to make not drinking just as fun as imbibing. Be sure to have plenty of bottled water on hand and personally serve it to those that are drinking.
Hire entertainment.
I'm sure your manager is a real hoot. But leave the entertainment up the the professionals. Break out the karaoke machine, find a local band, or hire a comedian. If your budget doesn't allow for outside entertainment, consider exchanging gag gifts or hosting some office party games.
Get a photographer.
Your employees usually arrive dressed to the nines, so don't miss this opportunity to capture images of them at their best. Just do it early on in the party, before too many drinks are served. Once the Electric Slide breaks out, put the camera away.
Provide hand sanitizer.
Seriously, it's flu season. Have some Purell available.
Corral the booze.
Stop serving alcohol at least an hour prior to event's end. Offer a food item or dessert at that time. Take care of anyone who may have over-indulged.
Have transportation options available.
Set up some transportation options prior to the event. Have people volunteer to be designated drivers ahead of time. Make sure everyone has access to taxi cab phone numbers, and that cars will be safe overnight. Call the cabs yourself if you have to.

Need more free tips and office party planning checklists? Just join our free newsletter! And please add your own tips in the comments section below.

Funny Christmas Party Themes - Awards Show

2009-12-01T09:31:00.001-05:00

Looking for unique and funny Christmas party themes? Planning a year-end meeting or holiday party and want to have the best event ever? Then roll out the red carpet and host your very own awards show! We'll give you step-by-step instructions for throwing a party that people will talk about all year!

Unless you work for an extremely small company, don't try to plan the Christmas party alone. Put together a selection committee of 2-3 people who know most everyone in the office. You need a group to discuss your coworkers likes, dislikes, personalities and preferences.. Something you might consider incredibly fun, they might consider offensive. Read The Office Party Planning Committee

When choosing your award recipients, make sure you have the biggest characters in the office covered. The awards ceremony will only be as good as the winners, and an event filled with boring acceptance speeches won’t be much fun for anyone. Read How to Choose Employee Award Winners

Consider hiring a professional comedian to really liven things up. Just like a real Awards show, have the comedian perform an opening stand-up comedy routine. Then begin the awards show portion of the evening. As your employees come up to claim the Awards, the comedian can prompt them for a little back story and “acceptance speech”. Read How to Hire an Office Party Comedian

Low cost touches to make your awards show special:

Set up a red carpet outside the meeting space (check your local remnant store for deals).
Station a photographer to pose as paparazzi as guests arrive.
Serve "mocktails" to make the evening festive.
Have a professional comedian or someone funny serve as the emcee for the event.
Hand out funny awards certificates or funny trophies to the winners.

Want to read more about putting on this funny Christmas party theme? Start by downloading this "Funny Employee Awards" eBook, and you’re halfway there.

You'll find everything you need to know about organizing a ceremony, along with plenty of helpful tips. And most important, you’ll get 101 awards certificates t that will be appropriate for everyone around the office, no matter the employee or the type of business.

When it's over, everyone will be praising you for the best Christmas party ever.

Certificate of Appreciation Templates

2009-11-30T12:15:00.000-05:00

Searching for quick and easy certificate of appreciation templates? We offer certificates of appreciation in PDF format. Unlike Microsoft Word certificate templates, our templates are pre-designed and offer limited ability to change their look and feel. But the advantage is that it's super-quick and easy to do.

Download "The Raisin Award" certificates of appreciation for free.

The PDF also contains 6 Awards Templates for making up your own Funny Awards. The templates are really just blank versions of the awards pictured above. So imagine the second example without the wording "Baby Bottom's Award" and "For Smoothest in Times of Crisis". The templates include:

• Appreciation Award Template
• Excellence Award Template
• Leadership Award Template
• Recognition Award Template
• Teamwork Award Template
• Achievement Award Template

Certificate of Appreciation Example

Be sure to download the free sample certificate of appreciation to make sure the PDF is right for you before making a purchase.

Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining, and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony

Teacher Appreciation Week 2010

2009-11-23T09:17:00.002-05:00

Teacher Appreciation Week 2010 occurs on the first full week of May in the United States. Teacher Appreciation Day 2010, also known as National Teacher Day 2010, is on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Outside the U.S., many other country celebrate Teacher Appreciation every October 5 on World Teachers Day 2010.

According to Wikipedia, the state of Massachusetts adopted September 11 as Teachers' Day back in 1976, and still sets the first Sunday of June as its own Teachers’ Day. However, the National Education Association and the National PTA recognize Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May, annually.

Typical Teacher Appreciation Day gift ideas from school staff or administration may include gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets. If your faculty has a teacher appreciation ceremony, this is a great opportunity to have a few laughs along side the recognition. Download our funny teacher awards and put a smile on everyone's face.

Students often show appreciation for their teachers with token, often handmade, gifts or e-cards. For a last-minute gift idea, consider this free printable teacher of the year award:

Download Free Teacher of the Year Award (PDF)

Remember to bookmark this site and check back regularly for ideas for teacher appreciation week, teacher appreciation day gifts, teacher appreciation week e-cards, and printable teacher appreciation certificates. We'll also give plenty of advice on how to host an unforgettable teacher appreciation event, teacher appreciation party, or teacher appreciation banquet.

When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2011? Remember to mark the first full week of May 2011 on your calendar for Teacher Appreciation Week 2011, and May 3, 2011 for National Teacher Appreciation Day 2011.

Fake Trophies - Funny Fake Awards

2009-11-18T11:51:00.002-05:00

A lot of people come to this site looking for fake trophies. Luckily, we have some very real awards that make great fake awards for your next gathering. These novelty trophies feature gold figurines mounted on a black marble base. The funny award text is engraved directly onto the plaque for posterity. I chose humorous figurines and gave the awards names that could have multiple meanings for a wide variety of occasions:

	Big Mouth Bass Award For... biggest gossip; most talkative; swimming upstream; stinking up the joint; always angling for new business; hooking the biggest new client... See this funny award
	Burning Rubber Award For... racing away from work the fastest; racing into work the fastest; speeding past the competition; fastest completion of projects; longest commute... See this funny trophy
	Rear End Award For... always showing your backside; working your a** off (hardest worker); backing out of (tight spots, tough situations, deadlines, etc)... See this gag trophy
	Big Kahuna Award For... excellence in surfing the Internet; bringing in a tidal wave of (sales, clients, new business, etc); riding out the waves; rising to the top... See this fake trophy
	Golden Turkey Award For... worst idea; always in a spirit of Thanksgiving; gobbling up (sales, funds, office supplies, etc)... See this funny trophy
	El Matador Award For... cutting through all the bull; dodging the bull; riding out the bull; smoothly handling angry customers; grace under pressure... See this fun trophy

Take some time to explore our web site. We also have free fake certificates, fake award certificates, fake certificate templates, printable fake certificates, and much more.

Think of the possibilities... Buy some fake trophies and have a real funny awards show!

Silly Office Awards

2009-11-16T09:55:00.001-05:00

Looking for silly awards? Download the newly released third version of my eBook, "Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining, and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony".

If you've tried to come up with your own ideas for silly awards, you know that the toughest part is coming up with ideas. That's why I've done the work for you. I assembled of team of top comedians and comedy writers, including a features editor from the New York Post and an Emmy-nominated writer from Saturday Night Live.

My goal with this new version was to make the awards more accessible and with wider appeal. Just looking at the examples below, they could be used as silly sports awards, teacher awards, student awards, family reunions, high school superlatives - the applications are endless.

Here are some free sample silly awards:

Foot-in-Mouth Award - for always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time
Baby's Bottom Award - for smoothest in times of crisis
Selective Hearing Impairment Award - for only hearing what you want to hear
Baryshnikov Award - for most skill in dancing around the issues
Kool and the Gang Award - for excellence in group work

The printable certificates make a great gag gift. Just add an inexpensive frame (think dollar store) and it's ready to present.

Remember to bookmark this site and keep checking back for silly achievement awards, silly end of the year awards, silly office awards, silly recognition awards, and silly employee awards.

Download 101 Funny Employee Awards Certificates!
These awards are perfect for any type of staff, organization, group, or business. The eBook has 101 professionally designed awards in PDF format that can be easily printed on the office printer. The awards poke fun, recognize accomplishments, and make reference to pop culture and cartoon characters. Download now and start using right away!

UK Christmas Work Parties Canceled

2009-11-11T12:27:00.000-05:00

Last year's trend of UK Companies Canceling Christmas Parties has continued into this year. A recent BBC news story reported that as many as one in five companies in the United Kingdom are canceling their annual bash as a cost-cutting measure. British workers across the UK immediately fired back launching a campaign to "Save the Office Party".

PR company Big Wednesday seized the opportunity to produce a YouTube video in hopes of bringing attention to the plight of office workers. "The video is a piece of festive fun to be passed around the office and encourage bosses to give their staff a little thank you for working so hard during such a difficult year. There are some good deals to be taken advantage of out there; it doesn't have to be expensive."

Lyrics (set to the tune of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas")

"I’m dreaming of an office party
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the PAs glisten,
And our boss listens
To everything he needs to know."

"I’m dreaming of an office party
With every document I write.
May your parties be merry and bright,
And may your bosses be generous not tight."

We couldn't agree more. Don't cancel the UK Christmas work party. Instead, use these Money-Saving Ideas for Company Christmas Parties.

If you're planning a company Christmas party, get creative. Have fun. Pass out these funny certificates to your coworkers. Just do something to show your workers that you care.

Funny Superlatives - Award Ideas and Certificates

2009-11-09T08:21:00.002-05:00

Funny superlatives are a great way to add laughter to any high school reunion, family reunion, or office party. They typically take the format of "most likely to...", but they can also be definitive statements such as most popular, friendliest, or best smile. So what are superlatives? By definition, a superlative simply means being the extreme degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb, as in best or brightest. In other words, something of the highest possible excellence.

A classic list of superlatives includes biggest geek (or nerd), most likely to succeed, biggest flirt, most popular, class clown, most talkative, quietest, and biggest partier.

Superlatives can work great in the office or workplace, too. But due to the sensitive nature of the U.S. workplace, you'll want to shy away from references to appearance or character traits that could potentially embarrass the recipient. Instead, create funny coworker superlatives that focus on humorous situations common to the office. Some examples include:

the employee always eating other people's food
the person most likely to lose paperwork
the worker most likely to forward annoying emails
the person most likely to put their foot in their mouth
the employee least likely to arrive on time
the staff member most likely to be surfing the Internet instead of working

The hard part in coming up with funny superlative ideas is making them funny. After all, the idea is to create a few laughs, not awkward tension. That's why we've assembled a team of top comedians and office workers to do the work for you. Download the certificates and start handing out these funny superlatives right away!

Boss's Day 2009 - Free Funny Gift Ideas

2009-10-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

When is Boss's Day? Boss's Day (also known as Bosses Day or National Boss Day)always occurs on October 16. This year, it falls on Friday, October 16, 2009.

Boss Day is a great time to show appreciation for your boss. But nobody likes a suck up. Humor is a great way to show appreciation while having fun at the expense of your boss. Just make sure they have a sense of humor first.

Below are some free printable certificates you can present to your boss. Just download the free certificate, fill in your boss's information, and print. Within seconds you'll have a gift idea that's fun, free, and easy:

Running with the Bulls Leadership Award

For the Boss who is the Biggest Risk Taker. Download this Free Printable Certificate

Raisin Pay Award

For the Boss Most Deserving of a "Raisin" Pay. Download this free Certificate of Appreciation

Loch Ness Award

For the Boss who is Least Likely to be Found. Download this free Free Printable Award

If you need serious gift ideas for Boss's Day, cards, flowers, or balloons are a good bet. Or go in with your coworkers to get a gift from the entire office. Just don't forget National Boss's Day 2009. After all, your boss is... well, your boss.

Funny Awards for Real Estate Agents

2009-09-02T09:05:00.001-04:00

I'm looking to create some funny awards for real estate agents. Let's face it - the industry could use a few good laughs this year. And with office party budgets getting cut, fun awards are a great way for realtors to cut loose and have fun without breaking the bank. I need ideas from real estate agents, apartment managers, appraisers, office staff, mortgage brokers - anyone involved in the real estate industry.

These are for awards that you might hand out to coworkers at an end-of-the-year awards ceremony. Plays on real estate terms like absentee owner, A.R.M, easement, junior lien, short sale, etc. make great award names. Examples might be:

The Short Sale Award - for the agent always coming up short on sales
The Absentee Owner Award - for the boss who is never in the office
The Sham Wow Award - for the agent always cleaning up messes

I really just need ideas and terms specific to the real estate industry. Don't worry too much about making the awards funny - I can do that. If I get a strong enough response, I'll put the collection together in a new eBook called "Funny Awards for Real Estate Agents" as a companion to my current best-seller Funny Employee Awards. And if I up use your funny award idea in the eBook, I'll make sure you get a complimentary copy when it comes out.

My preference is for you to submit your award ideas here. But you can also post in the comments section or email me directly.

Tags: real estate humor, real estate jokes, real estate awards

Funny Email Forwards - Free Email Award

2009-08-06T09:12:00.001-04:00

Do you know someone who spends far too much time forwarding emails? Do they email you the same joke repeatedly? Have they warned you multiple times that cell phone records go public today? Do they really deep down inside believe that Microsoft will pay them a nickel for every email they forward?

Click Here to Download Free Award (PDF)

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your friend may have a clinical addiction to email forwarding. Show them you acknowledge their time wasting excellence with this free funny award. Download the certificate, type in their name, and post it on their office door or cubicle. Then send them an email warning that they must tell five people about the award today or else a Nigerian scammer will lose his kidney.

Download 101 Funny Employee Awards Certificates!
If you like this free funny award, be sure to pick up our 101 funny award certificates eBook. These awards are perfect for every worker at any type of business.

Low-Cost Employee Recognition Ideas

2009-07-13T08:55:00.000-04:00

The Chicago Tribune praised the benefits of employee recognition ideas like the funny awards found on this site in their article, "Improving employee morale with incentives a challenge in tough economic times".

The article explains that recognition and prizes - no matter how small - tend to pay off when they reflect a positive work environment.

"When budgets become tighter, you have to become more creative and we have creative people," said Jennifer Zuri, a marketing communications manager at Aquascape. Zuri resurrected a dormant committee in charge of boosting employee morale.

Zuri has planned no-cost employee recognition programs like a "wallyball" tournament and office Olympics. Prizes range from bobbleheads bearing the likeness of the company's founder, to certificates she printed and framed.

"It can be very shallow stuff..." said Tom McMullen, an expert in incentives at management consulting firm Hay Group. But even hanging a picture of an employee of the month can be meaningful if it contributes to a healthy workplace. "If that picture on the wall is part of a bigger thing -- a work climate -- it's very powerful," McMullen said.

As we've said on this blog before, employee recognition doesn't have to break the bank. If you have a positive work environment, even the smallest of employee recognition can pay big dividends.

Workplace Humor - Humor in the Workplace

2009-06-09T08:52:00.001-04:00

CIO magazines outlines the benefits of workplace humor in their recent article, "Making IT Fun Again". While we've long been huge advocates of the topic, this article presents a good in-depth case study of how one specific company used humor in the workplace to achieve specific morale and productivity gains.

Dave Patzwald, CIO of Schneider Electric N.A., a provider of energy management solutions, understood the benefits that workplace humor can bring: greater productivity, better camaraderie, happier workers. And now is a critical time to make humor a priority, says Stuart Robertshaw, retired psychology professor and author of DrHumor.com. "With the bad economy, people need a reason to look forward to coming to work," he says. "Happy people go the extra mile; they're more creative and ultimately produce better products."

Read the full article at CIO.com. And for further reading on the topic of humor in the workplace, check out these books:

There's No I in Office: 4293 Meaningless Phrases to Keep Your Coworkers Smiling While Avoiding Actual Conversation

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the greatest challenge in today's office environment is not how to keep from being stabbed in the back by corporate climbers; it's how to avoid burdensome friendships with well-intentioned but energy-sucking office mates.

The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their People, Retain Talent, and Accelerate Performance

The authors advocate creating a "carrot culture" in which successes are continually celebrated and reinforced. Dozens of recognition techniques include the obvious ("When a top performer is going on a particularly long business trip, upgrade her ticket to business class") to the offbeat ("Hire a celebrity impersonator to leave a congratulatory voice-mail message on an employee's phone").

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace

Creativity is crucial to business success. But too often, even the most innovative organization quickly becomes a "giant hairball"--a tangled, impenetrable mass of rules, traditions, and systems, all based on what worked in the past--that exercises an inexorable pull into mediocrity. Great for any manager looking for new ways to invigorate employees, and any professional who wants to achieve his or her best, most self-expressive, most creative and fulfilling work.

101 Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining, and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony

Around every place of business, there comes a time when it’s necessary to give those who toil there a “thank you” that’s bigger than just dental coverage. And that’s where the employee recognition awards ceremony comes in. Just make sure your ceremony isn’t dry and boring by handing out creative and funny certificates. "Funny Employee Awards" includes 101 printable award certificates plus 6 blank award templates for creating your own funny awards. A staple of workplace humor!

Free Teacher of the Year Award Certificate Template

2009-05-04T08:19:00.003-04:00

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day May 5, we are giving away a FREE Teacher of the Year Award certificate template. You can type directly onto the certificate template before printing. Within seconds you'll have a unique award that will bring smiles to your favorite teacher! Just click the link below to download the PDF and enjoy!

Click Here to Download Free Award (PDF)

There's even an area to write your own customized message. This could be serious or silly. Here are some ideas:

For inspiring me to achieve my greatest potential.
For your hard work, dedication, and patience.
You deserve a raise. But for now, this free award will have to do!

If you like this free Teacher of the Year Award certificate template, we only ask that you please click the "ShareThis" button below and post this page to Facebook, mention it on your blog, or email it to your friends.

Teacher Appreciation Day 2009

2009-05-01T09:00:00.002-04:00

Teacher Appreciation Day occurs on Tuesday of the first full week of May in the United States. Also known as National Teacher Day, Teacher Appreciation Day 2009 is on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The entire week is known as Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3 - May 9, 2009). Outside the U.S., many other country celebrate Teacher Appreciation every October 5, World Teacher's Day.

According to the National Education Association (NEA) website, Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day - but for that one year only. NEA continued to unofficially celebrate the day every March, until the NEA Representative Assembly voted to change the event to Tuesday of the first full week of May beginning in 1985.

Popular Google searches for the holiday include teacher appreciation ideas, teacher appreciation gifts, teacher appreciation certificates, teacher appreciation event, teacher appreciation party, teacher appreciation banquet, and other similar searches.

Typical Teacher Appreciation Day gift ideas include gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets. If your teaching staff has a sense of humor, you can always bring a few laughs into your recognition ceremony. These free funny teachers awards are sure to put a smile on everyone's face.

	Bermuda Triangle Award Is there a teacher at your school who just can't seem to get their stuff together? Would they lose their head if it wasn't attached? Celebrate the person who is always losing paperwork with this fun certificate. Download free Printable Certificate
	Kool and the Gang Teamwork Award When it's time to say well done to a group of teachers, single out the team that has shown excellence in Group Work. Celebrate their outstanding Teamwork with this funny gag certificate. Download Free Certificate
	Baryshnikov Award Navigating the education system takes great skill and prowess - especially in the public school sector. Celebrate a teacher's mastery of dancing around the issues with this fun award certificate. Download Free Printable Certificate
	Running with the Bulls Leadership Award Teaching kids takes courage and boldness. Within every school there is one fearless leader - a bold risk taker who isn't afraid to step out of the pack and take on new challenges. Celebrate their Fearless Leadership with this funny gag certificate. Download Free Printable Certificate
	Raisin Pay Appreciation Award Every teacher deserves a raise in pay - or maybe they just think they do. Show them you care without breaking the bank with this funny gag certificate of appreciation. Download free Certificate of Appreciation
	Download 101 Funny Awards Certificates! PDF download includes 101 Hilarious Printable Certificates + 6 Award Templates for making up your own Funny Teacher Awards! Download now and start using right away!

Remember to mark May 4, 2010 on your calendar for Teacher Appreciation Day 2010.

When is National Nurses Day 2009?

2009-04-29T08:43:00.000-04:00

Nurses Day, also known as National Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day, always occurs on May 6 in the United States. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, the birth date of Florence Nightingale, a pioneering nurse. For jettsetters, International Nurses Day is always on May 12.

To make matters slightly more confusing, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday during National Nurse Week. This year, National School Nurse Day does happen to be on May 6, 2009. But National School Nurse Day 2010 is on May 12, 2010. There's also a Certified Nurses Day, which was held on March 19, 2009.

Popular Google searches for the holiday include nurses day, nursing day, nurse appreciation week, nurses day gifts, and "when is nurses day". With all the variations, it's easy to understand the confusion.

Typical Nurses Day gift ideas include flowers, gift certificates, lunch or dinner, and gift baskets. If your nursing staff has a sense of humor, you can always bring a few laughs into your recognition ceremony with funny awards.

Administrative Professionals Day Ideas for 2009

2009-04-01T08:50:00.000-04:00

The holiday formerly known as Secretary's Day, now known as Administrative Professionals Day, occurs on the Wednesday of the last full week of April. This year, Wednesday, April 22, 2009 is Secretary's Day. If one day isn't enough time for you to celebrate, the entire week is known as Administrative Professionals Week (formerly known as Secretary's Week).

According to Wikipedia, the National Secretaries Association, now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) created the unofficial holiday in 1952 to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals. You may also know them as "Executive Admins".

Despite the push for the name change, the top Google searches for this holiday are (in order) secretary day, secretary's day, administrative professionals day, secretaries day, administrative professional day, secretarys day.

Typical gifts for Secretary's Day include gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets. Some companies cater lunch because hey, somebody has to stay in answer the phones (sad, but true). Best of all, bosses clumsily attempt to plan their own office party.

If your ExecutiveAdminProfessional-etary has a sense of humor, you can always bring a few laughs into the office with these funny awards:

Raisin Pay Appreciation Award

Given to the employee who is Most Deserving of a "Raisin" Pay. Download this free Certificate of Appreciation

Selective Hearing Impairment Award

Given to the employee who has excelled at the skill of Only Hearing What they Want to Hear. Download this free Award Certificate

Bermuda Triangle Award

Given to the employee who has excelled at the skill of Always Losing Paperwork. Download this free Printable Certificate

Need more ideas? Celebrate Secretary's Day 2009 with our eBook of 101 Funny Employee Awards. It will give all of you non-admins the tools you need to throw a fun recognition ceremony for your staff.

Employee Appreciation Day - Ideas

2009-03-02T07:50:00.004-05:00

Employee Appreciation Day occurs on the first Friday of the month of March. This year, it falls on Friday, March 6, 2009. The month of March is also Employee Spirit Month, whatever that means.

We're all about fun here, but showing appreciation to your employees is serious business - especially in this economy. Now more than ever, companies need to retain and reward their best employees.

If you need Employee Appreciation Day ideas, gift certificates are a good place to start. Most any drug store or supermarket will sell a wide range of gift certificates in any price range. Look for certificates with wide appeal. While Starbucks may not be everyone's cup of tea (or coffee), almost anyone can enjoy a popular restaurant or bookstore.

Here are some additional Employee Appreciation Day ideas:

And remember: show your employees that you care. And not just March 6, but year-round.

Employee Recognition that Doesn't Break the Bank

2009-02-10T12:15:00.000-05:00

Wells Fargo & Co. made news this week by blaming the media for having to cancel all "major employee-recognition events."

The bank that took $25 billion in federal bailout money ranfull-page ads in Sunday's New York Times and Washington Post that read "one-sided stories lead you to believe every employee recognition event is a junket, a boondoggle, a waste or that it's for highly-paid executives. Nonsense!"

The bank's sentiment is partially understandable.

One one hand, companies that receive government bailout money should both expect and receive more public scrutiny. Public outrage over exorbitant executive salaries and private Jimmy Buffett concerts are understandable.

On the other hand, Wells Fargo is correct in defending the practice of employee recognition. In fact, such recognition is vital to any company that expects to recover in this economy.

But perhaps Wells Fargo executives have lost sight of what employee recognition really means. It can be as simple as a pat on the back or a "job well done". Not only does it not have to break the bank, the best employee recognition can be low-cost or completely free.

Download 101 Funny Employee Awards Certificates!
If you're looking for low-cost employee recognition ideas, be sure to pick up our 101 funny award certificates eBook. These awards are perfect for any worker at any type of business - even Wells Fargo executives. Download now and start using right away!

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Teacher Appreciation Day 2009

Bermuda Triangle Award

Kool and the Gang Teamwork Award

Baryshnikov Award

Running with the Bulls Leadership Award

Raisin Pay Appreciation Award

When is National Nurses Day 2009?

Administrative Professionals Day Ideas for 2009

Raisin Pay Appreciation Award

Selective Hearing Impairment Award

Bermuda Triangle Award

Employee Appreciation Day - Ideas

Employee Recognition that Doesn't Break the Bank