How to celebrate Valentine's Day at work: Top 3 options and ideas for HR

Valentine’s Day can often feel overwhelming – with endless ads, over-the-top Valentine’s cards, and quizzes about your "Valentine personality." Sound exhausting? Understandable. But what if we could reimagine this holiday to make it meaningful, inclusive, and genuinely enjoyable for everyone? With the help of an inspired HR team and a few practical tips from PeopleForce, you can transform Valentine’s Day into a celebration your workplace will truly appreciate.

Valentine’s Day statistics in the workplace

Valentine’s Day, though rooted in pagan traditions, gained widespread popularity thanks to Americans, who spend astronomical amounts on the holiday. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), American consumers spent around $21.8 billion in 2021, while the UK spent £926 million. These figures make sense when you consider the growing need for people to express love and appreciation for colleagues, especially in today’s work environment.

With more people working from home and dealing with burnout, opportunities to meet new people have decreased, leading many to connect with colleagues instead. In fact, research shows that 31% of employees who started dating at work eventually got married.

A fun fact: 22% of people have met their boss outside of work, a 15% increase from 2020 – likely influenced by the pandemic, when communication with managers became more essential. On the downside, 41% of employees have had to keep workplace relationships a secret at some point.

How to celebrate Valentine's Day with colleagues in a traditional style

If you're inspired by the statistics and feel like an office Cupid, here are some tips for a memorable and romantic Valentine's Day celebration with colleagues:

1. Secret Valentine Exchange: Similar to Secret Santa, this involves anonymous gift-giving. Set up a mailbox in the office with blank Valentine cards for everyone to fill out. For remote teams, use services that allow sending anonymous greetings.
2. Small Dinner Gathering: Host a cozy dinner at the office after work, complete with treats, champagne, and candles. Alternatively, book a table at a nearby restaurant for a more formal setting.
3. Chocolate and Flowers: A simple but thoughtful gesture – give colleagues chocolates or flowers as a token of appreciation.
4. Movie Night: Arrange a group outing to the movies or offer gift certificates for two, allowing colleagues to enjoy a night out.
5. Photo Shoot: Hire a photographer for a fun photo session. It's an affordable way to capture memories and share smiles on social media. You could suggest a red dress code to add to the festive mood.
6. Home Movie Theater: Create a romantic movie night at the office or at home, complete with comfy seating and a good romantic comedy. It's a relaxed way to bond with colleagues and enjoy some downtime together.

Valentine's Day with colleagues and "work spouses"

What do you know about the concept of a work spouse? Literally, it translates to "work husband" or "work wife." It refers to that work partner with whom you share your experiences and emotions, communicate more often, go for coffee, order food together, and influence each other's decision-making, even up to deciding to resign together or move to another position/another team.

This is not mandatory, but often a person of the opposite sex – according to data from Office Pulse, 70% of employees report having a "work spouse" in the sense of a colleague with whom they maintain the closest communication (with 93% being men and 77% being women). Furthermore, the study emphasizes that the "spouse" influences feelings of happiness and satisfaction with the work process. The most "spouses" are found in Generation Z, while 40% of baby boomers and 28% of millennials have never had such a work partner.

According to a study by SHRM, 50% of colleagues felt affection for their "partners" at work, while Forbes actually recommends against using the term "partner" or "spouse" for such relationships. However, it all depends on how your company's management reacts to close relationships at work – do they prohibit you and your colleagues from dating, are there restrictions on communication?..

If you value open communication and giving your colleagues the freedom to connect with those they choose, why not organize a fun pairing competition for Valentine's Day? Here's how:

1. Pairing Up: Divide the group into pairs, allowing everyone to choose their own work "partners."
2. Set the Rules: Create clear competition guidelines and display a board where you can track each pair's names and scores as they complete tasks.
3. Task Ideas:
   • Company Ideas: Each pair generates ideas for the company—whether it's product improvements or system enhancements. The more ideas, the more points they earn.
   • Office Tasks: From sorting the trash to planning mini activities, completing simple office tasks earns points.
   • Office Decorations: Have each pair bring in Valentine-themed decorations to brighten up the workspace.
   • CSR Ideas: For companies without a social responsibility focus, challenge pairs to brainstorm potential CSR initiatives.
4. Tally the Scores: On February 14, count up the points and select the most creative or impactful ideas.
5. Celebrate the Winners: Reward the winning pair with treats, champagne, and small prizes to make the celebration extra special.

Work buddy or employee assistance program

For teams where close communication isn't common or encouraged, yet there's a desire to strengthen connections, the "work buddies" program can be the perfect solution.

Traditional mentorship can feel outdated, especially when the relationships often remain formal and impersonal. To help newcomers integrate into the team more naturally and make onboarding truly beneficial for team engagement, you can use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to launch the "work buddies" program.

Here’s how you can implement it:

1. Assign New Work Buddies: Pair up newcomers with their first "work buddy." For remote workers or those in different locations, assign them a buddy from another department or city.
2. Set Joint Tasks: Use the HRM system to assign them a series of tasks to complete together. These can include attending 1-on-1 meetings, learning internal processes, and discussing job responsibilities in detail.
3. Incorporate Valentine's Day: Invite the buddies to participate in the office Valentine’s celebration—use any of the suggested activities from earlier or create a personalized task, like writing a letter highlighting each other’s best qualities.
4. Rotating Buddies: To foster diverse connections and experiences, consider changing work buddies periodically. This will help both new and experienced employees better understand different roles within the company and broaden their professional relationships.

By making Valentine’s Day the start of the "work friends" program, you'll create an engaging and supportive atmosphere that benefits both individual team members and the company as a whole.

How to сelebrate Valentine’s day with remote teams

Organizing a Valentine’s Day celebration for teams spread across different locations can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to hinder the fun. Here are a few tips for ensuring everyone can participate, no matter where they are:

1. Explore Virtual Possibilities: Embrace new technologies like virtual reality rooms. Platforms like Kumospace already offer interactive spaces for teams to gather and engage, making it a unique experience for everyone.
2. Stick to Zoom for a Classic Option: If you prefer something simpler, organize a Zoom call and encourage everyone to wear a virtual mask or change their background for a fun masquerade vibe.
3. Host a Virtual Red Party: Organize a virtual red-themed party and encourage colleagues to share funny screenshots on social media, showcasing their creativity.
4. Introduce Partners and Pets: Virtual parties are a perfect chance to introduce your colleagues to your "other halves" and showcase your pets as your Valentine companions, especially if you’re a little shy.
5. Share Why You Love the Company: Ask colleagues to prepare short speeches where they share what they love about the company and what brings them joy at work.
6. Surprise Giveaway: Add excitement by organizing a surprise giveaway during the virtual celebration for those attending.
7. Discuss Future Plans: Use the virtual gathering as a moment to talk about future company plans—whether it’s team trips, new initiatives, or exciting promotions.
8. Celebrate Professional Milestones: Recognize anniversaries or milestones for team members, adding an extra layer of appreciation to the day.
9. Acknowledge Personal Milestones: If appropriate, wish colleagues who have experienced life changes, like getting engaged or married, a special Valentine’s Day congratulations.

Valentine’s Day with colleagues is a wonderful opportunity to express appreciation for the support and friendship within your team. Use this time to spread positivity, celebrate achievements, and create lasting connections with good vibes all around!