Pay them to party.
One of our favorite recognition events, by far, is our company’s annual picnic at a local amusement/water park. Our company pays the full park admission price for each member of the employee’s family and provides a free dinner. But it goes a step farther. We give everyone a half day off to enjoy the event with their family. It’s just one of the many ways the company says “thank you.”
If your company picnic isn’t well attended, consider having it on company time. Somehow the food is sweeter and the conversation is a little more lively when you are getting paid to party! And that feeling of good will can’t help but follow employees back to the office.