Gearing up for another year of team engagement? Stay ahead of the curve with our HR annual calendar.
Whether you’re using it as an HR compliance calendar, HR activities calendar, or employee engagement calendar, a well-prepared HR calendar can be your secret sauce.
Use this handy calendar with tips and culture activity suggestions to stay on top of important dates and holidays throughout the year to make sure you never miss an important event, celebration, or opportunity to boost team morale and company culture.
January
January 1, 2024 – New Year’s Day
The first day you should mark on your HR calendar of activities for 2024 is the beginning of the calendar year, a great time for reflection, goal-setting, and fresh starts.
You can use this time to create fun New Year’s resolutions with the team that align with company goals and milestones.
January 15, 2024 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (US)
This holiday celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr., who played a crucial role in the American civil rights movement.
To commemorate, consider inviting speakers to talk to your team about civil rights and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B). You can also conduct workshops focused on DE&I and anti-bias training in the workplace.
February
Black History Month (US)
This month is about celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black individuals throughout history. Black History Month is a great time to invite speakers in for workshops promoting workplace diversity and creating safe spaces to conduct difficult conversations about race and how to recognize and overcome biases.
February 19, 2024 – Washington’s Birthday (US)
Washington’s Birthday, commonly known as Presidents’ Day, honors the first President of the US and celebrates the birthdays of all US presidents.
You could organize a fun trivia contest about US presidents for some friendly competition or decorate the workplace with inspirational quotes from US presidents to reflect on unity and values.
March
March 1, 2024 – Employee Appreciation Day
This day is the day to recognize your team’s hard work and contributions—and a great opportunity for employers and colleagues to show appreciation.
You could hold a recognition awards ceremony to hand out “Employee of the Year” awards or introduce new “relaxation stations” around the office to help your team unwind with comfortable seating, snacks, and games.
March 8, 2024 – International Women’s Day
An integral part of any HR compliance calendar in 2024, this holiday honors the contributions of women throughout history and champions gender equality.
Some excellent ways to celebrate include organizing a panel discussion to raise awareness about women’s rights, especially in the workplace; inviting guest speakers to discuss gender equality, women’s empowerment and leadership; or setting up a recognition wall featuring notable achievements of women within the organization.
March 31, 2024 – International Transgender Visibility Day
On average, three percent of the world’s population identifies as transgender, including non-binary, non-gender-conforming, and genderfluid people. Use this day to call your people’s attention to transgender struggles and rights to foster a more inclusive and accepting work environment all year round.
Start by providing awareness training with workshops focused on transgender history and real-world challenges transgender professionals and youth face every day. Let your people know how they can be proactive in the fight for transgender rights and equality with training sessions on how to support transgender colleagues in the workplace better.
April
April 22, 2024: Earth Day
Earth Day is dedicated to environmental protection and raising awareness about sustainability.
To support sustainability and encourage your people to make sustainable practices a daily habit in their private and professional lives, initiate an office recycling challenge. Get creative about incentives with prizes and perks to reward people’s best efforts.
You could organize a community cleanup or tree-planting event for a more hands-on approach, contributing to environmental conversation and team building.
May
Mental Health Awareness Month
This month aims to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma, and promote overall wellbeing.
Think about hosting a seminar series on mental health education, stress management, and strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Hosting separate sessions for managers can go a long way in helping company leaders learn about and implement proven techniques to alleviate stress across their teams and foster a healthier overall company culture.
It’s always a good idea to create open forums where people can share their mental health experiences or strategies for maintaining wellbeing. You could also hold mindfulness sessions to help your team relax, focus, and foster a more supportive work environment.
May 20, 2024 – International HR Day
Companies are increasingly recognizing and celebrating HR as a powerful part of their business leadership team. International HR Day is the perfect moment to celebrate yourselves and your teams and recognize the strides you’ve made in contributing to your organization’s strategic governance and the impact you’ve made serving as the drivers of an exceptional company culture that boosts employee engagement and satisfaction, productivity, and retention.
May 27, 2024 – Memorial Day (US)
Memorial Day honors and remembers the people who have given their lives to military service.
To honor this day, you can begin the workday with a moment of silence. Workplace initiatives and activities can include organizing a charity fundraiser to support veterans and military families, volunteering at a local veterans’ center, or assisting military families in need.
June
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
This month is all about celebrating the achievements and strength of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s a time to call attention to LGBTQIA+ people’s ongoing fight for equal rights and honor the historical events that led to the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.
Open structured discussions and provide educational resources to help teach your people about creating an inclusive and supportive workplace environment for members of LGBTQIA+ communities. To further give your support, hold DE&I workshops focused on LGBTQIA+ issues and allyship. You can also consider organizing, sponsoring, or participating in local Pride events (think Pride Parade, etc.).
June 19, 2024 – Juneteenth National Independence Day (US)
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, marking the end of slavery.
You could organize workshops to educate your team about the day’s historical and cultural significance, encourage your people to participate in local community events, or volunteer for charities that work towards racial justice and equality.
July
July 4, 2024 – Independence Day (US)
US Independence Day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
It’s the perfect time to host a company picnic or barbecue with food, games, and great team-building activities.
August
The school summer holidays are a great time to remind your team to focus on their work-life balance, spend more time with their family and friends, take advantage of their PTO benefits to go on vacation, and spend time relaxing however they want.
As company leaders, encourage your HR teammates and other company leaders to set an example for your people and take your much-deserved break. This is especially important as many people may hesitate to take time off due to age-old stigmas against it.
September
September 2, 2024 – Labor Day (US)
Labor Day honors the contributions and achievements of American workers and the labor movement.
Treat your team to a work appreciation event to recognize and celebrate their hard work. You could also offer professional development workshops or training sessions to empower and enhance people’s skills.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15 in the US, celebrates the cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities.
A fun way to celebrate is to organize a cultural food festival for your team to share traditional Hispanic dishes or arrange a guest speaker series for individuals to share their experiences and achievements.
October
October 14, 2024 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day (previously Columbus Day – US)
This holiday recognizes the indigenous communities in the United States.
Use this opportunity to organize a cultural exchange event where participants can appreciate indigenous communities’ diverse cultures. You can also host a documentary screening that explores the historical context surrounding the Europeans’ discovery of the Americas and their impact on the people native to the land.
November
November 11, 2024 – Veterans Day (US)
Veterans Day honors military veterans who have served in the US Armed Forces.
A great way to observe this holiday is with a special breakfast or lunch in honor of veterans. You can also collaborate with your local Veterans’ Association to organize a care package drive to collect and send items—like essential supplies or letters of appreciation—to active-duty military personnel and veterans.
November 28, 2024 – Thanksgiving (US)
The Thanksgiving season is a time for expressing gratitude and sharing a festive meal with family and friends.
It’s the perfect time to run people programs focusing on community service, like sponsoring a food or clothing drive. You can also consider holding team-building activities that emphasize what people are thankful for in their communities and how they can give back.
December
December 3, 2024 – International Day for People with Disabilities
According to the WHO, around 16 percent of the world—1.3 billion people—experience disability. Promoting awareness and inclusivity for people with disabilities—all year long—is key to a healthy work environment and accessibility planning and hiring.
Take this time to survey and talk to your people about accessibility in the workplace and how you can improve. Listen sincerely to their suggestions and ideas, and start building plans into the budget to make your facilities and technologies more accessible, including to those with hidden disabilities.
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December 25, 2024 – Christmas Day
Christmas Day is widely observed as a time of joy, gift-giving, and festive gatherings by people of various backgrounds.
You can organize a festive gift exchange where participants draw names and exchange presents or host an “Ugly Christmas Sweater contest,” encouraging people to wear their most festive (and tacky) holiday sweaters.
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By incorporating these events into your HR calendar for 2024, you’ll enhance employee engagement and contribute to a positive and inclusive company culture.
Just remember: Each of these holidays draws attention to specific social issues and programs companies can run year-round. They provide you with creative ways throughout the year to promote exceptional company cultures, improve DEI&B, and help your people connect more with their colleagues and your customers.
