🍾 Welcome to 2026!
With the festive vacation season behind us and the remainder of winter stays forward, it’s time to get again into the swing of issues. There’s nonetheless time to orchestrate actions and socials in January, in case you merely ran out of time in 2025 – you’ll want to take a look at our January exercise weblog for useful concepts! – however at this time, let’s discover alternatives for worker engagement in February.
Social themes that increase belonging
Black Historical past Month
February is often acknowledged as Black Historical past Month due to motion by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, who acknowledged the omissions of Black people from the mainstream historic information. This month, we spotlight the contributions, successes and injustices confronted by our Black friends and work to additional enhance fairness in America.
Ethnic Equality Month
February additionally hosts Ethnic Equality Month, which is a extra common observance designed to advertise human equality and cultural variety, in addition to problem bias throughout racial and ethnic boundaries. For broadly multicultural organizations, this may be a possibility to prioritize cross-cultural connections and deepen understanding and empathy.
LGBTQ+ Historical past Month
We additionally see LGBTQ+ Historical past Month in February, an vital time to acknowledge the existence, contributions and persecutions of the varied representations of queer of us all through historical past. As queer folks proceed to face adversity all around the world for merely being who they’re, persevering with to acknowledge LGBTQ+ Historical past Month continues to be an vital time of the 12 months for driving understanding, belonging and neighborhood.
Lunar New Yr
February seventeenth marks the Lunar New Yr in 2026, ending the Yr of the Snake and starting the Yr of the Dragon – related to energy, energy and luck. Organizations can rejoice this event by internet hosting cultural occasions, providing conventional meals and inspiring workers to share their very own customs and traditions.
Alternatives to indicate some love
February is stuffed with quite a few probabilities to unfold kindness and appreciation amongst your workforce. Internet hosting small celebrations or recognition occasions can go a great distance in fostering a optimistic office tradition. For instance:
2nd – Groundhog Day | Host a ballot for workers to vote for his or her shadow visibility prediction!
4th – Transit Fairness Day | Does your group provide commuter advantages? Host an informational webinar about what’s lined, methods to use the profit and – critically – how a lot cash workers may save through the use of it!
fifth – Nationwide Optimist Day | Encourage managers to host crew lunches to share the excellent news of life, whether or not work- or home-related!
twelfth – Digital Studying Day | Remind workers that their progress issues to the enterprise by highlighting on-line studying instruments and alternatives to enhance!
14th – Valentine’s Day | Provide workers festive appreciation eCards to ship one another and spotlight neighborhood throughout the group.
seventeenth – Random Acts of Kindness Day | Create a “gratitude wall” in your workplace or break room and encourage workers to put up type phrases all through the day to encourage and acknowledge their colleagues, both personally or professionally!
twentieth – World Day of Social Justice | Help your CSR dedication with a webinar with an activist or an area non-profit group to focus on vital work being executed in your individual neighborhood and methods on your workers to step up in the event that they need to take part.
Who’s hungry? Interact workers’ style buds
All around the world, people construct connection and neighborhood by means of meals. Irrespective of the tradition, faith, creed or philosophy, meals brings folks collectively. Not solely does free meals carry the temper (and subsequently morale), but it surely additionally boosts monetary wellbeing by lowering spend on groceries or take-out for that day. And placing sudden a reimbursement in an worker’s pocket is a straightforward option to increase loyalty and retention.
- third – Nationwide Carrot Cake Day
- 4th – Nationwide Selfmade Soup Day
- thirteenth – Nationwide Tortellini Day
- sixteenth – Nationwide Almond Day
- seventeenth – Nationwide Cabbage Day
- twentieth – Nationwide Cherry Pie Day + Nationwide Muffin Day
- twenty third – Nationwide Banana Bread Day
- twenty sixth – Nationwide Chili Day + Nationwide Pistachio Day
There are, as all the time, much more food-based observances in February than I’ve introduced right here. There are additionally quite a lot of alcohol-based observances all year long that your group can observe or rejoice – the twenty second is Nationwide Margarita Day, for instance – however keep in mind to be cautious: There are lots of people who’re uncomfortable with and round alcohol, for causes that vary from the mundane to the deeply private. While you serve alcohol at your company occasions, make it possible for alternate options are thought of or supplied for many who want to take part however not partake.
Vital occasions value consideration
The month of February additionally brings consideration to important occasions that may function social distractions, such because the 2026 Winter Olympics, the annual Tremendous Bowl, and the Daytona 500 season-opener race. And whereas these main occasions may cause work stress whereas persons are splitting their consideration, they’re additionally precious cultural cornerstones for constructing connection.
Internet hosting viewing events for large occasions just like the Olympics or a championship recreation can create casual gathering alternatives, the place workers come collectively to cheer for his or her groups and bond over shared experiences. Moreover, themed and celebratory actions can add a component of pleasure and inclusivity to the office. Embracing these “distractions” – relatively than punishing them – fosters a way of camaraderie amongst workers, strengthening crew dynamics and even cross-departmental engagement.
Feb sixth – twenty second – 2026 Winter Olympics
Feb eighth – Tremendous Bowl
Feb fifteenth – Daytona 500
Well being & wellness moments
Selling well being and wellbeing within the office is important for total worker wellbeing. February is American Coronary heart Month, making it a wonderful time to arrange well being checks, workshops and discussions about coronary heart well being. Significantly in case your trade has an outsized impression on cardiac well being, emphasizing wholesome actions and security precautions on this time is just not solely applicable, it’s accountable. Observing particular dates like Nationwide Toothache Day and Nationwide Organ Donor Day may also encourage workers to prioritize their well being and interact in vital conversations round diet and wellness practices.
1st – twenty eighth – American Coronary heart Month
ninth – Nationwide Toothache Day
14th – Nationwide Organ Donor Day
Able to plan even additional forward than February? Take a look at our 2026 HR Planning Calendar and discover holidays and celebrations that may allow you to benefit from your communications and worker expertise methods. Obtain your free copy at this time!
