Tips for Choosing the Best Thank You Gift for Employees
Giving gifts to employees to show appreciation is a great way for employers to boost morale and motivate their team. Choosing the right thank you gift for employees requires some thought and planning. Here are some tips to help you pick the perfect gift your staff will appreciate and enjoy:
Consider Your Employees’ Interests and Hobbies
Think about what your employees like to do in their free time or what interests they have outside of work. If an employee is really into fitness, get them a gift card to a sporting goods store or sign them up for a recreational sports league. If they love reading, give them an e-reader pre-loaded with some book credits. Catering a gift to someone’s unique hobbies makes it more meaningful.
Give Consumable Gifts
Consumable gifts like food, coffee, candy, gift baskets, or gift cards for restaurants are great options because they do not take up space and can be enjoyed right away. You may want to find out if any employees have dietary restrictions or food allergies first. Just make sure to abide by any company gifting policies if giving food items.
Recognize Good Work
When an employee has done an exceptionally good job on a project or assignment, recognize their efforts with a thank you gift. This could be anything from a restaurant gift card to a plaque or certificate acknowledging their achievement. Public recognition is very motivating.
Make Gifts Personal
Adding a personal touch to each gift makes it more special. If you have a small team, consider getting each person something tailored specifically to them. Include a note thanking them for their hard work and commitment. If you have a larger staff, get everyone the same gift but include personalized messages.
Give Experiential Gifts
Rather than material things, give employees gift certificates for experiential activities like spas, restaurants, theaters, sporting events, or recreational activities. This gives them something fun to look forward to. You could even organize a group outing that allows coworkers to bond and unwind together outside of the office.
Be Generous
Don’t skimp when it comes to showing your appreciation. Get gifts that feel substantial and indulgent, not just token trinkets. You want employees to feel genuinely valued. It pays off in engagement, motivation, and loyalty.
Make Gifts Useful
Look for thank you gifts your employees can use in their everyday lives. Ideas include high-quality travel mugs, computer bags, phone accessories, cozy slippers, or coffee table books. Try to find things they’ll get practical use out of even after the initial excitement of receiving the gift wears off.
Give Health & Wellness Gifts
Wellness-related gifts show you care about employees’ health and want to help them reduce stress. Ideas include fitness trackers, massage gift cards, yoga classes, mindfulness journals, aromatic diffusers, or exercise equipment. Just avoid anything too personal like diet or weight loss programs.
Do Group Gifts
For larger teams, you can give gifts to departments or the organization as a whole. This promotes bonding and camaraderie among coworkers. Ideas include catered lunches, hosting social events outside of work, decorating a common workspace, providing extra vacation days, or organizing fun team building activities.
Time Gifts Well
When you give a gift can be just as important as what you give. To show appreciation for recent accomplishments, give them as close to the achievement as possible. For employee appreciation week or the holidays, plan gifts in advance. Just don’t give gifts only on occasions or they may seem insincere.
Set a Budget
Decide how much you want to spend on gifts per employee or for the team as a whole and stick to it. You don’t need to break the bank to show employees they are valued. Thoughtful, tailored gifts mean more than extravagant ones. But do make sure your budget allows for gifts substantial enough to make employees feel genuinely appreciated.
Check Company Policy
Before giving employees any gifts, review your company policies. Many have strict rules around accepting gifts, especially if you work for the government. Make sure whatever you give complies with conflict of interest and ethics rules.
Get Input from Managers
Managers often know their team members best. Ask for input from supervisors on appropriate gifts their direct reports would appreciate. But avoid letting managers hand out gifts themselves so it’s clear the appreciation is coming from the leadership and company as a whole.
Showing gratitude to employees through gifts and recognition is an important part of creating a positive, motivating work environment. Put thought into choosing gifts your team will truly appreciate. The right thank you gift can foster goodwill with employees and lead to higher engagement, satisfaction, and performance.