What Makes a Great Gift for Employee Appreciation? Here are 10 Gifts to Show it the Right Way
Who doesn’t like to receive gifts? Whether we rip the gift wrapper in hurried delight or unwrap it slowly, any form of gift always lifts our spirits. It is only more so when it comes as a reward for our work. While we may feel pleased with the outcome of a task or project, knowing that it has been noticed and rewarded takes it to a whole new level. And employers who recognize this will come up with unique employee appreciation gifts showing that no employee goes unnoticed. However, coming up with great gift ideas requires creativity and thought. After all, we would want a thoughtful gesture to go with the perfect gift. This blog should give you a few ideas you can use to ensure the right amount of employee appreciation and make your employees feel valued.
Finding the right gift for employee appreciation can be simple. All you need to know is what your employees would most appreciate. You could include a gift card to a local restaurant or store or a custom-made gift basket filled with your employees’ favorite items. Whatever you choose, add a personal note expressing your thanks for your employees’ hard work and dedication. However short the message may be, it will be cherished.
Now, let’s look at ten gift ideas that may inspire you to come up with ten more.
Ten Great Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas
In small or mid-sized organizations, it may be easy to know the personal interests of each employee so you can send them appropriate gifts. In larger enterprises, it may not be as easy. But, you can use forms or questionnaires to get their input on their outside interests or the gifts they wish for. You may find employee appreciation software, as part of the performance management system, quite helpful. Whether for individuals or teams, you can curate the list and make it more than a generic token. For instance:
1. Educational Opportunities
We will start with the simple – a well-curated list of courses offered for growth opportunities or sending them to professional workshops. You will show them that you appreciate their work and a keen interest in learning. It also lets them know that you consider them a part of the work family and are willing to invest in their growth.
2. Company Branded Gifts
While many organizations use branded products to enhance brand awareness, they can be effective as gifts, especially after a successful project. Sending them company-branded gifts like sweatshirts or backpacks is an excellent idea. It also boosts motivation levels and increases pride in the work they do.
3. Gift a Massage
After a tough week, receiving a massage as a gift would be greatly appreciated. Sending your employee to a high-end spa for a massage would make a wonderful gift. It sends a message that you have noticed their hard work and understand what it took to produce the desired results. Now, it is their turn to enjoy a massage to feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
4. Offer a Free Health Check-up
As the pandemic showed us the importance of good health, a regular health check-up is not only appropriate but essential. Giving your employees a day off and free health check-up makes it one of the top thoughtful gifts of all time. It also ensures you have healthy employees, making it a win-win for both.
5. A catered Lunch or Dinner
When you know that a particular employee is having a birthday or anniversary, treating them and their family to a catered lunch or dinner shows that you pay attention to their personal lives. You may need to let them know at least a day before so they haven’t made any plans for the day. Making it a gift for the family is an excellent way to make employees feel included.
6. Give them Books
Books are a traditional gift for a reason. They don’t have to be business-related or self-help books. Any genre would work when you know the employee’s taste in reading. Online bookstores offer gift certificates that you can use to select the books you want to read.
7. Surprise your Employees with Flowers
You would think ordering flowers delivered on a particular day is easy. Perhaps, it is. But you could add a little more by sending a personal note and sending it for a few weeks in a row. For example, have different flowers delivered on four Wednesdays as it would be perfect as a pick-me-up in the middle of a work week.
8. Gift Vouchers
Knowing what type of gift will be welcomed is not always easy. Gift vouchers take the guessing part of it out of the equation. Your employees will be pleased to know that they have a choice in what they get. Gift vouchers are simple and easy to include in your gift ideas. And they still let your employees know they are valued.
9. Give them a Friday Off
You will probably balk at losing a few hours’ work where your business is concerned. But showing your appreciation by giving employees a hard-earned day off will reward you in ways you can’t count. When an employee is given an extra day off, they will return with their batteries recharged and ready for their next project with renewed vigor.
10. Gym Membership
Self-care is crucial, and gym memberships can be expensive. People opt for online exercise classes and free apps to start their physical-fitness journey. Being rewarded with a Gym membership is a brilliant idea for a gift. Remember, their good health will infect the rest of the team and boost their morale.
Final thoughts
There you have it, ten gift ideas regardless of the occasion. Their hard work and commitment to the organization are enough to ensure they are in line to be recognized and rewarded. The time and thought you, as an employer, put into it will come back to you a thousand-fold. Underlying the need to benefit from the employee appreciation gifts is the understanding that everyone must be noticed, their work acknowledged, and their contribution valued. What better way to show it than by giving them appropriate gifts?
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