Giving your employees gifts can make them feel acknowledged and essential to the team. If you want to make your team feel appreciated, you want to put thought and care into the gifts you give them. However, if you’re unsure, narrowing it down to a single present can be very difficult.
So, we put together this guide just for you! You’ll find all the best employee recognition gift ideas below, so keep reading.
1. Gift Cards
Gift cards are always a great choice, especially if you can get them from your team’s favorite brands. Even if there’s not a retailer nearby for the gift card, your team can always shop from them online.
Ask your employees what clothing brands, home goods stores, and restaurants they like. Then, try to find gift cards to match.
If you’re unsure what your employees would like, you can always get them a more universal gift card. For example, Target, Walmart, and Amazon all offer products everyone can use.
Gift cards are a straightforward way to show your team your appreciation, so don’t count them out just yet.
2. Treat Them to Lunch
Next, you can treat your team to a delicious lunch. Bring them out to eat at a local restaurant or arrange for catering at the office. Either way, your employees will surely appreciate a tasty meal with you.
To create a memorable moment with your team, hire a food truck for the day.
Ensure you know of any allergies or dietary restrictions beforehand, especially if you’re ordering catering. You need to know that everyone on the team can participate.
Even if most of your team works remotely, you can still enjoy a meal together from time to time virtually.
You can do many activities during a team lunch for team building and increasing motivation. Try asking some icebreakers and see where it goes.
3. Personalized Corporate Gifts
Next, you can offer your team customized branded merchandise—for example, T-shirts, notebooks, pens, and mugs with your company logo.
A custom corporate gift can make everyone feel like they’re representing their team, increasing loyalty. Many people are proud to sport their company logo out of the office. You could also give them sticker logos so that they can decorate their laptops, water bottles, and more in their workspace.
You can get creative with corporate gifts. Some unique ideas include making a calendar full of images from company events, planters with logos, and even branded socks. You could also send them a thank-you basket of their favorite teas, coffees, and snacks.
No matter what you decide, custom corporate gifts show that you’re thinking of your employees and how much they contribute to the team. We’d have to say that this is one of the best ways to recognize your employees.
4. Extra Time Off
Giving your team more time off will let them rest and recharge. They’re sure to appreciate it and will feel much more motivated and productive when they return. Make sure that you offer paid time off and opportunities to work from home.
Providing paid time off is good for your team’s mental health and drastically reduces burnout. If they have some but aren’t using it, make sure you encourage them to take a break every once and a while.
You can gift them a card with a handwritten note telling them about their paid time off to make it feel more like you’re offering them a present for their hard work.
5. Subscription Services
There are subscription services for just about anything today. You could gift your employees a subscription to a meal kit, coffee club, streaming services, craft kits, and more. You’re sure to find something that your employee is interested in.
There are so many different options that you can even provide each team member with a separate subscription. So, you’ll want to consider what’s available carefully and compare that to their interests.
6. Office Decorations
Next, you can offer your team various art and decor for them to use to spruce up their workspace.
Framed prints, potted plants, and small statues are all excellent options. Having art and plants in the office can increase creativity and lessen stress, so your team must have some. Plus, it allows them to personalize their space, making them feel more comfortable at work.
You can even commission a local artist to make a piece that reflects your employee’s achievements to have a more substantial impact. Fun terrariums are another excellent choice.
7. Letters from Leadership
Handwritten letters from the leadership team expressing gratitude are also wonderful gifts. You can induce precisely why you appreciate the employee in the messages so they can feel recognized for their work.
You’ll want to include everyone in leadership to have the most impact. You can also offer a gift card or cash with the note.
8. Fun Desk Accessories
There are plenty of desk accessories to choose from, aside from art and plants. You can offer your team stress relief and fidget toys to help them release energy. For example, squeeze toys, fidget cubes, and small puzzles can be great small gifts.
Desk lamps, wrist rests, and power banks are other great choices. You can also give them desk organizers in their favorite color.
9. Custom Cases
Custom phone, tablet, and laptop cases with a company logo are another great choice. They can represent your team while being both practical and encouraging. You can even include a personalized message on the case.
Any time they use their device, they’ll be reminded of their value to the team.
10. Special Gifts for Pet Parents
If you know your employee has a pet, you can offer them unique pet-friendly gifts like toys, treats, and brushes. Plus, you can give them framed portraits of their pet.
It shows you care and remember what they mention about their personal lives when you give pet gifts.
Always Recognize Your Team
The more you recognize your team, the more motivated and loyal they’ll be. You can start with the ideas on this list and see the results sooner than you think.
