Whether it’s employee holiday gifts or employee appreciation gifts, it’s good to use generosity to recognize achievements and loyalty, as well as serve as a source of motivation. At a time when retention may be a concern and budgets may be tight, you want to make the right choice.
A lot has changed in the workplace during the past few years. Perhaps the biggest difference is that many teams now work from home. So how do you find a meaningful gift, when you only see one another through a screen?
Recently, I held a LinkedIn poll on this topic, asking, “What kind of workplace holiday gift gets you excited and engaged?” While the results are unscientific, due to the small sample size, they give a good feel for how people are thinking about employee holiday gifts.
I’ll go through the poll results and offer a few thoughts on them.
Some Extra Time Off: 60%
Perhaps it’s no surprise that most employees would love to get some extra time off the job. In a busy world, people always have a need for more personal time.
Deciding how to distribute it can take several forms. Do you give everyone a day or a half-day off? For some businesses, this happens on the day before a major holiday. It’s a time when things are pretty slow anyway, so you won’t lose much productivity.
Others may need to stay open during that time. In this situation, you could have the time off be given as a day of the employee’s choice or one of a few selections. With this strategy, you need to make sure everyone understands how the process will work. You don’t want your gift to become a source of frustration or confusion.
A Gift Card: 20%
This one is probably the easiest for an employer to buy. For some the hardest decision is selecting the store and the amount.
Some will choose a grocery store, as everyone needs to eat. Movie theaters or a popular shopping website are other options.
You need to be careful when choosing the amount. The larger your staff, the more the total will grow. But if the gift card amount is too low, then it could become a turnoff for some.
It may help to think about how much you would spend, per employee, on some of the other options. With the gift card, you just have to buy it and then distribute it. You’re not having to invest much staff time in its selection.
A Group Celebration: 16%
At a time when many work apart, some would love to get together as a community. The holiday party or employee appreciation day can fulfill that need. For years, they were an expected and anticipated part of business culture.
Some like to have these events tied to the achievement of some kind of goal. Others may see it as a networking opportunity and perhaps even a way to boost retention.
It was interesting to note that almost everyone who voted for this choice was a women.
Some Branded Swag: 4%
The gift of promotional products may not be as popular, as in the past. With more people working from home, the need for another thing to put on your desk may have waned.
And does a branded shirt have the same impact if people don’t work together in the same office? The same may apply for a work related coffee mug that may not belong in someone’s kitchen cabinet.
And yet, I’ve seen how these employee holiday gifts can be very popular. Sometimes they even serve as a form of advertising.
As someone who goes to trade shows, I see lots of examples of new promotional products. But for the past few years, attendance has been down at these events, so many may not have seen what’s available.
It may be worth investigating the marketplace. And some employees may love to be on a committee that does this work.
Final Thought
For some businesses, the finances are very tight and there’s no longer a budget for employees gifts. In these cases, make sure you at least acknowledge the hard work of your team.
While it’s not as exciting as a present, it does have meaning and should be communicated. Do spend a few minutes on your message, as you want it to be heartfelt.
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