The Best Gift Ideas for Employees and Coworkers

Explore practical, personalized, and ethical gift options for any occasion or budget, ensuring a meaningful impact at your work.

November 26, 2024
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In the workplace, thoughtful gift-giving can go a long way toward strengthening relationships, fostering camaraderie, and boosting morale. Whether you’re an HR professional, team leader, manager, or small business owner, selecting meaningful gifts for coworkers and employees shows appreciation and helps create a positive and engaged work environment. This guide provides practical and creative gift ideas to suit a variety of tastes, budgets, and occasions.

Why Giving Gifts to Coworkers and Employees Matters

Gifting in the workplace is more than a kind gesture—it’s a way to:

  • Foster Morale: Thoughtful gifts show employees and coworkers that their efforts are recognized and appreciated.
  • Build Stronger Relationships: Gifting can deepen professional bonds and enhance teamwork.
  • Boost Engagement: A well-timed gift can improve employee satisfaction and motivation, reinforcing their commitment to the organization.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Gifts

Before picking out gifts, keep these considerations in mind:

  1. Align with Company Culture: Ensure the gift reflects your workplace values and tone.
  2. Consider Individual Preferences: Tailor gifts to recipients’ interests and needs whenever possible.
  3. Inclusivity is Key: Avoid items that may inadvertently exclude or offend.
  4. Stay Budget-Friendly: You don’t need to splurge to make an impact; it’s the thought that counts.

Best Gift Ideas for Coworkers

Practical and Useful Gifts

  • Desk organizers or multifunctional office gadgets.
  • High-quality reusable water bottles or travel mugs.
  • Stylish notebooks, planners, or stationery sets.

Personalized Gifts

  • Custom mugs, journals, or mousepads with their name or a motivational quote.
  • Desk nameplates or plaques featuring unique designs.
  • A personalized thank-you note paired with a small token of appreciation.

Small Gestures

  • Snack boxes featuring an assortment of treats.
  • Coffee gift cards or mini gourmet coffee sets.
  • Potted plants or succulents to brighten their workspace.

Best Gift Ideas for Employees

Experience-Based Gifts

  • Tickets to local events, concerts, or workshops.
  • Subscriptions to online classes or hobbies (e.g., cooking, photography).
  • Gift cards for experiences like spa treatments or adventure activities.

Team-Oriented Gifts

  • Customized team merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags.
  • Group outings like escape rooms, bowling, or team dinners.
  • Shared experiences, such as a workshop or virtual team-building activity.

Recognition-Focused Gifts

  • Engraved awards or plaques highlighting specific achievements.
  • A hobby-related gift, such as art supplies for a creative employee or a cookbook for a food enthusiast.
  • Handwritten thank-you notes or messages paired with thoughtful tokens of appreciation.

Seasonal and Occasion-Based Gift Ideas

Holiday-Themed Gifts

  • Festive treats, holiday ornaments, or themed gift baskets.
  • Virtual gift cards to let recipients pick their perfect present.

Work Anniversary or Birthday Gifts

  • Customized milestone gifts like engraved jewelry or watches.
  • Fun surprises, such as a personalized cake or curated gift box.

Sustainable and Ethical Gift Ideas

Supporting sustainability and ethical practices in gifting can align with your company’s values. Consider:

  • Eco-friendly gifts like bamboo desk organizers, reusable straws, or solar-powered gadgets.
  • Supporting local businesses or choosing fair-trade items.
  • Charitable gifts, such as donations to a cause in the recipient’s name.

Creative Presentation Tips

How you present a gift can enhance its impact:

  • Use personalized packaging, such as wrapping paper that reflects the recipient’s style.
  • Add a handwritten note expressing genuine appreciation.
  • Turn gift-giving into a memorable event, such as a team gathering or holiday party.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Gift

  1. Know Your Audience: Understand preferences and workplace policies.
  2. Prioritize Practicality: Ensure the gift can be used and appreciated.
  3. Add a Personal Touch: Even small customizations make a big difference.

Occasions to Give Gifts

Gifts can celebrate:

Enhance Workplace Culture With Thoughtful Gift-Giving

Thoughtful gift-giving in the workplace is a simple yet powerful way to foster appreciation, strengthen relationships, and enhance employee engagement. You can create a positive and connected work environment by selecting meaningful and inclusive gifts.

Ready to transform your workplace gifting strategy? Schedule a demo with Assembly to streamline year-round gift-giving, rewards, and recognition.

FAQ’s

What are some budget-friendly gift ideas for employees?

Budget-friendly gifts can be meaningful and appreciated without breaking the bank. Some options include:

  • High-quality reusable water bottles or travel mugs.
  • Desk plants or succulents.
  • Snack boxes or gourmet treat assortments.
  • Personalized thank-you notes paired with small tokens like custom keychains or bookmarks.
    These thoughtful gestures show appreciation while staying cost-conscious.

How can I choose a gift that aligns with my company culture?

To ensure gifts align with your company culture:

  • Reflect on your organization's values. For example, if sustainability is important, choose eco-friendly gifts.
  • Keep the tone appropriate—opt for professional yet thoughtful items.
  • Consider inclusivity to ensure gifts resonate with all employees.
  • Ask for feedback or conduct a survey to learn about preferences while maintaining a cohesive message.

What are unique gift ideas for team-building activities?

Gifts tied to team-building experiences can be memorable and meaningful. Ideas include:

  • Customized team merchandise (T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags).
  • Tickets to group activities like escape rooms, bowling, or paint-and-sip events.
  • Kits for virtual team-building, such as DIY craft or cooking kits.
    These gifts create shared experiences and enhance team camaraderie.

How can I make employee gifts more personal and impactful?

Adding a personal touch to gifts can make them more memorable. Consider these strategies:

  • Personalize items with names, initials, or motivational messages.
  • Include a handwritten thank-you note expressing specific gratitude.
  • Align gifts with employees’ interests, such as a cookbook for a foodie or art supplies for a creative team member.Small efforts to personalize gifts show genuine appreciation and thoughtfulness.

Browse our Free Employee Recognition Guide

Get the foundational knowledge on creating an employee recognition program that boosts employee engagement and helps them feel valued.

Explore Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Assembly SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.

What's the ROI for employee recognition?

There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.

Does Assembly offer longer-term contracts?

Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.

The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.

Does Assembly offer onboarding support?

We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.

How much do rewards cost?

At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.

Does Assembly offer discounts?

We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

How do I cancel my plan if needed?

If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.

If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.

What customizations are available?

Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!

Who can give or receive recognition?

While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.

What integrations are available?

Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.  

Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.

What's your average adoption rate?

That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.

Must rewards be set up to use Assembly?

They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.

Are points required to use Assembly?

No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.

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Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered