Everything you need to know about employee gifts

Holidays are just around the corner, and we all love holiday celebrations. It is an ideal time to meet people and gift each other, especially at the workplace. A company can motivate their employee by providing the right present. It is a way to display affection and employee appreciation for their contribution and loyalty. While choosing gifts, you must be updated with the latest trend to impress your employees. This article will help you to know almost everything about employee gifts.

Why are gifts important for employees?

Gifts are crucial for employees because many employees complain about a lack of recognition and appreciation at their workplace. Holidays are great opportunities to gift your employees. The organization's employees will feel valued, and it will keep the spirit of holidays intact. Gifts will motivate the employees and spread positive and harmonious energy around the working environment. For many years, we have been following the tradition of gifting employees as it builds good relationships and rewards employees who have worked hard for the company's success. Thus, gifts are very vital. There are several custom products you can give to your employees, including custom notebooks, custom socks, custom t-shirts, custom patches, custom phone cases, custom keychains, custom medals, custom hoodies, custom sweaters, custom plush toys, custom hats, and custom tote bags.

What to Consider When Choosing a Gift

When you decide to give a gift to your employees, you must consider the following factors.

When a company purchases expensive gifts, it brings taxes for the company or for the people who receive the gift. There are several rules & regulations around tax-free gifts.

When you give employees a birthday gift or a wedding gift, there will be a certain cap given by the government to keep it tax-free under legal regulations. Companies can claim these costs as business expenses and reduce their tax burden.

There are certain non-cash benefits also. You must note that if the cost of the gift is higher than the legal limit for a tax-free gift, the entire value of your present is taxed. Alternatively, organizations can pay a flat tax for presents to their business associates and partners.

Of course, your gifts should fit what your employees’ desire. Now, people get excited about receiving digital gifts or gift vouchers.

The upward trend of remote gifting

The pandemic has forced offices and organizations to shut down. Employees are working from home. In the beginning, this situation seemed like a viable option even after offices began to re-open because some organizations and businesses believed that remote teams have benefits over in-house teams. Therefore, many businesses started to commission work from home to some of their employees permanently.

It is possible that remote working is better than traditional offices, but managing remote employees needs special care and attention. It can be very challenging. Workers who do not come to office premises can feel isolated more quickly than people working from offices. It can lead to social detachment and unproductive working behavior in the long run. If you neglect this aspect, both employees and the organization may have to pay the price.

The success of your organization depends on employee's productivity and satisfaction. If your employees are satisfied, they will feel motivated to work more. They will give their 100% for the company's success. You have to make them feel special. Gifts may help you do that. It will make employees feel valued and develop a strong bond between teams and attain long-term stability. You do not have to send the premium gift. Customized gifts like a custom notebook, custom socks, custom t-shirts, custom patches, custom phone case, custom keychains, custom medals, custom hoodies, custom sweaters, custom plush toys, custom hats, custom tote bags, etc. can do the wonders.

How does employee gifting benefit your company?

Gifting your employee can work on many levels. It can boost the morale of your employees as you are recognizing their contribution and hard work. It also establishes a sense of belonging and purpose. Due to such kind gestures, your employees will feel motivated.
 
It can also:

A gifting culture can be a crucial part of your organization. You should make these rewards and recognition in your business culture as they offer many benefits.

What are the most effective ways to give employees gifts?

People mostly give rewards through cash incentives or either provide gifts. Still, many employers believe that gifting is much better compared to cash incentives because they are way more economical and creative to achieve desired results. They also feel that it has numerous other benefits that cash does not offer.

Gifts are intimate and personal

Getting cash is appealing and excellent, yet nothing is more personal than getting a customized gift specifically meant for the receiver.

Gifts are memorable

Let's agree on one point that gifts stay in our memories longer than cash. When you receive a gift, you remember it for a long time.

Gifts are guilt-free

When someone receives cash, they mostly use it for their routine expenses. After spending the amount, they wonder where they spent it and how they could have used it in a better way. When it comes to gifts, recipients can actually enjoy them without any guilt. The gifts will be used for a longer time than cash, which will keep the memory alive of receiving the gift.

Gifts are more real

Cash gets spent, and you forget about it, while gifts are more physical than cash. It makes the moments more noticeable and memorable.

You can use it for a long period

People use gifts for more days which generates positive feelings towards the company every time you use the present.
So, as per the above-mentioned factors, we can understand that gifts are way trendy than receiving cash. It is a better option for both employers and employees compared to cash rewards. Gifts make your employees feel more motivated, resulting in better employee engagement and retention.

How to use employee gifts strategically

You can reward your team and employees in different ways. Use your gifting program strategically. If you want to more about that, let us show you some examples.

Here are some of the options:

You can tweak your gifting program to suit the needs of your company. Now that you have learned all about employee gifts. Let's explore when you should give gifts to your employees.

When is a good time to give employees gifts?

In all honesty, you cannot determine when to motivate your employees. Anytime can be a good time. But if you are confused and not sure about the best time, then here we are discussing a list of ideas to get you started.

Host competitions

You can organize competitions between employees and give gifts or awards to people who win. These can be team-building exercises. It also promotes bonding and healthy competition.

At the time festivals

You can give away gifts to celebrate different festivals. You can bring festivities to your workplace too. Festivals and holidays are the best times to give out gifts and presents.

Appreciation programs

You can organize a small appreciation program for your employee, where you convey the positives of your team and employees. It can be any day, or you can do that on your foundation day.

Randomly

As I said earlier, there is no fixed time to appreciate your employees' efforts. You can call for gift giving on any day. You create rules in your organization. Thus, you can follow your instincts and call for celebration or appreciation at your convenience.

Employee birthdays

You can make your employee feel special on their birthdays. You can give them customized gifts like a custom notebook, custom socks, custom t-shirts, custom patches, custom phone cases, custom keychains, custom medals, custom hoodies, custom sweaters, custom plush toys, custom hats, or custom tote bags. When you celebrate an employee's birthday. They will feel valued and special.

Work anniversaries

At workplaces, you must celebrate work anniversaries. It is an excellent and appropriate time to show appreciation and gratitude to employees. It is a day to celebrate the employee's loyalty towards your organization.

New employees

When a new person becomes a part of your team, you must welcome them and show the warmth of your organization by giving exciting welcome gifts.
Gifts motivate employees to work hard and drive the growth of your company. You must make sure that every employee is performing to the best of their abilities.

You can visit EverLighten to choose the best-customized gifts for your employees. We have the best variety of custom notebooks, custom socks, custom t-shirts, custom patches, custom phone cases, custom keychains, custom medals, custom hoodies, custom sweaters, custom plush toys, custom hats, and custom tote bags.

FAQs:

1. Why are employee gifts important?

Employee gifts go beyond just a token of appreciation. They:

• Boost morale and engagement: Showing you care motivates employees and strengthens their connection to the company.
• Improve retention: Feeling valued contributes to employee satisfaction and reduces turnover.
• Strengthen company culture: Gifts that align with your values can reinforce your culture and build a sense of community.
• Celebrate achievements: Recognizing success through gifts motivates employees and reinforces desired behaviors.

2. What are some good employee gift ideas?

The best gifts cater to your employees' interests and budget. Here are some ideas:

• Experiences: Tickets to events, weekend getaways, or team-building activities can create lasting memories.
• Personalized gifts: Items with their name, initials, or favorite hobbies show individual appreciation.
• Wellness gifts: Subscriptions to meditation apps, gym memberships, or healthy snacks can promote well-being.
• Tech gadgets: Wireless headphones, portable speakers, or productivity tools can be practical and enjoyable.
• Charity donations: Contributing to a cause they care about in their name demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility.

3. How much should I spend on employee gifts?

The budget depends on your company's size, culture, and occasion. It's okay to vary spending per person, but aim for fairness and avoid making anyone feel undervalued. Remember, thoughtful gifts matter more than cost.

4. When is the best time to give employees gifts?

Holidays are common occasions, but consider other opportunities:

• Work anniversaries: Celebrate long-term commitments with special gifts.
• Milestone achievements: Recognize promotions, project successes, or individual contributions.
• Random appreciation: Surprise gifts throughout the year can significantly boost morale.

5. How can I make employee gifts even more meaningful?

Personalization is key! Consider:

• Involving employees: Let them vote on gift options or choose from a curated selection.
• Handwritten notes: Add a personal touch with a message of appreciation for each employee.
• Gift-giving ceremonies: Publicly recognizing employees strengthen the positive impact of the gifts.