Birthdays are a time to celebrate and cherish those around us. This tradition started long before virtual gift cards and Zoom call celebrations were made popular during the recent pandemic.
Along with the pandemic came a rapidly-changing job market that quickly turned in employees’ favor, thanks to the influx of remote work. Remote work is here to stay, with nine out of ten remote workers preferring this mode, accounting for 45% of full-time workers.
The profound impact of remote work led to increased scrutiny of company culture and how business leaders can retain valuable employees. In addition to pay and benefits, employees are looking to be recognized and appreciated.
Birthdays are an incredible time to acknowledge your team, whether they’re remote or in-person. It’s more than just a polite social norm. It directly impacts your business. According to the Harvard Business Review, job searching increases by 12% before birthdays. Attempts to keep employees happy start with the little things, including a well-timed gift.
Today, birthday parties and gift-giving are linked. Arriving at a party without a box wrapped up in a bow is a social faux pas. But it’s more than that — giving gifts strengthens our relationships and cements the bonds that keep us together. Perhaps nowhere are those bonds more important than in business.
However, buying gifts for employees or coworkers can be tough, especially when you have a large team. You want to get them something more meaningful than a company-branded sticker or business card holder.
So today, we’ve come up with a quick gift guide to help you figure out what to get employees on their birthdays.
1. Happy Birthday Gift Collection by Goody
If you’re looking to keep it simple, give your team member a custom amount to spend on a gift from the Goody Happy Birthday Gift Collection. You select a dollar amount, and your recipient selects their ideal gift from the birthday collection, which is sent straight to their address.
Unlike a traditional gift card, the recipient won’t know the amount you spent — they’ll simply see what options are available to them.
2. Birthday Candle From Birthdate Co.
A scented candle is one birthday gift idea that they’ll love as a comfy addition to their daily routine. But this Birthdate Co. Candle is a bit different from your average candle.
These candles are inspired by the stars on a person’s birthday. There’s an individually-crafted scent for each of the 365 days of the year, inspired by astrology, numerology, and tarot.
Luckily, the gift of a Birthdate Co. Candle lasts far after the natural soy and coconut wax blend melts. After the wax is gone, the beautiful jar can serve as a charming desk accessory in a workspace or home office. Functional and lovely, it’s ideal for holding office supplies or even a potted succulent.
3. 4-Pack of Cookies by Levain Bakery
A classic way to say “happy birthday” is a 4-pack of cookies from Levain Bakery. This gift allows the recipient to choose their favorite flavor from six lovingly-crafted collections tied in a bow.
These cookies are chunky and flavorful, making them unlike anything you’ll find at other bakeries. The Signature Cookie Assortment allows the guest of honor to sample one of everything, and the Chocolate Chip Walnut option lets the giftee try the signature cookie that catapulted Levain Bakery to culinary stardom.
4. inKind Pass Gift Card
If your coworker seems to be trying a new restaurant every other night, the inKind Pass is the gift for them.
They can put this towards a birthday dinner at trendy restaurants everyone’s talking about or grab a latte at a cozy coffee shop. With inKind Pass, they can choose from a great selection of curated restaurants in different cities. Some restaurants include Gramercy Tavern, Nats on Bank, The Bungalow Kitchen, Estiatorio Ornos, and more.
5. Birthday Piñata by Piñatagrams
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Evoke some childhood nostalgia with the Googly Eyes Piñatagram. It’s a classic, retro piñata design that comes with Skittles, Starburst, Laffy Taffy, Double Bubble, Airheads, Sweetarts, and Life Saver mints. These instant parties in a box were featured in The Huffington Post and PopSugar as delightful additions to all festivities (including fabulous options for holiday gifts).
6. Mini Cakes from Jars by Dani
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Cake is synonymous with birthdays, so one of the best gifts you can get for your employees is a Small 6-Pack of personal cakes from Jars by Dani. It’s the perfect gift set for the person in the office with a sweet tooth.
These delicious cakes are baked in small, four-ounce jars, making them the perfect serving size for one person. With 12 different flavors to choose from, your employee will be able to enjoy their favorite cake on their special day.
7. Pawty Hat by Modern Beast
Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a dog that comes to the office every day or who shows up on Zoom calls: The Pawty Hat is an absolute must for corporate birthdays.
This adorable little hat is bright yellow with a blue ball on top, and you can select the dog’s age to be displayed in red numbering on the front. It straps onto your dog's head for the ultimate picture opportunity.
8. NYC Restaurant Print by Prospect Print Co.
An Iconic NYC Restaurant Print is a thoughtful gift for the foodie in the office. These high-quality prints are stylish drawings of some of the most popular restaurants in NYC.
Your work bestie or favorite coworker can now hang a beautiful picture of one of their favorite restaurants in their office or their home. Not to mention, a portion of the sale will go to charities that support local restaurants and their workers, so it’s a win-win.
9. Cookie Dough 2-Pack by DEUX
When in doubt, get your coworker or employee a delicious treat like this 2-pack of DEUX Cookie Dough. Your recipient can choose from six mouth-watering flavors, including cinnamon roll, brownie batter, and more.
This cookie dough isn’t made like other doughs are. It’s gluten-free, so it’s safe to enjoy raw, and it’s enhanced with vitamins to make it a bit healthier, so your coworker can enjoy their cookie dough (relatively) guilt-free. Make sure to keep some coffee cups or drink tumblers nearby, as this cookie dough pairs perfectly with any coffee lover’s favorite drink.
10. Birthday Gift Box From Baked by Melissa
If your coworker’s birthday falls on a workday, the Birthday Gift Box from Baked by Melissa is an excellent way to celebrate. This box contains 25 mini cupcakes in all sorts of inspired flavors. It’s perfect for sharing with all the employees in the office or taking home and treasuring one at a time.
It comes in a colorful “Happy Birthday” box that’s perfect for celebrating with a crowd or as a party of one.
Give Your Team the Best Birthday Gifts Ever
Gift-giving can be tough, whether it's a coworker’s birthday, holiday, or Secret Santa gift exchange. That’s why Goody is here to make boring office gifts a thing of the past.
Simply sign up for a free Goody Business account and select the gift you’d like to give. All you need to do from there is enter your recipient’s phone number or email (no address is required).
The gift is sent straight to their inbox, where they go through a cute, digital gift-opening experience. At that point, they can select any specifications on their gift, whether it’s color, flavor, or style. The gift is then delivered to whichever address they put in.
Plus, with Goody, you can shop from brands that support what you believe in. Sort for values like sustainable, LQBTQ+/BIPOC/female-founded, or social-impact-driven to find a gift that means more than the sum of its parts. When it comes to food gifts, you can look for vegan, Kosher-certified, or gluten-free products.
And if your recipient liked what you sent but would love something else, they can simply swap your gift, like 50% of all Goody recipients, for something of an equal or lesser value.
Goody makes your gift-giving get easier, so you can sit back and watch your relationships with coworkers and employees flourish.
Sources:
Go Ahead, Blow Out the Candles on Zoom | The New York Times
The Psychology Behind Gift-Giving | South University
Remote Work Persisting and Trending Permanent | Gallup
Why Employees Need Both Recognition and Appreciation | Harvard Business Review
Why People Quit Their Jobs | Harvard Business Review
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