10 Fun Employee Recognition Gifts To Give

10 Fun Employee Recognition Gifts To Give

Are you looking for gift ideas to show your employees some gratitude and recognition? Read here for great gift ideas for your team.

Employee recognition is a vital part of running a company. When your people go above and beyond or nail a challenging project, it warrants acknowledgment. Perhaps your office recognizes National Employee Appreciation Day (the first Friday in March), and the whole team receives their own gift basket or care package.

Getting your employees meaningful gifts or keepsakes can show them how much you appreciate them. A company cannot succeed without a team of dedicated employees. Currently, workers have more negotiating power and freedom for flexibility than ever before. With the labor market in the hands of the employees, businesses are being more proactive in reducing turnover.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 68% of HR professionals believe that recognition programs reduce turnover. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said that recognition programs help attract the most qualified job hunters.

However, sending out gifts to all your employees can be overwhelming, even for the most dedicated HR team or administrative assistant. That’s why Goody offers auto-gifting for employee milestones. Work anniversary gifts, onboarding gifts, and birthday gifts can be sent in a snap — all you need is the employee’s phone number or email address.

Whether you’re awarding the Employee of the Month or celebrating the whole team, we’ve assembled a handy gift guide of elite employee recognition gifts below.

1. Cosmic Cocktail Kit by Smudge Wellness

The Cosmic Cocktail Kit makes an incredible gift for the zodiac lover in your office.

This imaginative gift set comes with four dissolvable drink markers to keep the group’s cocktails straight, cocktail recipe cards, and rose petals dusted with edible gold for a garnish.

The Cosmic Cocktail Kit elevates any drink with four freezable (and reusable) rose quartz drink spheres. Rose quartz is known as the crystal of unconditional love and is said to promote feelings of self-love, serenity, and compassion, so these spheres are sure to lend something special to any occasion.

2. Offline Sleeping Mask by Athena Club

After all their hard work, your employee deserves something to help them relax. The Offline Sleeping Mask is the perfect tool for a Saturday afternoon of R&R after a long week.

It’s made with 100% mulberry silk, and the blush fabric is embroidered with “OFFLINE” in blue thread. Silk is an allergy-friendly material that boosts a glowing, hydrated complexion, and mulberry silk, specifically, is regarded as one of the most luxurious types of silk available.

3. The Duo Coffee Blend Set by Jot

Another one of the best employee appreciation gift ideas is The Duo. This jolt of caffeine comes from Jot, an innovative coffee concentrate company that gives you the ability to make delicious coffee drinks with ease, wherever you are.

Jot is recognized for discovering how to make a cup of joe 20 times more concentrated than the traditional stuff. One bottle from Jot will fill 14 delicious standard ten-ounce cups. This company also sources its organic beans from fully-intact South American forests for a product that tastes good and does good.

All you need is a tablespoon of Jot, water or milk, and a coffee mug, and you’ve got a delicious beverage. This set comes with one Jot Original Blend and one Dark Blend, so everyone can create their ideal blend.

4. Best Sellers Pennant by Oxford Pennant

The Best Sellers Pennants from Oxford Pennants are a terrific way to personalize a workspace, home office, or desk. They sport modern phrases (like “It’s cool to be kind” or “Hustle”) but with a charming vintage aesthetic.

These beautiful, unique pennants come in six designs, so your recipient can choose their favorite and receive a personalized gift that suits them.

5. Digital Gift Card to APL

Show appreciation with this APL Digital Gift Card that gets your employee $50 closer to buying the shoes of their dreams.

APL is one of the most innovative athletic-wear companies in the world. In fact, these shoes are so good at improving performance (namely the patented Load ‘N Launch technology) that these kicks were banned from the NBA in 2010.

6. Pyropet Unicorn Candle by 54 Celsius

Give a gift with a touch of humor with the Pyropet Unicorn Candle. This unique gift is a great-smelling candle with a surprise inside.

As the unicorn-shaped candle melts away, it reveals the golden skeleton of a unicorn. After the wax is gone, your employee will be left with a one-of-a-kind desk accessory.

7. 1000-Piece Puzzle Collection 2 by Apostrophe Puzzles

This 1000-Piece Puzzle Collection is one of the best gifts to invite your employees to slow down and enjoy the meditative powers of jigsaw puzzles.

With Goody, your recipient can choose from four puzzles designed by noteworthy artists like Tim Okamura, Marianne Angeli Rodriguez, Ronald Jackson, and Vinita Karim.

8. The First Sip Non-Alcoholic Apéritif Kit by Ghia

For the employee who doesn’t drink but still wants to get in on the fun, The First Sip Kit is a fabulous choice.

Ghia specializes in non-alcoholic aperitifs, and this kit comes with a 250 mL bottle of their aperitif, two cans of Ghia-Soda, two cans of Ghia-Ginger, and a high-quality pour spout.

As part of their mission statement, Ghia wants to challenge the idea that socializing has to include alcoholic beverages. They bring craftsmanship and artistry associated with bar carts to all, proving that spirited nights don’t require spirits.

9. Slate Cheese Board by Twine

For a functional employee appreciation gift, opt for the Slate Cheese Board from Twine. This board combines rustic designs with subtle elegance to inspire new takes on the charcuterie board. The Slate Cheese Board has a soft bottom to protect your countertops as well.

Twine also includes two pieces of food-safe chalk to take your hosting to the next level by identifying cheeses or penning a message of cheer and celebration.

10. The Mini Tool Set by Character

In terms of staff appreciation gifts, The Mini Set from Character is remarkably useful.

This mini tool kit comes with the five most commonly used tools in the world: a hammer, a tape measure, a screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a set of pliers. However, the practicality does not forget about aesthetics — the recipient can choose between four different Tool Totes in shades of yellows, greens, blues, and purples.

These tools are all backed with a lifetime warranty and made in professional-grade factories for essentials you can count on.

Recognition Gift-Giving Made Easy

Gift-giving for employee recognition is sometimes more art than science. Too often, corporate gifts are designated as instant clutter — neither useful nor enjoyable.

For incentives to work, you want to give employees something personal and practical, but most executives don’t have the time to think of a unique thank you gift for every employee or think of one gift that applies to every team member.

Goody recognized this issue and created a one-stop-shop platform for boosting employee engagement and company culture with gift-giving made easy.

Simply sign up for an account and select the gift you’d like to send. Put in your recipient’s contact info (phone number or email — no address is needed on your end). Then, the gift will be digitally sent to your employee’s inbox.

After opening the email, the recipient has two choices: They can select the color and style of the gift (if applicable), or they can opt to swap it for another of a lower or equal value (as 50% of Goody recipients do). Then, they put in their address, and the gift is sent directly to them.

Whether you’re looking for an Employee Appreciation Day gift or you want to acknowledge a job well done, Goody has your back when it comes to gift-giving.

Sources:

Adam Goldston | University of Southern California

Managing Employee Recognition Programs | SHRM

National Employee Appreciation Day (March 3rd, 2023) | Days of the Year

Rose Quartz Crystal: Meaning, Healing, and How to Use | Healthline

7 Surprising Benefits of Silk - Skin and Beauty Center | Everyday Health

A perfect match: The health benefits of jigsaw puzzles | Baylor College of Medicine

Why workers have the ‘upper hand’ in the job market right now | CNBC