10 Easy Employee Appreciation Gifts

Given the fact that it is employee appreciation day today (March 4th), we thought we’d share some cool employee appreciation gifts!

Employee appreciation day comes around once a year on the first Friday in March. It is important to show appreciation for your employees every day, but especially on  employee appreciation day. 

Organizational psychologists suggest that employee appreciation is essential to boosting workforce productivity and morale. 

A recent study revealed that gifts are good for business. The study showed that 77% of the respondents believe business gifts make them feel valued.

But how do organizational leaders develop innovative appreciation strategies? What tactics work best? Experts believe the following techniques can be used to show appreciation in the workplace.

• Words of affirmation

• Acts of service

• Quality time

• Physical touch

• Gifts

Reports from an online survey showed that many employees enjoyed receiving gifts from their organizations. Unfortunately, some employers are reluctant to appreciate their workforce in this way because they fear the expenses will burn a hole in their pockets.

This fear is unnecessary. You don’t need to break the bank to get valuable gifts for your workers. The market is replete with affordable gifts that can motivate and improve employee work efficiency.

Below are some simple gifts for your employees that will not put a hole in your pocket.

1. Metal Water Bottle

Water is life. While you can live for a couple of weeks without food, you can only survive without water for about three days. Everyone needs water to stay healthy and function properly, especially workers who do a lot of brain work. Water can rejuvenate the brain by increasing oxygen and blood flow.

According to a recent survey, nearly 80% of American workers say they do not drink enough water. Some factors responsible for workers not drinking enough water include paying for it and lack of time. You can help workers overcome these obstacles by providing them with metallic water bottles.  

With water bottles, workers will not have to buy water or drink from unhygienic sources. Dehydrated workers often feel sick, and their first reaction is to take some pills while all they need is to drink some water.

2. Lunch Box

Apart from water, food is another of our basic needs. Food is vital in the workplace because it is a source of energy and workers need to eat to carry out their duties effectively.

Gifting your employees a lunch box is one way to encourage healthy eating and encourage workers to bring their food to work. Apart from saving money spent during lunch, a lunchbox will also give them control over what they eat.

Also, many employees are wary of sharing silverware, especially in these days of pandemics. A lunch box for each employee will increase the sense of safety while eating.

3. Diary/Journal

For many workers, writing in a journal or diary is therapeutic. Many experts stress the benefits of keeping a work journal and encourage workers to record their emotions, stress, and goals in a diary.

The study found that keeping regular diaries gave many workers a new perspective and what they needed to improve.

Apart from the therapeutic nature of keeping journals and diaries, they are multifunctional and used for several other purposes. As a business owner, you do not have to worry about the gender bias of journals and diaries as they are perfect for all genders.

Journals and diaries are cost-effective, and your employees will remember your generosity each time they use them.

4. Manicure Set

Your hands can say a lot about who you are. Having dirty fingernails is unhealthy and can be a big turnoff for others.

Many workers are so caught up in other activities that they forget to groom or take care of their nails.

The following are some benefits of keeping your hands and fingers clean regularly.

• Results in healthy nails

• Better blood circulation

• Prevents infection

• Boosts confidence

The gift of manicure sets will help your employees keep healthy-looking nails, which will boost their confidence levels at work.

Neglecting to care for your hands and nails may lead to health issues like sores and fungus growth, which will affect workers’ productivity.

5. Key Chains

Keychain can make a perfect gift for your employees because of its universality. Almost everyone has got a key of some sort - car keys, house keys, case keys, and office keys.

Key chains are small and portable and can help your workers stay organized, especially keeping their keys safe.

If you want keychains that your workers will love, you can get those with multiple tools like cutters and flashlights, which will be very useful while working in the office or at home.

6. Computer Glasses

All employees who work with computer screens have one common enemy: blue light. Blue lights are short wavelength, high energy lights that produce high amounts of energy emitted by computers, phones, televisions, tablets, and other electronic devices.

Corporate workers spend many hours daily staring at computer or phone screens. Long exposure to blue lights emanating from computer screens hurts the eyes. Blue light can affect workers in various ways, including eyestrains, headaches, eye irritation, blurred vision, lack of sleep, and retina damage.

One thing many experts have advocated to protect the eyes from these eye-damaging blue lights is the use of computer glasses.

Your employees will appreciate it when you give them computer glasses for their eye protection. A gift of computer glasses will let them feel you care about their welfare.

7. Mug

Mugs make perfect gifts for employees. Many workers love to start their day with a cup of coffee, tea, or other types of beverages.

Another thing that makes mugs the perfect gift is that they come in many unique designs, shapes, sizes, and colors. Mugs are also excellent gifts because you can personalize them to fit anyone on any occasion.

So whether your employees are coffee lovers or tea drinkers, mugs will help them stay refreshed when working in the office or at home.

8. Chocolate

Few gifts that melt our hearts and in our mouths like good old chocolate. The craving for chocolate cuts across gender, region, and age.

Chocolates make great gifts because not only do they taste good, but they help in the release of dopamine in parts of the brain.

Giving your employees chocolates will help create wonderful memories and go a long way to cement the bond with your business.

Research has shown that chocolates elevate our mood. So, if you want to keep your employees happy, give them chocolates.

9. Puzzle Games

Puzzles are fun and a great way for people of all ages to unwind, relieve stress, and meditate in their spare time, all of which can ultimately help with employee productivity..

If you decide to give your employees puzzle games as gifts, you have a wide variety to choose from. Apart from being fun to play with, puzzles have other benefits.

According to experts, puzzles improve memory, increase mental speed and reinforce connections between brain cells.

You can help improve your workers' critical thinking and mental capacity by giving them puzzle games as gifts.

10. Electronic Gadgets

Almost everyone loves electronic gadgets. Electronic gadgets are not only cool but can make our lives easier.

There are inexpensive gadgets that can send your employees into cloud seven. There is excitement when someone gifts you with one of these techies.

There are varieties of simple gadgets to choose from, including:

• Earbuds

• Mini vacuum cleaners

• Bluetooth speaker

• Wireless mouse

• Wi-Fi enabled plugs

Tech gadgets make splendid gifts for all occasions. Look around and find those little tech gadgets that will excite your workers today.

Final Words

You do not need excess funds to appreciate your employees for their exceptional work in your company.

The gifts listed in this article are affordable and will delight and boost the morale of your employees to put in more effort. So, get the right gifts for those who work every day to help you meet your business goals.

If you do not appreciate your employees, you have missed an excellent opportunity to motivate them and increase their productivity.

Author Bio: Andreyana Kulina is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Brosix, specializing in Content marketing and outreach strategies. Besides her passion for digital marketing, she likes hiking and mountain biking. Connect with her on LinkedIn.