Connect with Your Employees,
Recognize and Reward Them

Four Employee Gift Tips to Keep Employees Connected

Tip #1: The Best Employee Gifts Work to Close the Distance

Let's face it, the pandemic changed the way we work with some companies going to a hybrid model and others having employees working both in the office and fully remote. In spite of all the social media activity and Zoom calls we're having, it's more likely that we're feeling disconnected from our work team.

That's where a motivational employee appreciation gift can do the heavy lifting for meaningful recognition. A thoughtful gift can go a long way when it comes to closing the distance everyone is feeling by boosting employee morale and celebrating the work everyone is accomplishing.

Tip #2: Think Individual Employee Gifts

Long gone are the days when a single large gourmet food gift basket for the whole office was a good bet for a staff appreciation gift. Now, smaller individual gifts are very much de rigueur to recognize employees regardless of their work location. Whether you're celebrating Employee Appreciation Day or a staff member’s work anniversary, curated employee gifts are a more personalized and thoughtful way to show your overall appreciation and gratitude towards every person at the office.

Tip #3: Celebrate New Employees

If employee gifts are not a part of your new employee onboarding program, consider adding them and go beyond providing company swag. Employees know that company swag is not a gift with them specifically in mind so while it's okay to include a logoed mug, avoid having the whole gift be full of swag. Personalize a new employee gift by adding something special to the gift that shows you know a little bit about them. Not sure what to give? Consider using Swift Gift where the employee is emailed a link to a selection of Knack gifts and then they can select the gift that's meaningful to them. Employers and employees love it!

Tip #4: Embrace the Virtual Office Party

Needless to say, you're going to need to re-imagine your office holiday party this year. One way to reward your team is with a virtual holiday party paired with meaningful employee appreciation gifts. Make sure you have a specific, well-structured party plan focused on employee engagement at all times, such as a game, competition, or give-away. Making your virtual party a memorable special occasion can help boost employee satisfaction, motivation, and retention.

Bonus tip: Make sure your virtual office party is not more than 1.5 hours long. Zoom fatigue is a reality, even for casual happy hours or other culture events revolving around staff appreciation and coworker bonding. Aim to make your virtual party short, meaningful, and sweet.