It’s about that time of the year again.
March 1st.
A day when employees become the celebrities of the day. Getting showered with lots of love from their employers.
Right now, they’re probably checking their calendars and counting down to the day they’re going to be blown away by you, their employer.
But the thing is you have no idea what to get them.
You want gifts that are unique, special, and within your budget.
Sounds about right, no?
Well, we have your back.
That’s why, in this guide, we’ll be sharing top gifts to help you celebrate employee appreciation day.
But before we jump into the ideas, does this whole gifting day situation even matter?
Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
What Is Employee Appreciation Day and Why Does It Matter?
Low-Budget Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
Unique Employee Appreciation Ideas
Wellness and Relaxation Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
Employee Recognition and Growth Opportunities
Remote Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
What Is Employee Appreciation Day and Why Does It Matter?
So you know the way we have Worker’s Day and Labor Day?
Employee appreciation day is similar. It’s not a public holiday like its distant cousins.
It’s a workday dedicated to celebrating employees and saying thank you for all their hard work; a day to show them they’re an important part of the team.
It’s like Christmas Day for employees. But it happens on the first Friday of March.
And here’s why it’s important…
According to a survey of about 2,000 employees, 46% of them said they’ve left a job where they felt unappreciated.
In other words, appreciation and job satisfaction are a big deal for your workers. When you appreciate your employees on this special day, you’ll be:
- Creating a positive company culture for employees.
- Motivating employees to get more work done.
- Taking your employee retention rate to the next level.
- Building a happy workspace in which people want to work.
- Strengthening employee engagement.
- Emphasizing teamwork within your organization.
What’s more?
A happy employee would give your customers a happy experience, too.
So, the employee’s happy, the customer’s happy, and you’re happy. Everyone is living the dream. It’s like a never-ending happy hour.
Now, how do you make your employees happy?
Here are some ideas we’ve curated for you.
Low-Budget Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
Let’s say you want to make your workers happy but your budget is quite low.
Do you just scrap the whole employee gifting thing?
Or wait till you’re all boxed up?
Well, you don’t have to either.
And that’s why we’re here for you.
Below, you’ll find amazing small-gift ideas your employees would love.
1. Handwritten thank-you notes or cards
“Hold up,I can just say ‘Thank you’ for your service and it counts?”
Well, not really.
The idea is not just about saying thank you. But how you say it.
You’ve probably heard a lot of “thank yous” in the past. However, only a few have stood out for you.
Like, say, handwritten notes.
Notes like this show intentionality. You write them a message on a card telling them how much you value their contribution to the team.
It’s a form of recognition they’ll cherish for a long, long time.
Like a love letter but from their boss.
But if you’re going to do this for your team, keep in mind that generic messages won’t cut it.
Write meaningful messages that reflect the employees’ contribution to the team.
This would show employees you actually pay attention to all they do.
And as such they’d be more motivated to do more for the company.
2. Casual dress day
If your company’s policy mandates employees to dress corporately almost every day, then this is a gift they’d appreciate.
Give them permission to dress casually for a day.
You can decide to pick a dress code. Or a theme.
Just something to get them excited about coming to work.
If you like, you can make it a competition so everyone would be vying to win the best-dressed employee for the day.
Whatever direction you choose, let employees know that you appreciate their hard work.
And this is your way of letting them know that you see them.
3. Snack packs
Great snacks is another sure way to appreciate your employees.
It’s something everyone on your team would love. You may just have to do some research on what snack packs they like individually.
Then, put it in a customized pack so they get a gift that feels has a personal touch.
Snack packs can include biscuits, gourmet chocolate, juice boxes, etc.
A gift like this would get the break room buzzing at lunchtime.
4. Branded company swag
Not sure what kind of gifts your employees would like?
You can always count on swag to save the day.
It’s a piece of the company employees can get from their employers as a “simple thank you for your hard work.”
These can be pens, mugs, magnets, keychains, and t-shirts.
From our experience, stuff like these is a great choice, especially when you’re on a budget.
You can go for items that’d look classy and posh even after branding, like a cool ball pen.
Plus, you’d be getting employees excited to continue working with you.
You just need to be a scout to find what kind of swag your employees would like.
Alternatively, you can allow employees to build their perfect swag pack.
Here, they’ll pick what color they like, choose a size, and select the kind of material they prefer.
5. Flexible work hours
For a company that has to work strict hours week-in and week-out, offering employees flexible work hours is a gift for which they’d love you.
Especially in times like these when newer employees are prioritizing time with their loved ones.
This kind of gift would help them spend more time with family.
When offering this option, you can decide to let employees
- Get to the office late.
- Leave early.
- Work from home.
Or take some personal time off on employee appreciation day.
It may not be easy if it’s your first time doing this.
So, you can maybe consider hiring temporary employees to fill in for the period your staff won’t be available.
This way, work goes on while your main guys are recuperating.
6. DIY treats
Have a secret brownie recipe that was passed down from your grandma?
You could make those special brownies and share them with your employees.
It’s a gesture that tells them you appreciate their hard work in your own way.
Oh, and it doesn’t have to be a brownie or something edible.
It can be anything you made yourself and are open to sharing. Like your own board game with rules
Unique Employee Appreciation Ideas
In gift-giving, people usually say it’s the thought that counts.
But sometimes, it’s actually the uniqueness that makes a gift special.
That’s why we decided to throw in unique gifts your employees would love for appreciation day.
7. Custom caricature portraits
It’s a special day for your employees.
As such, only special gifts should count.
You know, like a caricature portrait of them in their favorite outfit or something.
This kind of gift isn’t something they’d normally receive from people.
An artwork or picture frame may be possible.
But a caricature portrait?
… That’s going to be hanging on their wall for a long time. And each time they pass by it, they’ll be reminded of how thoughtful their boss was on their employee’s Christmas day. Sorry appreciation day.
8. Personalized plant pots
Did you know that plants have a way of adding spark to any living space?
According to research, indoor plants help reduce stress in people.
They improve the air quality in the environment and the well-being of people there.
Why are we saying all this?
Gifting employees an item like this is a clear way of saying they’re highly appreciated.
And if you personalize it so it has their name or special identity on it?
Whoosh, they’re gonna be all pumped up and ready to get back to work.
9. Virtual wine tasting
Here’s an idea if your team works remotely at the moment.
It’s an unconventional gift that’ll make them feel like they’ve been in the palace all their life.
They’ll start talking about bougie wine terms like saurteness, cabernet, and abboccato.
To pull this off, you can partner with a wine expert to organize a tasting session.
So employees can learn about different wines and taste them from the comfort of their homes.
10. Sustainable gift items
If you have employees who are passionate about the environment and like cool stuff, they’d be excited to receive gifts that reflect their passions.
You can give them reusable water bottles, organic snacks, recycled notebooks, tote bags, bamboo utensils, etc.
The good thing about this idea is the available options are usually minimalist and eye-catching.
That’s something your employees would love.
11. Pet adoption assistance
Another option is to help your employees adopt pets from shelters.
You can offer to secure several at-risk pets and get them delivered to the houses of employees looking to adopt.
Alternatively, you can ask the shelter to bring the pets to the work environment so employees can interact with them and hear their stories.
Just offer all the help you can in the adoption process.
And they might just name the pet after you.
Who knows?
Wellness and Relaxation Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
It’s employee appreciation day, right?
What better way to show them you value their contributions than to offer them options to relax?
You want to give them gifts that would compel them to take time off.
Especially if you’ve noticed your employees are workaholics. A gift like this would get them recharged, ready to take work head-on again.
Here are some cool ideas for you to consider:
12. Subscriptions to a meditation app
A good place to begin is to pay for employees’ subscriptions to meditation apps.
They’re digital tools that can help your workers engage in guided meditation.
With apps like these, it’s almost like a monk is there with them helping them focus and wind down.
Now, there are different apps to which you can subscribe. You have the:
- Popular Headspace app. A great option if they’re just starting out.
- Calm app. If they need to unwind and relax during tough times.
- Healthy Mind Program. For people who’re testing the mediation waters.
13. Massage day
How about making the appreciation day a chance for everyone to relax and ease their stress?
To pull this off, you can organize a free massage day at the office.
Collaborate with professional masseuses to visit and provide massages to your employees.
Maybe using chair massages instead of hands, considering it’s a corporate setting. With some cold ice cream by the side.
Better yet, we recommend providing vouchers or gift cards employees can redeem at their favorite spas or sauna centers.
14. Office hammocks or bean bag chairs
Nowadays, office spaces are gradually shifting from the regular “corporatey” layout to more casual settings.
On a day like this, this can be the perfect gift that gets everyone talking.
Adding a hammock or bean bag chair would make it easy for your workers to feel more relaxed while working.
It’s that comfy.
They won’t have to sit at their desk from 9 to 5, adjusting their seats every five seconds.
With this kind of chair, it’s easy for workers to take a convenient position while working.
15. Ergonomic desk accessories
Ergonomic accessories is one wellness gift your professionals would love.
It involves things like ergonomic chairs, footrests, laptop stands, mouse pads, etc.
Basically, any accessories that allow workers to work without the risk of injuries.
And perform better. In a more comfortable way.
You can take it a step further and customize the accessories so every time they get to use it, they’re constantly reminded of how much you care.
16. Wellness kits
If you have a counselor at the office, this is the time to call on their wisdom.
Ask them to curate some wellness items on which your staff can rely during tough times.
That’s the point of a wellness kit; some things that can help soften the mood.
Make people feel relaxed. Boost employee morale. Improve their mental health. Improve their work-life balance
You get the point.
Don’t have a counselor?
You have us. And here’s what we suggest you can get:
Essential oils. Herbal teas. Scented candles. Elixirs. Houseplants.
We have a gift pack just like this that you can get.
17. Yoga equipment
Last but not least in the wellness section is this yoga equipment set.
Everyone knows that yoga is a helpful activity that can help with relaxation and wellness.
You can get employees yoga equipment so it’s easy for them to get started, and take care of their body, mind, and soul.
Our yoga gift set comes with everything they need to begin:
A yoga mat and bag. A towel for when the sweat starts. Wellness journal to document their journey.
To make this a more solid gift, you can customize it. Maybe write their name and customize it with your brand name and logo.
Employee Recognition and Growth Opportunities
Appreciating your employees doesn’t have to be by giving them material gifts alone.
That’s nice. And a lot of them would love your gesture.
But sometimes, your employees may not be fine with only a massage day.
What’s on their mind is how to take their career to the next level.
Give them an appreciation gift that offers just that and you’ll be the best boss ever.
Not sure what kind of gift ideas fall into this category?
Here are some:
18. Career coaching sessions
Nothing says “I want you to grow” to your employees better than a career coaching session.
You can set up a one-on-one mentorship program with experienced professionals, who can help your employees get a sense of direction.
Identify their strengths and weaknesses. Redefine their career goals.
At the end of the session, they’ll have an actionable plan for their career advancement. Or it could be a group coaching session where an expert your employee respects comes in to train them.
19. Professional networking event
According to a report by Zippia, 41% of professionals would like to attend networking events more often.
It’s how a lot of people got their current jobs.
The report also went on to say that professionals believe that networking is what determines how successful a person’s career is.
From our experience, networking events are where professionals go to get fired up again.
They come back with a new personal drive that reflects how they do their work.
If you can, host such an event for your employees so they can connect with like minds in their field.
Find professional development opportunities. Expand their network. Boost morale. Increase employee experience. And get new insights.
But if you can’t host one, sponsor them to attend one. You’ll be glad you did.
20. Memberships to industry-specific professional organizations
If you have employees, like accountants, who should be part of a professional body but aren’t, encourage them to join.
And offer to assist them with whatever they’ll need to become members. This might mean giving employees time to study if there’s an exam involved. Or connecting with your contacts in those organizations to guide them.
21. Employee recognition program
Another thing you can do is to give accolades to employees who’ve been exceptional.
It can be a peer recognition program.
Or become a company awards ceremony ritual.
The kind where you give trophies or awards to employees in different categories.
You can give a top-performing employee award.
Most punctual employee award. Most innovative worker. Best team award. Employee of the Month award.
The idea is simply to recognize and reward employees company-wide who reflect your values.
Let them know you’re grateful by giving them an award of some sort or plaque.
Customizable Gift Ideas
So far, we’ve covered different gift ideas you can give your employees.
But considering we promised you ideas for every budget, we decided to add this section as a perk.
It’s a list of items you can customize for employees.
These kinds of gifts are thoughtful, simple, and easy to get.
Let’s quickly go over them.
22. Gift card with personalized messages or photos
Gift cards are very popular and useful.
It probably has even been a lifesaver for you in the past.
Giving it as a gift allows your employees to choose items they find meaningful and special.
To make it feel more special, you can accompany the gift card with a personalized message from you to them. And maybe a photo.
This way, your employees feel like you put some thought into it. Which, of course, you did.
23. Office calendar with employee photos and milestones
The next idea is to design a custom-made office calendar as an appreciation day gift.
Now for this to be meaningful, you may want to create a calendar for each employee.
And not do it by teams.
Get their photos and collaborate with HR to get notable milestones in their life to add to the calendar.
So it’ll have photos and special dates like … when they joined, got married, had kids, started leading a team, etc.
24. Engraved desk accessories
Here’s another special gift your employees would love.
The good thing about this idea is that it can be anything.
An expensive custom-made keyboard engraved with their names on it.
A picture holder.
Or a reusable desk organizer.
Just ensure whatever you engrave is something they’d cherish each time they look at it.
25. Bobbleheads featuring employees’ faces
Imagine how you’d feel if someone gave you a live-action figure of you.
You’ll be delighted, yeah?
Smiling hard.
Probably wondering if it’s too late for you to start taking acting classes. You know, so you can become a real-life action figure.
Well, that’s the kind of vibe people get when they receive bobbleheads.
You only need two things to get this gift ready: your employee’s face and their preference.
Would they like the figure of some popular star or be natural?
And once they get this gift, it’ll be one of their prized possessions.
Remote Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
Now, if you run a remote-based company or manage a remote team, appreciation day is something to which they also look forward.
You need to prepare good gifts that show how much you care.
It’s one of the few times they get to feel that you value them. As such, you need to make it count.
Here are some ideas that can help you with that:
26. Remote work concierge service
As you probably know, remote workers are such a busy bunch.
They start working by 8 or 9am and don’t know when it’s dark outside.
Sometimes forgetting they need to get groceries or food until it’s super late. Unlike in-office guys in some cases.
A good gift for people in this category is to provide them with a service that can help them with simple tasks they may not have time to do.
That includes meal planning. Organizing their homes. Virtual fit coaching. Grocery shopping. And more.
While there might not be one company offering all these different services, you can curate a list of services around your employee’s place and share it with them.
An Excel sheet should help you get the job done.
27. Online team-building activities
For someone who works remotely sometimes, working from home can be lonely. Boring, in most cases.
It’s just the remote worker, their PC, pet (if any), and the internet.
Organizing team-building activities is something they’ll cherish.
It’s a gift they’ll keep remembering for a long time.
Why?
It’ll help them connect with other team members in a fun way.
You can organize:
- Virtual scavenger hunts.
- Digital talent shows.
- Virtual lunch/dinner dates.
- DIY challenges.
- Online trivia and games.
- Virtual escape room.
- Virtual classes for the team. (Cooking, painting, etc.)
28. Online workshops or class vouchers
It might be expensive to sponsor your remote employees to participate in a learning or networking event.
But you can do the next best thing.
Organize a virtual version for them.
Or give them a voucher to spend on workshop programs or any course of their choice.
Set up online mentoring programs to set them on the right path.
29. Virtual gift cards
We mentioned gift cards a bit further up.
But this one is strictly for remote workers. It can be virtual gift cards for eCommerce stores like Amazon or eBay.
You know, employees can use it while shopping online.
You can maybe ask them about their favorite stores so you know which gift cards to get them.
30. Customized care packages
If your remote workers are in the same country, it’d be nice to send them care packages on employee appreciation day.
The package can include items like gourmet snacks, stress-relief toys, teas, mugs, etc.
Even blankets like this cozy one from us.
But try to find out what your employees will like so you don’t send tea to a coffee lover and vice versa.
Also for items that can be customized, like blankets, toys, or coffee mugs, try to get them engraved with your logos and all.
So it feels more special.
All right, so that brings us to the end of this guide.
If you made it to this point, it means you’re serious about going all out for your employees.
And if you are, you need to ensure that any gift you get them leaves a lasting impression on them.
How do you do that?
One way is to customize the tangible gifts you’ll be getting your employees.
Tips, tricks, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
Ready to Start Customizing Gifts for Your Employees?
That’s not a problem with us.
We’ve been in the game for quite some time now.
So we can tell you for free that recipients love personalized gifts.
And customizing with us is like taking a walk in the park.
You just need to pick a gift item from our catalog. (We have tons.)
Add your logo and designs you’d like to use. And you’ll get mockups showing how the item would look when it’s done.
If you like it, we go ahead. If not, we adjust it before finalizing your order.
Don’t believe it yet?
Feel free to explore SwagDrop’s shop so you see what we mean.
You’ll be customizing gifts in no time.
