26 thoughtful office gifts to give employees

Here are some of the best office gifts you can give to staff members:

Potted plants

Potted office plants bring a bit of greenery and color into a plain workspace. When buying a potted plant for an employee, choose one with simple care instructions, so it doesn’t wilt or die over the weekend. Small succulents and air plants are both popular types to give as new office gifts.

Fresh cut flowers

Fresh flowers are another excellent gift to show an employee your appreciation and help them decorate their desk. While cut flowers eventually wither, you can present them in a beautiful vase that the employee can keep and refill.

Branded swag

T-shirts, key chains, hats and other swag with the company logo can make a good gift for new office employees. They help welcome new employees to the team. Select high-quality items that your employees will use. Flimsy drawstring bags, plain paperweights, cheap koozies and toothbrushes may go straight into the trash. Instead, consider ordering some of these popular items with your company logo:

• Hoodies
• T-shirts
• Journals
• Backpacks

Related: Workplace Incentive Examples: Best Practices

Gourmet sweets

Satisfy your employee’s sweet tooth with gourmet candies or baked goods. There are plenty of dessert-based gift baskets available for purchase, so you can treat your employees with custom cupcakes, biscotti, gummy bears, truffles and other confections. Or, support a local bakery and buy your employees fresh treats.

Restaurant gift cards

Learn the names of your employees’ favorite local restaurants and give them a gift card they can use for a nice lunch or dinner. If you’re not sure what type of cuisine your employees enjoy, you can opt for a standard Visa gift card that they can use anywhere.

Leather cases

Leather goods are luxury items that employees may not be able to justify purchasing for themselves. Gift your team a high-quality leather briefcase, folio or pocketbook that they can use to keep their work organized and stylish.

Socks

Cute patterned or fuzzy socks can help your employees keep their feet comfy and warm during long days at the office. You can find socks with everything on them from binary code to the Mona Lisa, so you have plenty of options to personalize gifts to each employee’s taste.

Luggage

If your employees travel for their job, consider gifting them with a sturdy backpack or a set of luggage to use on their business trips. Include personalized luggage tags or a plush neck pillow as an extra item that they can enjoy when on the road.

Coffee and tea

A selection of quality teas or coffees is a gift that any employee can appreciate and use every day. Choose herbal teas if you have an employee who doesn’t like caffeine. For the office coffee aficionado, consider a gourmet coffee subscription box.

Stationery

Beautiful stationery that your employees can use to take notes and send letters is one of the most timeless office gifts. You can order memo pads customized with their name and title, label stickers, stamps, contact cards or a set of attractive note cards with matching envelopes.

Engraved pens

High-quality engraved fountain pens make great personalized gifts even if you don’t know the recipient well. Generic pens tend to circulate in the office or get lost, so giving an employee a nice engraved pen with some weight to it will make it easier for them to keep over the years.

Art classes

Give each employee a gift voucher for an art class or paint-and-sip experience. If your employees choose to go together, this gift can also make a great team-building experience.

Olive oil or Maple Syrup

Create a gift basket with fancy olive oil and balsamic vinegar or flavored maple syrup. Flavored olive oils and maple syrup are a great alternative to other food gift baskets and will keep for a long time.

Spa items

Lotions, shower steamers and other spa items can help your employees pamper themselves and feel rejuvenated. Spa gift baskets or gift certificates give employees an opportunity to take care of their physical and emotional wellness.

Mugs and tumblers

Staying hydrated is essential during long days at the office, so mugs and tumblers are a great gift. Choose mugs with fun phrases, handmade pottery by local artisans or insulated thermoses with hot and cold temperature control.

Headphones and speakers

Employees who are more productive when listening to music and podcasts will love noise-canceling headphones and personal speakers.

Reusable bags

Tote bags are a great gift for eco-conscious employees. Consider filling the tote bag with treats and office supplies so employees can enjoy its contents then use the bag to store and transport items.

Aromatherapy

Candles, diffusers, incense and aromatherapy oils in your employee’s favorite scent can help create a soothing office atmosphere. If your employees work closely together in a shared space, make sure no one has allergies or sensitivities to fragrances.

Picture frames

If you have a memorable photo of your staff, have it printed and displayed in a nice picture frame as a sentimental gift. Photo frames also work well as gifts for a new office location to spruce up the space.

Books

A copy of a book that impacted you is a thoughtful and personal gift that also helps your employees get to know you. Poetry, motivational novels and industry-specific books can be a great work-appropriate addition to an employee’s library.

Pet portraits

People love their pets, and there are many companies and artists available to immortalize them with a custom portrait. Get a photo of your employee’s four-legged friend for a unique gift that they’ll proudly display.

Desk toys

Small desk toys can help employees relieve stress or take a quick break and refocus during a long day. Magnetic sculptures, stress balls, fidget toys, 3-D puzzles and miniature zen gardens are all popular desk toys that can add a bit of fun and personality to their desk.

Smartwatches

If you have a large gift budget, consider getting your employees a nice piece of technology like a smartwatch or tablet. They can use their smartwatch to stay more connected and organized in the workplace. 

Donations

If you have employees who are passionate about social causes, consider donating to a charity or organization in their honor. Accompany the donation with a note telling the employee that a donation has been made on their behalf with some details about the projects the charity is currently working on. A charitable donation to a cause your employees care about shows them that you respect their values and helps them feel good about making a difference.

Handwritten cards

One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give your employees is a handwritten card that acknowledges what you appreciate about them. A note written on handmade paper or a nice card can be a memento they look at to cheer themselves up during challenging times. Adding a handwritten note to another gift is an even better way to show appreciation.

FAQs about office staff gifts

What are some occasions to give gifts to employees?

You can recognize any occasion, milestone or achievement with a gift to an employee or give a gift for no reason at all. Here are some examples:

• Welcoming new employees
• Years of service awards
• Birthdays
• Holidays
• Personal milestones like marriages and births
• Breaking a work record
• Completing a major project
• Retirement
• Office moves
• Promotions
• General staff appreciation

What are the benefits of giving employees gifts?

Giving small gifts for employee achievements can have a big impact on your company culture. Some benefits include:

• Getting to know your team: In the process of buying gifts for your employees, you’ll learn more about their likes and dislikes. This is especially helpful when onboarding new employees and welcoming them to your company.
• Creating a culture of appreciation: Employees who have physical evidence that their employer values their work and feel appreciated may be more likely to stay with your company.
• Recognizing excellence: If an employee is facing a challenging situation or performs especially well on a project, a well-timed gift can recognize their hard work and encourage them to keep going.

How much should you spend?

Giving gifts to employees can cost as much or as little as your budget allows. Even small tokens of appreciation can boost employee morale. To be consistent, set a spending limit for different types of office staff gifts.