Whether employee Christmas Day is on your mind or you just want to thank your team members, employee appreciation gifts are the way to go. There are many ways to express gratitude, ranging from a simple, heartfelt note to a personal vacation budget.
In this guide, Famvibe will examine the characteristics of an exceptional employee appreciation gift. We'll also share some of our favorite Christmas gifts for employees under $25, allowing you to find the ideal present at any time.
What constitutes a suitable employee appreciation gift?
People can tell when you put thought into a gift, and you want your intentions and appreciation to shine in this particular gifting situation. So, what constitutes an exceptional Christmas gift for employees under $25?
As with any other type of gift, the most effective employee appreciation gifts are personalized, unique, and special. They are based on what the recipient would enjoy or value the most, so a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective.
Create an employee Christmas program that includes a variety of rewards, gifts, and experiences tailored to each employee. Possess a repository of ideas that you can use as monthly or quarterly gifts for everyone, as well as some surprise gifts that you can send to individuals to recognize their accomplishments.
Include some budget-friendly options in your plan for frequently recognizing employees. Achieving a figure closer to 60 percent can lead to higher quality work and a decrease in absenteeism, according to research indicating that 25 percent of workers received praise in the past week. Create a culture where expressing gratitude is the norm, and strive to incorporate moments of gratitude into your daily routine.
It is also important to consider the "love language" of your gift recipients. Some people prefer verbal expressions of gratitude, while others enjoy receiving tangible gifts or experiences. Personalize your employee appreciation gifts for each team member to make the exchange truly meaningful.
1. Academic courses or educational experiences
Most of us wish we knew more about something, whether it's how to make the perfect pasta or how to code. Invest in the passions, interests, and future of your employees with the gift of extended learning.
Surprise your team members with a budget they are free to spend on any learning experience, class, or course that piques their interest. This could be an online or in-person class or even a team-based training program. This is an excellent way to express appreciation for someone's hard work and demonstrate an interest in the things they enjoy.
2. Personal vacation spending
There exists a vast world outside of work. The concept of a personal vacation budget is very appealing to your employees who enjoy visiting new cities or simply relaxing on the beach.
Create a personal budget that your employees can use to take a special vacation as a Christmas gift for employees under $25 or as a thank you for achieving a major company goal. Create destination guides or ideas to help them plan an epic getaway, even if it's just for a weekend, to make this activity even more enjoyable.
3. Subsidized business clubs
Vacations are one of the best ways to unwind and relax, but it is unrealistic to take one each month. Establish and fund interest clubs that employees can join on a regular basis as a means of expressing appreciation.
Interest clubs are an excellent way to bring people together based on common interests, such as reading, gaming, cooking, or crafting. Use a portion of your budget for corporate gifts to provide beverages and snacks with a Hoppier card, or to purchase supplies such as books, games, and ingredients.
4. Mini company retreat
We frequently view company retreats as an efficient way to bring everyone together to share ideas, make progress, and get to know one another. They can also be used as Christmas gifts for employees under $25, particularly if you emphasize wellness and personal development.
Make time for moments of gratitude during your annual corporate retreat, or host a mini-retreat centered on these themes. Ask your team members which activities they would most like to participate in, and then create a schedule that includes sessions based on their interests and passions.
You could even make the entire event planning process collaborative, giving your employees a choice of locations, venues, restaurants, and other elements.
5. Extra vacation day
Occasionally, all your team members want is an additional day off to spend relaxing, with loved ones, or on a personal project. This is one of the most popular employee Christmas gifts for employees under $25, despite its extreme simplicity.
A bonus vacation day makes a great birthday present or a gesture of appreciation for a difficult project. Encourage your employees to spend the day as they please, without any work obligations. Include a Hoppier virtual card with a balance that they can spend on coffee at Starbucks, a shopping spree at Ikea, or a new subscription at Calm to make this present even sweeter.
6. Individualized consultation with an authority
Life is full of small moments, but occasionally we'll want to make a significant change. If one of your employees is interested, personal consultation with an expert would be a thoughtful Christmas gift.
Match your employee with an expert who can help them achieve their goals. Perhaps they need an interior designer to help them plan their new home, or a fashion consultant to help them build a capsule wardrobe. Time and assistance to assist someone in solving a problem are one of the best presents you can give.
7. Better working hours
We dedicate so much of our lives to our work. Whether your team works from home or commutes to the office, their workday experience can have a significant impact on morale. Create a culture of better or more flexible working hours to demonstrate care for your employees beyond what they bring to the table.
Adding flexible working hours or altering your typical workday is a significant shift in company culture, but it's also a fantastic way to give back to your employees on a large scale. Find a change that works for you and your team, whether it's a Friday early finish, completely flexible hours, or shorter work days in the summer.
8. Personal gratitude budget
According to research, recognition from management is important, but recognition from peers can be even more influential. Provide your team members with a small budget that they can use to buy gifts for coworkers for any reason they choose.
Find a number you're comfortable with and surprise your team with this new policy. Encourage individuals to send team members thank-you gifts for their contributions to projects, helpfulness, and progress toward their work or personal goals. This is a beautiful way to invest in your team and foster an attitude of gratitude and appreciation.
9. Personalized beverageware
Your hardworking team members will appreciate a personalized stainless steel tumbler, coffee mug, drinking glass, or water bottle. Personalize the item with the recipient's name, a favorite quotation, or your company's logo. Send it to them in a gift box along with a note of appreciation.
10. Virtual gift card for a spa
We are all aware of the importance of investing in our health, but sometimes it takes a gift from another person to remind us to take a break and relax. Send your employees a virtual card that they can use with vendors such as Spafinder, Classpass, Headspace, and more using Hoppier.
11. Tickets to a performance or game
Show team members that you care about the things they enjoy by providing them with tickets to see their favorite sports team, musical artist, or art exhibition in person or online. This is a thoughtful way to create a stronger bond with your team members, as well as a wonderful gift for sport or culture enthusiasts.
Personalized artwork
Personalize artwork and give it to your employees to brighten up their home office. Request their favorite song, film, or location, and have wall art or a desk-friendly photo block created to display it.
13. Bouquet of flowers or a floral arrangement
Fresh flowers are an excellent gift option for birthdays and holidays, as well as for employee appreciation. Send a beautiful bouquet of flowers from a local florist — or a letterbox arrangement they can style at home — to express appreciation for someone's hard work, loyalty, or creativity.
14. Donation to charity
Donating to charity in the name of your team members will appeal to their altruistic nature. Ask everyone about their favorite charity so you can make a surprise donation on their behalf, or make it an option for significant occasions.
15. Personalized gift basket
Sending a personalized care package or gift basket is one of the best ways to demonstrate your concern. Create a miniature gift basket based on the items, hobbies, snacks, and trends that your employee values the most, then send it to them.
16. Cozy hoodie
Give your employees the gift of the utmost coziness by providing them with high-quality hoodies. Stick to something they can wear outside and inside the home, or add your company logo or a catchphrase if you know they'll enjoy it. Encourage them to relax with a good book and a cup of tea, and if possible, send them both.
17. Desk plant
Plants are an excellent way to brighten and add much-needed greenery to office spaces, and they also make fantastic employee appreciation gifts. Send a small desk plant, succulent, or even an artificial plant to brighten the home or office of your employee.
18. Miniature seasonal gifts
Sending miniature versions of gifts to your employees is an excellent way to stretch a small budget. Create a thoughtful gift set using seasonal treats such as candles, lip balm, candies, and accessories. This works wonderfully around the holidays or the beginning of a season, so you can celebrate the hygge spirit of Winter or welcome the warm summer days together.
19. Visit to a food truck
Thank your employees with a quick meal provided by your most beloved food truck. If your team works from a single location, a food truck visit is the most practical and cost-effective option, but you could also organize a multi-stop tour if everyone is in the same city. Send remote employees a Hoppier virtual credit card along with a list of your recommended food vendors so they can order something tasty.
20. Monthly employee appreciation award
With a monthly employee appreciation award, make recognizing accomplishments a regular part of your operations. This can be as lavish or as simple as you like; you can award the employee of the month with a physical trophy, a Hoppier virtual gift card, or simply the recognition of being the current winner.
21. Favorite drinks and snacks
Stock up on your employee's favorite snack or beverage for an inexpensive and sweet way to express gratitude. This is a small but powerful employee appreciation gift idea, as it is an excellent way to make someone smile. Stock the refrigerator with their preferred soda, send them a box of their preferred candies, or assemble a package of their preferred snacks.
22. Credit for a book or audiobook
With a physical book or audiobook credit, you can provide your team members with an escape into a fantasy world or a deeper understanding of the world around them. Request that they create a wishlist and surprise them with one of the titles on their list, or use Hoppier to send them an Audible gift card.
23. Virtual coffee gift card
Gifting virtual gift cards for coffee, tea, or fresh juice will encourage you to express gratitude more frequently. When it comes to coffee, we all have different preferences, and with Hoppier, you can give the ultimate gift of choice. Your employees can choose their preferred coffee shop, be it Starbucks, Dunkin, Tim Hortons, or another establishment.
24. Deck plate sign
One of our favorite employee appreciation gifts that can be purchased for less than $15 is a desk place sign. Look for a pre-made design that matches the personality of the gift recipient, or have a personalized sign with their name or favorite saying created.
25. Customized thank-you note
A handwritten note of appreciation, thanks, or gratitude does not cost anything but can have a significant impact. Make your thank-you note specific to an accomplishment or occasion, and send it as a handwritten note, carefully crafted email, or electronic card.
26. Festive company holiday
Add humor and levity to your workweek by designating a special fun day to show appreciation for your employees. Especially if you host a "bring your kids/pets to work" day or a family fun day to celebrate the warmer months, this is a wonderful way to build relationships and create a positive work-life balance. These topics also translate well to remote work, as you could host a remote picnic or pet introduction session via video conference.
27. Handmade baked goods
If you are an excellent baker, bringing homemade treats to the office is a lovely way to express your appreciation. If your budget is tight but you still want to make your team members smile, this is a tried-and-true idea for an employee appreciation gift.
28. Virtual office party
Hosting a virtual office party is a simple yet effective way to show appreciation to your team. Invite everyone to join you for an hour or two of conversation, games, drinks, and shared recollections. Add an additional layer of appreciation to your virtual party by sending Hoppier cards to your guests so they can order drinks and snacks for the event.
29. Wall of appreciation
Team members can be inspired, motivated, and rewarded by viewing positive comments, messages of gratitude, and shoutouts all in one location. Create a digital or physical wall of appreciation to display messages of gratitude. This is one of those employee appreciation gift ideas that anyone on a tight budget can implement.
30. Candy
Even though candy is inexpensive, there is a distinct "feel good" moment associated with receiving your favorite sweets as a gift. Use this as a small way to thank someone for being an outstanding coworker, sharing a great idea, or for their company in general.
31. Uplifting SMS texts
Sometimes a simple message of congratulations or appreciation is sufficient to bring people together. If your team members are on board, create a group chat where you can send positive messages of gratitude and appreciation. It is a simple yet effective method for generating positive energy for the day ahead.
32. a public shout
Recognition within your organization is great, but you may want to take it a step further by highlighting an individual's accomplishments or contributions. Consider a public mention, such as an article in the company newsletter, a social media post, or a shout-out at your next all-hands meeting. Check with your employee first to see if they would enjoy this; if not, find a gift that they would enjoy.
33. Appreciation gifts for remote employees
Sending employee appreciation gifts during COVID-19 or to remote teams does not need to be tedious, as there are so many incredible virtual or mail options available. Consider some of our favorite remote-friendly employee recognition gifts for ideas.
33. Virtual event experience
A virtual event experience, such as a Broadway show, can be a great way to reward your remote employees, as many shows continue to take place online. Bring your team together to discuss plans to see the same show and discuss it, or give this as a unique token of appreciation.
34. Home-based services
When you work remotely, you spend a lot of time at home, which means you can quickly tire of a cluttered environment and a hectic schedule. Give your team members a practical employee appreciation gift with an at-home service gift certificate. Encourage your team members to use this for cleaning, decluttering, child care, personal assistance, or vacation planning, or any other area in which they could use assistance.
35. Video of their favorite celebrity or public figure
Treat your virtual team member to a personalized video from their favorite celebrity or online personality if you know they have one. This is an extremely inventive thank-you gift that can be used wherever your team member is. If their favorite person is not on Cameo, they should contact their agent.
36. Dining experience at home
It is more difficult to host a dinner for your remote team members, but you can provide them with a memorable dining experience at home. Send them a Hoppier card and encourage them to order their preferred beverages and takeout to enjoy at home with family and friends. Provide themes and tailor your card to specific cuisines, or leave it open and let the recipient decide.
37. Home office improvements
As a thoughtful gesture of appreciation, you should surprise your team members with incredible new home office upgrades. This could be anything from a premium ergonomic chair to a set of customized earbuds or a lightning-fast charger, depending on your budget. The objective is to give a thank-you gift that is both meaningful and useful.
38. Electronic thank you card
Sending a token of appreciation to your remote employees need not be expensive. A straightforward, thoughtful electronic thank-you note can go a long way. Utilize an online card service such as Greenvelope to personalize a design, and then consider the most effective way to convey your message.
39. Premium travel accessories
Occasionally, remote work takes team members to new locations. If they travel frequently, send them some high-quality travel accessories as a thoughtful gesture of appreciation. You should invest in headphones, a laptop bag, luggage tags, and document wallets as essential travel accessories.
40. Virtual cocktail hour
Thank your incredible remote team members on a large scale by hosting an epic virtual happy hour. Choose a theme, organize some activities, and send your guests Hoppier cards in advance to cover the drinks. Hoppier is the only truly global partner for food and beverage recognition programs, allowing your remote team to order food, beverages, and snacks from anywhere in the world.
41. Family photography day
Invite your team members to bring their families to a daylong photoshoot, and pay for a portion of the photos so that they can cherish the memories forever. This is a lovely way to recognize the contributions of your employees, celebrate their personal lives, and meet their wonderful families (and pets)!
42. Lunch at no cost
Christmas gifts for employees need not be extravagant to be meaningful. Give your team members the option of where they would like their lunch to be ordered if you provide them with lunch. This monthly team gift is perfect for boosting morale or expressing gratitude for recent accomplishments.
43. Fun team experience
Use your employee appreciation gift as the perfect pretext for an in-person team-building experience. Visit an escape room, virtual reality experience, or skydiving center to try something new and foster teamwork. Ask your team members what they would be most interested in experiencing, and design your experience accordingly.
44. Relaxation zone
If you have the space and budget, creating a chill out zone at the office is a fantastic way to invest in the health of your employees. Prepare a space with comfortable seating, soothing lighting, and an abundance of books. Encourage individuals to use it whenever they desire as a stress reliever and welcome break from their busy schedules. This office perk is a gift of appreciation for employees that lasts well beyond the initial investment.
45. Fresh coffee and refreshments
Keeping the office refrigerator stocked with soda and the kitchen stocked with plenty of fresh fruit is always a good idea, but a food-themed surprise also makes an excellent Christmas gift for employees under $25. Bring fresh coffee and donuts as a token of appreciation for hard work, or bring still-warm pastries to a team meeting.
46. Themed workplace party
Transform your office for a day by throwing a themed party in honor of your team. Create a winter wonderland and exchange Christmas gifts, or create your own staff appreciation week event and allow your team to select the theme, food, and activities.
47. Up close animal encounter
Puppies will always be adorable, and if your team members adore their sweet, furry paws, they make an excellent employee appreciation gift. Host an animal encounter at your office with puppies or reptiles, or visit a zoo or animal conservation park for a guided encounter with an unusual animal.
