Employee gifts have always been a unique challenge for employers. How do you give your entire team something fair and equally delightful across a diverse group of professionals? We’ve learned from many years of experience that assuming what your employees want can go wrong. Not everyone wants a bottle of wine, a steak, or a home spa kit. Not everyone will use tickets and passes, and it’s a rare team that shares an identical taste in treats. So, what can you give? For a creative and thoughtful employer, there are still many options to choose from that could make your entire team happy this holiday season. Let’s dive into our seven favorite out-of-the-box employee gift ideas.

Holiday Bonuses and Gift Cash

Everyone likes to get money for the holidays. Cash is a great fallback gift because you know that your team can use it in whatever way brings them the most joy. Maybe they’ll spend it on a spa kit, or maybe they’ll gift it forward as toys for their children and care packages for distant relatives, turning your gift into even more joy.

In a year where there has been so much financial uncertainty, cash or holiday paycheck bonuses may be especially appreciated this holiday.

Extra Days Off Around the Holidays

Your team may need more time to plan for pandemic-safe holiday gatherings this year, and time together is precious when travel is restricted. If you’re looking for a universal way to reward the whole team, offer a few extra days off during the holiday break. Encourage your team to take time for careful travel, tree decorating, meal prep, and present wrapping.

Heartwarming Work Project

Of course, sometimes the best gift you can give (other than cash) is a heartwarming feeling of making a difference. Consider rounding out the year with a final project for a local charity. Have your team put together a charity collection for children in need, or take on an Angel Tree child as a team this year. You might open your office to a school choir of carolers or skip the office party and spend the budget decorating a children’s hospital ward.

Do something that makes your team feel the holiday spirit before the break-even starts as one of your gift ideas.

Versatile Gift Cards

Gift cards are excellent for giving to the whole team because they are flexible and can be spent whenever each person would enjoy it most. As long as you choose wisely. There are many classic employer-gifting snafus featuring restaurants and stores that employees would not personally visit. Instead, choose a big brand like Amazon or Walmart where your team members can buy anything they desire from a massive e-commerce platform.

Home Streaming Equipment

If your team has recently become remote, one great gift-box set is a home streaming set. If you really want to give your team something wrapped in paper and a ribbon to unwrap, send them a ring light and a high-quality web camera. It can take a surprising amount of equipment to set up a flattering and audio-clear home office for video streaming. Good lighting,  a flattering camera, and a directional microphone go a long way toward that without coming out of pocket. In a time when video chat is our professional presence, a streaming kit is sure to be appreciated.

Local Gourmet Dinner Delivery

Or you can give your team something everyone loves: Delicious food. Instead of guessing their tastes with restaurant gift cards or snack baskets, try a subscription to gourmet dinner delivery. You can send one-time delivered meals or set each of your team members up with several weeks of delivered delights for a little extra holiday cheer on their taste buds this year.

Movie and Entertainment Subscriptions

Last but certainly not least, you can always count on entertainment. A subscription to Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Steam credits can go a long way to creating holiday joy. These subscriptions aren’t just a gift for your employee, they’re a gift to the whole family who can share the account. If your team already has a subscription, your gift can extend that time for free. If they don’t, you can sponsor a whole holiday of shared movies and new television shows discovered or – depending on your team – a holiday of family gaming.

Find More Out-of-the-Box Gift Ideas

Here at Bishop & Company, we wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday. Employers looking to make this year special with gifts their team will love can explore great ideas and share your inspirations. Contact us for more great employer and staff insights.