The Why's and How's of Giving Employee Gifts:

It is often easy to forget just how important your employees are to your business, and just how hard many of them work to ensure the continued success of your organization. One of the easiest ways to show your gratitude and provide a confidence builder and morale boost is through employee gifts. In this article we will cover the benefits of, and some simple guidelines to employee gift giving.

The Why's

Employees like to be shown that their efforts are appreciated. Think of the last time you got a tangible reward for your hard work, and how that made you feel. It felt good, didn't it? Giving customized promotional items as gifts can be an easy and cost-effective way to demonstrate your appreciation for your employees. Give your employees the occasional satisfaction of being recognized as having done their jobs well, and there will be an increased likelihood of overall employee satisfaction in your organization. This leads, in turn, to higher retention and better productivity.

The How's

Give to all loudly, or to a few quietly - There are many different ways to give, but you want to make sure you do not offend your other employees in recognizing the few. If you want to reward your whole team, for example, it is a good idea to not play favorites. Make sure all the items are within a few dollars in value of each other. This will guarantee that no one will feel slighted. Company parties and picnics are a great place to announce company or department-wide gifts.

If you have a minority that you want to recognize with employee gifts, do so quietly. Make it a personal exchange, and present it in relative private. Congratulate the employee in person. This will make the employee feel especially appreciated, and will reduce the risk of others feeling unappreciated.

Holidays are nice, but so is a pleasant surprise - Don't feel bound to give employee gifts only around the holidays. Often giving a gift for no other reason than to show appreciation will strike a stronger chord with the employee.

Holidays are a great opportunity as well to give gifts of appreciation. One holiday that is often overlooked is Thanksgiving, since it lends itself so well to food and gift basket items. The holiday season is an obvious time to give, so it may not have quite the same impact as the other holidays.

Be aware of who your employees are - One of the most important things to remember when giving gifts is to make it count. Make sure you look at your employee's tastes, likes and wants before deciding on a gift. If you are giving food items, be sure to take into account everyone's religious beliefs, and dietary restrictions.

If you are not immediately sure of what your employees may want, or more importantly NOT want, then ask around. Communicate with some of your more trusted employees to get their take on the matter. It is of utmost important that you not make the mistake of giving something that comes off as impersonal or not well thought out.

Brand and customize your gifts - As long as you are giving a reminder of your appreciation, tastefully customize it. This will help to leave a more lasting impression on your employee. When ever they view or use the gift, it will help for them to associate the gift with your organization. Almost everything can be customized with your brand, including laptop bags, mp3 players, swiss army knives, gift baskets, and watches.

The above are all general guidelines to giving gifts to your employees. Of course every organization is different, and your gift program may require other considerations. Powertex can help. Give us a call today at (800) 588-7111, or email us at: customerservice@powertexgroup.comto discuss how effective employee gifts may be for you.


>> Powertex Group Home Page