Employee gifts are a great way to thank them for their hard work and also help strengthen the bond between remote workers and their on-site colleagues. Gifts have been shown time and again to increase happiness levels in people, so why not put aside a bit of extra money this year to give some presents to your remote employees? Gifts don't need to be expensive or complicated - sometimes it's more about the sentiment of giving something than anything else!
Gifts can be used as an incentive, or just something extra special by surprise. Gifts also have the ability to increase happiness levels in people, which is why it makes sense that some companies choose to spend money on giving gifts to their staff rather than bonuses.
Here are five occasions when you should consider giving gifts to your employees working remotely:
1. Gifts just because
This category includes presents given at completely random times of year, not necessarily linked to any occasion or holiday. Gifts like this show that you're thinking of your staff and aim to make them feel appreciated for all their hard work throughout the year - which is especially useful during stressful periods when everyone has to work extra hard! Gifts just because are generally small but thoughtful, so they don't break the bank.
These surprise gifts are especially important for remote employees to feel connected to their company and colleagues.
Here are some 'just because' gift ideas for every remote worker:
- Plants or flowers
- Family board games
- Exercise equipment
- Gift boxes / Gift baskets
- Self care / body gifts
- Home office essentials
- diy gardening kit / craft kits
2. Gifts for a special occasion
There are plenty of occasions throughout the year where employers may feel inclined to give gifts to their remote employees. Whether it's for a birthday or Valentine's day, most people love both giving and receiving gifts!
Below we've listed some common gifting occasions in the workplace where you may think to give your team gifts.
- Leaving and retirement gifts
Gifts for retirees and leaving employees are a great way to say goodbye and thank you for all the years of service.
- Work anniversary and long service gifts
These gifts are a great way to show your appreciation for an employee's long tenure with the company. Gifts don't have to be expensive, but they should be thoughtful and personalized. Keep on reading for the best gift ideas for work anniversaries that will show your gratitude.
- Birthday gifts
It's always a good idea to show your staff that you appreciate them. One way to do this is by giving them birthday gifts. Virtual gifts are a great way to show your staff that you care about them and want to make their birthday special.
If it is a remote employee celebrating their birthday, we've included many virtual birthday gifts further along in this article. It's important to consider team zoom meetings so you can throw a virtual holiday party for them to celebrate with the rest of their team.
- End-of-year / Christmas gifts
Christmas is a time when many people reflect on the past year and give thanks for all they have. It's also a time when people exchange gifts with loved ones to show their appreciation. Christmas is the perfect time to give your employees some special gifts, as a way of saying thank you for all their hard work.
The holiday season seems to come around quicker every year, organising digital Christmas gifts for your remote employees is a fast way to get thoughtful gifts to your team in time for the holidays.
- End of quarter / EOFY staff gifts
Many companies choose to give their employees gifts at the end of a quarter or end of the financial year, as a way of saying thank you for all their hard work. Gifts are often used as an incentive and can be a great way to show your appreciation for your staff. Your gift ideas don't need to be expensive - in fact, smaller gifts can often be more thoughtful and appreciated by employees.
- Cultural occasions and celebrations
If you want to go the extra mile it's very thoughtful to consider the different cultural occasions that your remote employees may be celebrating around the world. Whether it be Diwali, Chinese New Year, Easter or Saint Basil's Day, each cultural occasion deserves individual thought and research.
Each celebration has its own customs and traditions, which means that the gifts you give should be tailored to fit the occasion. For example, in China it's important to pay attention to colour significance (red, yellow and gold signify wealth and prosperity), while in India it is considered polite to give gifts that reflect the receiver's profession.
If you're not sure what to buy for a special occasion like Diwali, or Chinese New Year, don't worry - we've got you covered! In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive guide to finding the perfect gift ideas for each of these festive celebrations.
3. Gifts as rewards
If you have a particular employee who has hit their KPIs or exceeded your expectations, present them with a gift to reward their hard work. Rewards are especially useful for staff who have been particularly helpful or worked hard over the past year - it's important to show them you've noticed and appreciate everything they do! Gifts as rewards can be more expensive, so make sure you're choosing the right one for your company.
A good way to promote healthy competition in the workplace is to give gifts to remote teams that perform well within a certain period of time. Team gift ideas could include team activities, getaways and adventures. These employee gift ideas double as team building exercises and will benefit your business in the long term.
4. Gifts that benefit both parties
It's always nice to give something of personal value to an employee. Gift ideas that benefit both parties are presents that might not cost much money but will go towards making life easier for your remote workers - meaning they'll save time on doing certain tasks, meaning they'll have more time available for productive work.
Gifts like these help ease the pressures of working from home and can be a great way to thank them for the effort they're putting in. Some examples of these practical gift ideas for remote employees include:
- Updated office equipment
As more and more people work remotely, it's important to make sure their office is equipped with the latest technology. Giving your staff new office equipment is a great way to show them that you care about their working environment, and has the ability to seriously improve their work from home lifestyle. Office equipment can be expensive, but there are many options available that will fit into any budget.
Some premium gift ideas include a standing desk, office chair, bluetooth speakers or headphones, and other tech gifts.
Inexpensive presents can be as simple as a few home office essentials like desk organizers or personalized notebooks. More inexpensive gifts include coffee mugs, a tea sampler box, gourmet coffee, technology accessories, sweet treats and stationery and desk supplies.
- Educational resources and professional development
It's important to remember that your employees deserve opportunities to learn and grow. That's why educational resources and professional development make such great gift ideas for employees that work remotely.
Gifts like these help ease the pressures of working from home and can be a great way to thank them for the effort they're putting in. Educational resources and professional development are ones that will go towards making life easier for your remote workers.
It's now popular for companies to allocate individual budgets per employee and let them choose what professional and educational resources to purchase.
- Let them choose their own conference/event to attend
Travel can often be a big perk and incentive for staff, which is why it's one of the best gift ideas. Offsite conferences and events can be a great way for your staff to meet new people, network, and break up their usual working week.
Offsite conferences are not just for co-workers who happen to be near each other - they often provide valuable opportunities for professionals to learn more about their industry and network with others who share similar interests. It's also an excellent way for companies to show appreciation by allowing staff members the opportunity to attend these events.
If your employee likes to travel, encourage them to take a few days to explore a new city or country while they are there!
5. Thank you gift vouchers
One increasingly popular present is a digital gift voucher that allows people to choose exactly what they want rather than having to pick anything specific you've chosen. Gifts as vouchers allow employees to use their gift on whatever benefits them most - whether it's taking some time off work to travel, or replacing a household item! Gift vouchers also work very well as motivation, especially if you also send a certificate for the employee to print and put up on their wall.
Deliver digital gifts to your remote team with Gifting Owl
In recent years, technology has advanced quite a lot, allowing us to do things that we previously couldn't - including sending gifts across vast distances in seconds. This means that you can send employees working remotely all over the world gifts without spending a fortune, or even leaving your desk!
Gifts delivered by email are a great way to instantly send employees something that they will actually use, rather than just receiving it and putting it in a drawer. Gifts for remote workers can be used as a surprise or an incentive for employees who have worked hard over the year.
The best virtual gifts are experience gift vouchers
There are many reasons why experience gift vouchers make the perfect gift for employees working remotely.
1. Firstly, they allow the recipient to choose exactly what they want to do, whether it's a day out of the office, a course to learn a new skill, or a weekend away with family members.
2. Secondly, they're an excellent way to show appreciation for a job well done, and can be used as a reward for employees who have gone above and beyond.
3. Experience gift vouchers are a great way to encourage staff to travel and explore new places. Travel is a great way for employees to learn about different people and cultures while having all the fun!
4. Finally, experiences make us happier than things. When we think about the experiences we’ve had in our lives, we remember them more vividly and for longer than any material possession. That’s because experiences are what create our memories, and memories are what make us happy.
About Gifting Owl experience gifts for remote employees
Gifting Owl provides businesses of all sizes with an easy-to-use solution that makes it easier for them to give their remote teams something meaningful on important occasions such as Christmas, birthdays and work anniversaries.
Co-Branded gift vouchers for your global team
If you're looking for personalized gifts, Gifting Owl can co-brand each of your gift certificates with your company logo. You'll also have the opportunity to write a thoughtful gift message to be printed on the gift voucher.
Virtual gift vouchers delivered instantly to their inbox
These virtual gift vouchers are delivered digitally via email, sms or Whatsapp. You may even choose to have your gift vouchers delivered while you are on zoom meetings with each of your remote employees.
Here are some of our favourite experience gift ideas that all of your remote employees will love:
1. Let them choose with a value-based gift voucher
By far the most popular employee gift idea on Gifting Owl, give them the gift of choice with a Gifting Owl gift voucher. With thousands of experiences to book in over 90 countries, your remote employees will be spoilt for choice!
2. Encourage them to take a well-deserved break with a hotel gift card
View the range of 1 and 2 night hotel getaways around the world. As far as employee appreciation gifts go, this one is a no-brainer! Who doesn't love a weekend away or a staycation in a fancy local resort?
With a wide range of hotels to choose from, your employees can take a break and relax in style. Whether they want to laze by the pool at a local 5-star hotel or explore a new destination, a hotel gift card is not only a meaningful gift idea, but a great way to let your remote employees choose their own adventure.
3. Max-relax gifts to help them recharge and reflect
In our hectic, constantly-connected lives, it's more important than ever to make time for self care. For many of us, that means taking a break from work to relax and recharge. But for some people, self care can be a bit harder to come by.
Our health and wellness experiences offer the perfect opportunity for your remote workers to switch off and enjoy a little R&R - they deserve it!
Other virtual gift ideas for every remote employee
- Subscription streaming services (monthly or yearly subscriptions) are becoming a popular and relatively inexpensive virtual gift idea for businesses to give to their onsite and remote employees.
- A Kindle e-gift card is another thoughtful gift for remote employees that love to read. If they are digital nomads that travel the world, having access to digital books and entertainment is a must!
- A tax deductible donation to their chosen charity is one of the most thoughtful gifts. Instead of guessing what gift they might like, ask them to choose from a few options and make sure you include a charity donation of their choice.
Virtual gifts are a great way to show your remote employees that you appreciate their hard work. Digital gift vouchers make it easy for you to choose a thoughtful gift and send it instantly to their inbox. Our selection of experience gift ideas includes something for everyone, so you can find meaningful gifts for every one of your remote employees. Whether they want to relax with a hotel getaway or recharge with some health and wellness experiences, Gifting Owl has the best virtual gifts for your team!
If you're interested in corporate gifting through Gifting Owl please get in touch at the link below!
https://giftingowl.com/corporate