Alexandra Powell
Our Appreciation Index Report found that when employees feel appreciated, they work harder and are more satisfied and more engaged.
In fact, the Haas School of Business found a 43% increase in productivity for appreciated employees. But people are different. They like different things. The 5 Languages of Appreciation model highlights five key ways to show appreciation that will appeal to different employees at different levels (words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, appropriate physical touch and, finally, tangible gifts). If we want to really appreciate people for who they are, we need to be flexible and give them what they like.
Organizations and managers should be prepared to provide thoughtful gifts throughout the year to support both productivity and morale.
What makes a great employee appreciation gift?
So where can you start in deciding on a powerful (and reasonable!) gift?
First, you should consider personalization and relevancy.
I knew a Nurse Manager who filled out an employee recognition profile with each new hire asking about their favorites – candy, coffee shop, genre of TV show, etc. – to personalize small and large gifts throughout their employee lifecycle. But gifts also need to be practical. She found that having bags of the “favorite candies” in her office meant she could easily and quickly honor someone's great work without crushing her budget.
In fact, it's better to have simple, meaningful gifts that you can provide most frequently balanced with high-quality gifts for special occasions.
Finally, make sure your gift giving is inclusive of different types of folks and situations. Simple example, is someone allergic to chocolate? Don’t mindlessly hand them a candy bar. Is someone observing Ramadan? What are some non-food gifts you can give them to honor their fast?
10 low-cost employee appreciation gift ideas
Our clients love providing small, frequent amounts of points into their employee experience platform so employees can spend the points where they want – whether toward a purchase in their Amazon account, Sephora or to reduce the cost of a vacation flight (just to name a few of hundreds of potential options).
But there is something lovely about giving a gift in person, and I know most people’s interest in supporting their people outweighs their budget.
Never fear!
You can still provide thoughtful gifts that will drive appreciation.
1. Personalized thank you
Perhaps it's as simple as having a box of Thank You cards on hand so you can hand write a note. While we love making recognition stories visible to all, sometimes a more personal touch may win the day.
2. Sweet treats
I already mentioned the power of candy, but consider celebrating donut day or bringing in chocolate chips cookies after the team has had a busy week.
Pro tip: Download our 2025 People Experience Calendar to prepare for a wide array of unofficial holidays (alongside the official observances, of course) like National Ice Cream Day (July 20) or National Cookie Day (December 4)!
3. Time off
Flexibility is increasingly seen as currency in the modern workplace. Having people leave early on a Friday, or even giving an additional day of PTO for above and beyond results is a gift people will love to get!
4. A gift card to a coffee shop
Most people find joy in their morning coffee, especially when you can have someone else make it for you! Consider which retailers are convenient for your team – are near their house or on their commute.
5. Desk accessories
Desk accessories can be a way to add something fun or functional to an employee's life. What is their favorite show or book? A pen or notebook with that theme will show you are paying attention.
6. Customized stationary
Is there someone on your team that consistently recognizes their colleagues? Some customized stationary can make their status acknowledge this trait and make it more likely they continue to support the team.
7. Public shoutouts
More than a third of people in our research said that frequent, consistent recognition is more important than a 10% pay raise, and taking time for regular public shoutouts doesn’t cost anything at all.
8. Fun mugs or water bottles
If you are focused on wellbeing, reminding people to drink water is a secondary benefit of this gift. It is practical and they are easy to customize to your company or team.
9. Work from home days
Letting people work from home is a wonderful way to make things simpler for them as well as demonstrate your trust. It could be a way to support an employee going through a tough time, or a prize for those that achieve key results.
10. Custom playlist
A playlist can be a way to bring the group together and learn about each other - having everyone share one chill and one high energy song, or something a leader builds as a way to acknowledge the team reaching a key milestone.
10 unique appreciation gifts for employees
Lower-cost gifts mean you can celebrate all the time, but it is nice to level up when an employee really makes an impact or needs a morale boost.
Here are some ideas for providing a gift that will make its mark.
1. Experience vouchers
Is there a restaurant or museum the employee would love? Or an amusement park they frequent? A voucher from the company can support them but also their family.
2. Subscription services
Subscription services can be a great gift for the hard to shop for. And it's a gift that keeps giving! Pay for a premium music subscription or for access to a big box store that will save them money all year long.
3. Beverage tasting set
For people who love their beverages, a chance to explore new tastes will be a treat that shows you know them and what they like. Whether that‘s coffee, tea, juice or alcohol, have them report back so the whole team can benefit. You never know who's just waiting for the right recommendation!
4. Cooking or baking kit
Meal services like Hello Fresh or EveryPlate or Dinnerly can provide simple, healthy meals and save employees trips to the store. It can be a fun event for the whole family, or a chance for the employee to learn some new skills for flavors. There are also countless on-demand cooking classes (learn to make cheese, samosas or paella, for example!) if meal kits aren’t a good fit.
5. Home office upgrades
Does someone seem fatigued after a long day of work or a busy week? Who would say no to a new office chair or a walking pad?
6. Luxury skincare or wellness basket
Often our top performers may sacrifice taking care of themselves in service of others. Make sure they take time to take of themself with some bougie and great-smelling products. (Double check with your employees about allergies or scent sensitivities before sending these out!)
7. Fitness class voucher
Staying in shape is a great stress reliever, but it can take a toll on the bank account. Getting someone a certificate to a yoga or barre class can provide them with new experiences and give them time for themselves.
8. Customized puzzles or games
A deck of cards with the team’s pictures on the back? A Monopoly board specific to landmarks from their town? This is a creative gift for an individual or makes for a gift for the team to make lunch breaks more fun.
9. Donation to a charity of choice
We know employees at our clients’ organizations often feel the most reward in giving to others. We partner with GlobalGiving.org through our Reward Marketplace so employees can pick from hundreds of possible choices. If you already know of a group they support, this is an even better choice.
10. Professional development course
Learning and a chance for advancement is a gap on many employee surveys. Honor your people by bringing these opportunities to them. Either time to attend a webinar, or travel to a conference is a wide ranging way to support their growth.
10 Employee Appreciation Gifts for Remote Teams
When you spend time in-person with your team, it is more likely you will pick up on ideas for gifts. Overhearing where they went to dinner over the weekend or seeing which brand of coffee they walk in with each morning is highly useful.
However, you can still create a powerful experience for remote teams. It may just take a bit more thinking and planning ahead. Consider semi-regular social questions in your company chat app to solicit easy opinions while driving team morale and connection. (We have “Would You Rather” Wednesdays in our team chat
Here are some options to get you started.
1. eGift cards
If you don’t know the person well, an eGift card can be tricky. Especially if you don’t know which retailers are close to them. For this reason, providing points in a flexible marketplace can be a safer bet. This can be a fun option to connect the team – Perhaps giving everyone a gift certificate for the same retailer so they can all pick out similar gifts – a plant of their choice or socks to keep them cozy during winter.
2. Work from home comfort box
Speaking of cozy socks, a few simple gifts – hot chocolate, socks, salty snacks, hand cream – all together can be a treat for an individual or the team.
3. Meal delivery service
You can sign up for regular or one-time delivery for most meal services. They allow for all kinds of dietary restrictions and support financial and physical wellbeing in the team.
4. Virtual happy hour
These were commonplace during the early days of COVID because they are easy to pull together. People can drink whatever they like – water, tea or alcohol. And all it takes is setting aside some time for the team to bond. Running a quick trivia content or playing an app-based game can also energize a tired time and get them talking.
Pro tip: Schedule these in the final hours of your workday to ensure that commuting employees can still catch their trains or buses, and those with caretaking responsibilities don't need to find alternative arrangements.
5. Personalized virtual backgrounds
Virtual teams spend a lot of time staring at each other’s backgrounds. Customizing a background for the whole team to celebrate an accomplishment or support team pride or for an individual can be a fun talking point for future conversations.
6. Custom chat emojis
A lot can be conveyed with an emoji – with a local sports team’s logo, a well-known cartoon character, emojis that speak to your industry or roles or mini portraits of the team. Adding these into messaging platforms can make conversations more rich and engaging.
7. Travel accessories
If an employee travels frequently, it can take time and increase the physical impacts of work. Providing them with simple accessories, luggage tags, computer bags or mobile charging batteries can make employees’ lives easier and even make them more productive on the road.
8. Desktop organizer
An item like a desk organizer would naturally be provided by a company if employees worked in person, and it is a simple purchase that can get lots of use. Again, this gift can boost employees‘ connection to the organization and also help them feel more productive.
9. Themed gift boxes
Do you wish you could bring the team together for a movie night? Send them what they need to do it themselves: popcorn, candy, and a cozy blanket. Is it the end of a busy season and the start of spring? How about sunglasses, sunscreen and a beach towel to encourage them to get out of the house?
10. Team shout-out video
A video sharing your specific thoughts on their efforts - what they do and the value they provide - is simple enough but isn’t often done. It can be how you summarize the end of big projects, or a way to counteract a stressful time. Production value isn’t important, just the sincerity of the message.
Show your appreciation with Reward Gateway | Edenred’s employee rewards
I hope this list has given you some personalized and meaningful ideas for gifts for individuals or a team. It also may have pointed out the time it takes to really customize gifts. And, as I’ve noted, often employees may prefer to pick out a gift for themselves.
Reach out to Reward Gateway | Edenred to learn how we can make individual rewards simple and powerful, bulk gifting easy and fast, how we provide a Reward Marketplace that puts the control in the hands of employees to get what they want when they want it.
