Christmas Gift Ideas for Employees
Christmas is just round the corner and many HR people are facing a difficult challenge – Christmas gifts for their employees. You have to be prepared for the arguments with management because of the budget, dissatisfied employees (you can never please everyone) and late-night work because we can’t make the day longer, there’s not enough time for the regular agenda and “Christmas has to be arranged”. However, it would be a mistake to see Christmas benefits as a whim or necessary obligation. When handled properly, there can be benefits not only for the employees but also for employers.
What to keep in mind when discussing the gifts? How to prepare the ones that the employees like and the company can profit form them as well?
Christmas gifts are beneficial for company culture
First of all, it’s necessary to make it clear that Christmas gifts for the employees aren’t pointless. Above all, it’s an opportunity to show our employees that we appreciate them, to thank them for their efforts throughout the year, to strengthen their loyalty to the company and to strengthen mutual relationships. If the management rebels and doesn’t want to accept the budget for the gifts, try giving reasons for money as they do. After all, it costs far less to keep a satisfied employee than hiring new ones.
Of course, we can’t see the gifts as a bribe and think that if we don’t pay attention to our subordinates and colleagues all year round, Christmas gifts will save us. That, as we all know, isn’t how it works. However, the benefits present a piece to the whole puzzle that is company culture and work relationships.
What to do before you start looking for the gifts:
→ Think about what people will really use
How many times have you received/ given away a bottle of wine? When was the last time you used an item with a company logo? Don’t give silly things just because you need to come up with something in a hurry. It just shows that you didn’t think about the gift and you were looking for it at the last moment. Give something that your employees will actually use, either at work or in their free time. It’s a good idea to do a short survey among them beforehand. Then you can think about the best Christmas gifts for the employees.
→ Go over the list of current benefits
Before you start shopping for the gifts, try going over the list of current benefits available to the employees. You might find the one that you can use for Christmas. Do you have a partnership with a sport centre or any other business? You can arrange a Christmas party there or ask for some special Christmas vouchers.
→ The gifts should reflect your company culture
When thinking about the gifts, remember your company DNA. You don’t buy football tickets to your parents if they’ve never cheered for anyone and they don’t know who Trpišovský is. If you’re a tech startup, no one is likely to be interested in opera tickets. So, first of all, list in a few points what you have in common as a team, what you talk about the most often in the kitchen and find out what your people really like.
→ Remember ecology
Sustainability shouldn’t be just the issue of debate at conferences but practically lived in everything what we do. The first step in achieving it is to give a present that a person will really use. Then you can think about the materials and the origin of the item. You can support local brands or sheltered workshops and buy gifts for the employees there. So, you can contribute to a good cause at the same time. Moreover, ecology is an important topic for many young people. Nowadays they represent more than half of the workforce.
5 + 1 Christmas gift tips for the employees
Here are some specific ideas to inspire you when choosing the gifts for your employees.
Discount voucher on own goods or agreement on cooperation
Retail chains and manufacturing companies can usually give the employees a special discount on their products or a selected product before Christmas. However, if they have such an opportunity all year long, it’s not exactly an original idea. But you can cooperate with your business partners and other companies. Bartering is great for Christmas. Don’t be afraid to ask other brands for Christmas gifts. It could be a special discount to nearby shops, an open company account to favourite café, a voucher for yoga classes, etc.
Day off
A day off isn’t a bad thing either. Especially if your employees normally have to work at weekends or holidays. Christmas is a holiday of peace, time with the loved ones but also preparations. So, time off is appreciated by everyone and particularly by those who never have it. If you can’t provide days off, allow the employees to work from home. Employees-parents will be saved from arranging childminding. You can also just rundown your business for a short time and employees can be involved voluntarily or you can decide for company-wide days off. Then, be sure to inform customers, clients and other people you cooperate with.
Christmas party
A Christmas party is a traditional gift. It’s especially popular with social and extroverted colleagues. Time spent together over food, drinks or another activity, for example sport activities, will strengthen relationships and help you get to know others on a personal level. However, you should also remember those who don’t like going out, drinking alcohol and choose a place where non-alcoholic drinks are offered and there’s a quiet place for conversation. The party is also the opportunity to say thank you and sum up the last year. You won’t go wrong with a light-hearted presentation with the photos from the company events. Avoid long-winded statistics and announcements of new orders and detailed strategic decisions for the following year. Save that for the New Year’s meeting because people shouldn’t go home before Christmas with uncertainty.
Financial reward
Money is a gift you can’t go wrong with. The advantage is that everyone can use it to buy what they really need and what makes them happy. It can be invested in Christmas gifts or a family winter holiday. Of course, the weak point is the decision about the amount of money and also who deserves generous reward and who deserves a lower one. Therefore, when making your decision, take into account e.g. participation in projects, attendance, the employee’s willingness to work extra hours or overtime but also the willingness to take part in the life of the company, for example by training a new colleague, etc. The decision-making process should ideally be made by a trio of an HR person, superior and team leader.
Education and courses
Do you want to give a present that is also a present for you as an employer? Give education. Provide the employees with vouchers and discounts for language or professional courses that will develop their competences and which they can apply at work. The gift could be a participation in interesting conferences where they can get news and make new contacts. It’s up to you whether you arrange specific providers so that the employees meet each other and the activity will have a “teambuilding spirit”, or whether you allow them to choose their own course and then you’ll pay for it.
Well-being
Improving the work environment could be a Christmas gift idea as well. Is there a place in your office where the employees can enjoy a snack or morning coffee? Try creating a space with armchairs and flowers to relax there. You can also relieve stress by having breakfast together or by doing some development activity such as mindfulness etc. A new coffee machine or new chairs can be a nice Christmas surprise too.
