Never underestimate the power of a thank-you. Employees who feel recognized and appreciated at work are more satisfied, productive, engaged and connected—which can lead to stellar performance for your team.
Saying thank-you doesn’t have to be complicated or take too much time. Here are ideas for small staff thank-you gifts that show your appreciation without slowing your stride.
Quick and easy staff giveaway ideas
- Gifts with a personal touch
- Fun accessories
- Tasty snacks
- Thoughtful classics
Gifts with a personal touch
A handwritten thank-you note is meaningful not only because of the effort it takes to write one, but also because employees can read it any time they need a morale boost.
Small team appreciation gifts that are personalized are an especially thoughtful way to show you care. A handwritten thank-you card, when paired with a sun-catcher ornament, tumbler or umbrella, makes a quick gift to surprise an employee during a one-on-one meeting or just to brighten their day. Present team members with a gratitude journal, along with a note of thanks written on the first page. To help make writing the notes easier, keep track of each team member’s contributions. Set aside 10-15 minutes each week to jot down notes about your employees’ latest accomplishments.
Fun accessories
According to a recent poll, nearly 80% of gift recipients prefer when a gift is a surprise.
Send your team an invite for a collaborative work session and surprise them with something unexpected. Small gift ideas for employees, such as traveler cards & dice sets, stress relieving adult coloring books or doodle therapy notebooks, plus time built into your work session to relax and connect with each other is a great way to show appreciation. Or turn one of your usual staff meetings into an unexpected teambuilding event with a fun round of trivia or games, such as hoop basketball or tumbling towers. Throw in a pair of matching sunglasses for a fun and cohesive look.
Tasty snacks
According to a recent survey, snacks, drinks and meals can be a powerful motivator (PDF) to get hybrid employees engaged and excited to come into the office.
When you’re looking for small thank-you gift ideas for employees, tasty snacks and beverages make excellent choices for hybrid, in-person and remote recipients. Goodies, such as trail mix, popcorn, rice cereal treats and milk chocolate pretzels, are perfect for a mid-afternoon boost or to keep staff energized during meetings. For a small team appreciation gift with a personal touch, fill a tumbler or cup with your team member’s favorite candy or snack. Need staff giveaway ideas they can enjoy at home? Send a mini s’mores kit or ice cream topping set along with a gift card to a favorite ice cream parlor for a sweet and decadent gift.
Thoughtful classics
Tried-and-true promotional gifts are ones they’ll appreciate in the moment and pull out to use again and again. A cozy sweatshirt or cap or a classic T-shirt is a comfy, casual gift they can wear to the office, at home and around town. A simple sportpack or tote can be used for carrying work supplies, groceries or workout clothes. Want a gift that shows your gratitude while bringing your staff together? Invite the team to a catered lunch and give each attendee a small but meaningful team appreciation gift, such as a lunch cooler, cutlery set or aluminum water bottle, imprinted with a message of thanks.
Schedule time for small staff thank-you gifts
Demonstrate your gratitude no matter how busy you are with simple, yet meaningful staff thank-you gifts. Your team will be pleased to know that their contributions are valued and appreciated.