Gifts are a great way to treat your employees and show your appreciation. They can even have a bearing on employee satisfaction, with 41% of employees claiming that a great corporate gift would make them more likely to stay with their employer.
But finding the right gifts for employees can be tricky — especially if you’re on a budget. Still, with some thought and creativity, you can treat your employees to a gift they’ll love without breaking the bank.
So what are the best budget-friendly employee gifts ideas? We’ve put together some options to inspire you and share some do’s and don’ts when choosing a gift.
Choosing the Right Gifts for Employees
As you browse through our list of corporate gift ideas, keep your intended recipients in mind and seek out something that will resonate with them. Give gifts that will be useful in some way, that will provide an element of fun and joy for the recipient, and that can be enjoyed by everybody.
Steer clear of gifts that might unintentionally exclude people. For example, bear in mind that not everyone drinks alcohol or eats meat/dairy/gluten/nuts, remember that not everybody celebrates the same holidays, and keep gifts gender-neutral. Receiving a gift should be a pleasant experience, so make sure the experience is inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
With that in mind, let’s explore some of the best corporate gift ideas for your employees.
The Best Corporate Gift Ideas for Employees
1) A Digital Gift Card of Their Choice
A survey of over 500 employees found that gift cards are the most popular choice when it comes to corporate gifts, with 80% of respondents reporting they’d be happy to receive one. You can give a general one from Visa or American Express that can be used for a range of stores.
2) A Coffee Shop Subscription
A coffee shop subscription is a great way to treat your employees to a gift that’s both practical and delightful. Most major chains offer either a subscription or gifting service. If your employees are all based in the same city, it’s also worth checking out local and independent coffee houses to see if they offer a similar service.
3) A (Low Maintenance) Plant
In the aforementioned survey, plants featured among the top five corporate gift ideas that employees like. However, it’s also worth noting that while 83% of respondents “liked” or “loved” the plants they received, 21% reported that the plant is no longer alive. Gifts shouldn’t create more work for your employees. So if you do go down the plant route, opt for something low maintenance like an aloe vera, ZZ plants, or snake plants. These will add a little joy to your employees’ desks without requiring too much care and attention.
4) A Portable Charger or Power Bank
If you’re leaning towards a practical corporate gift idea, tech swag always comes in handy. Consider a portable multipurpose charger or power bank. This is especially useful for employees who work remote or on-the-go, and those who like to travel.
5) A Healthy Snack Box
Everyone likes to indulge in a tasty treat from time to time, and delicious yet healthy snack boxes make affordable and well-received gifts for employees. But, if you do gift food/snacks, make sure you cater to different dietary needs. There’s nothing more disappointing than receiving a gourmet gift you can’t actually eat.
6) A Top-Quality Water Bottle
Today’s employees are more health-conscious than ever, so why not encourage healthy habits with a good quality water bottle? Some frontrunners in the water bottle market include Hydro Flask, the Stanley, and S’well. You know your employees best, so pick a style you think they’ll appreciate the most.
7) A Planner
In the age of digital calendars, a physical planner might seem like an unnecessary or outdated gift. But actually, there’s something quite charming about a diary you can hold in your hands and stash away in your bag (not to mention a welcome escape from those pesky pop-up reminders).
8) Touchscreen-Friendly Gloves
If you live somewhere that’s prone to a colder climate, your employees will appreciate gloves. Of course, touchscreen-friendly gloves are a must. Beyond that, there are all sorts of styles to choose from.
9) Conference Call Mute Button
For a practical gift with a touch of humor, consider gifting your employees a physical mute button. This smart little accessory can take (some of) the pain out of video calls, making it much easier for employees to mute and unmute themselves. And, with a variety of options on the market, you won’t struggle to find one to suit your budget. This one from Uncommon Goods comes in at $49, while this MuteMe Mini is a budget-friendly $19.99.
10) The Gift of Language Learning
Learning a new language is not only fun — it also has the added bonus of helping to develop certain soft skills, such as creativity and problem-solving. With Babbel for Business, you can treat your employees to corporate language courses in a flexible, fun, and interactive way to learn a language of their choice. They’ll learn through online classes, podcasts, games, videos, and more — whatever suits them and their lifestyle. Check out Babbel for Business products to discover a range of gifting options.
11) A Desktop Mug Warmer
How about a gift that your employees will absolutely love and use every day, but would never think to buy themselves? Look no further than a mug warmer. The perfect desktop gadget for both in-office and remote workers, your employees will never have to suffer a cold cup of tea or coffee again.
12) A Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
Another practical yet playful corporate gift idea: a mini desktop vacuum cleaner. This handy little gadget will clean up crumbs in a jiffy, removing all evidence of those late afternoon snacking sessions. For a personal touch, you can customize your desktop vacuum cleaners with your own artwork — for example, your company logo. Staples has a budget-friendly option at $12.40 apiece, including customization.
13) A Goldbelly gift card
Goldbelly is the ultimate gift solution for foodies. They partner with popular eateries all over the US to deliver comfort through food. Based in New York but craving your childhood favorite from Philly? Goldbelly has you covered. This is the ideal treat for employees who have moved from all over to work at your company, or simply those who love good food. Check out their range of e-gift cards and care packages to find your best option.
14) Noise-Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones can be a real lifesaver for today’s employees. Whether it’s ensuring maximum focus in the office or canceling out background noise at home, the right pair of headphones can make a huge difference. And they don’t need to be terribly expensive, either. Consult this list of the best noise-canceling headphones for under $100, with options starting at $29.
15) An Audible Subscription
Encourage your employees to take some downtime with an Audible gift subscription. For just $15, your employees can enjoy this popular audiobook and podcast service for one month — including access to the Plus Catalog which is exclusively for Audible members. Check out the Audible Gift Center for more gift options.
16) A Blinkist Subscription
Continuing with the subscription theme, Blinkist is the perfect gift for busy people who love to learn but don’t have the time (or patience) to read entire books. Blinkist condenses books and podcasts into ‘blinks’ — succinct, 15-minute summaries which capture the key points and takeaways. Learn more about Blinkist price plans and gift card options.
17) A Book
If you’re after forever gifts for employees that they can unwrap and keep, there’s nothing better than a good book. The tricky part here will be choosing a book that all employees will enjoy (unless you’re buying for a smaller team, in which case we recommend choosing a different book for each employee).
18) An inKind Gift Card
Give your employees the gift of dining out with an inKind gift card. inKind partners with Michelin-starred restaurants, cozy cafes, and a variety of bars and nightlife venues across the United States, offering a memorable dining experience to suit all tastes and preferences. With an inKind gift card, your employees will have no choice but to indulge.
19) A Life Hacks Calendar
For a gift that keeps on giving, consider this 2023 Life Hacks Calendar full of daily tips, tricks, and DIYs to make the recipient’s life a little more awesome. Your employees will be privy to a new hack each day for the entire year — from tips for reducing one’s carbon footprint to time-saving hacks, and even some pearls of wisdom for building better relationships. Retailing at $17.99, this is an affordable, fun, and useful gift.
20) An Uber Eats or DoorDash Voucher
Sometimes, you just want to kick back and take it easy after a long week at work. Spare your employees the chore of cooking or even getting dressed to eat out: Treat them to a takeaway with an Uber Eats or DoorDash voucher. This is a gift that everyone can use and appreciate, and you can choose the gift card amount accordingly to fit your budget. Everyone’s a winner!
We hope you found this corporate gift idea guide useful and are now one step closer to choosing the perfect employee gift. Happy shopping!
