Countless studies have shown that incentivizing employees with gifts or awards is a great way to boost engagement and pride in the workplace. Employees adore the feeling of being recognized as it makes them feel valued, especially when the award has genuine meaning behind it. As a manager or executive, it can be incredibly daunting to find the right corporate gifts for your employees.
Ditch the Gift Cards and Go for Personalized Gifts
Employees often receive generic gifts as a reward for their hard work. Gift cards, flowers, or generic gift baskets— every top employee has received at least one of these gifts. While gift cards are a decent corporate gift, they lack a personal taste and touch. In the eyes of the receiver, they can come off as lazy. Flowers are a great accompaniment to a more unique corporate gift but should never be the showstopper. As for gift baskets, employers will have to do a decent amount of research and digging to find one that speaks to their employee’s needs.
Some of the offerings listed above are easy to procure and don’t require much effort. However, employers should strive to provide gifts that are wholly unique. Personalized trophies and awards provide a sense of accomplishment and pride to the recipients. When someone’s hard work and dedication is recognized with an engraved award, it shows that their efforts have been noticed and appreciated. This can be a powerful motivator and can help to boost morale and confidence. A physical corporate gift serves as a reminder of past achievements. During stressful moments, they can look back on their achievements and remember just how hard they worked to get to the current point.
A custom corporate gift doesn’t have to be flashy or luxurious – though it always helps. A unique gift is something that directly speaks to the relationship between the worker, the organization, and the task that the employee succeeded in.
Recognition Award Ideas That Leave an Impact
When you’re deciding on a corporate gift, the most important thing you can consider is the reason behind the recognition award. Is it a top sales award? Are they employee of the month? Or is this a holiday celebration gift that recognizes their efforts for the entire year? Each occasion demands a different gift, based on your company’s budget for awards.
In the case of seasonal awards, it can be helpful to find festive corporate gifts like engraved crystal ornaments but in most situations, the gift should stand on its own. The employee should be able to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in their award any time of the year. An award that reminds them of their achievement when they look at it is a wonderful encouragement.
Another thing to remember: the timelessness of an award. Give an award or gift that the recipient would love to display in their home and use daily. A personalized corporate gift should be able to stand on its own on a desk and speak for itself, years after the employee has received it. “I deserved that,” is what they should say when they point to it.
Corporate Gift and Award Ideas Employees Will Love
Once the occasion and nature of the gift is handled, it’s time to find the right gift for your top employees. Coming up with unique corporate gift ideas can be tough. Here are a few suggestions that can work with most award events and occasions.
Engraved Trophies, Awards, and Plaques are Timeless and Classic
The safest and most popular choices are personalized trophies and awards.
Engraved plaques are a fantastic option, especially because the gifts sole focus is to point out accomplishments. As a society we understand the value behind plaques, trophies, and awards because they’re given so rarely. Being able to show one off is rare, especially in the corporate environment, which is why they’re the best choice. But the choice doesn’t stop there. You also have to consider the environment of the employee. If the employee has their own cubicle with no wall, it makes sense to give an engraved plaque that can gracefully shine on their desk.
If the recipient has a private office space, a timeless Rosewood plaque will be the perfect wall display.
Acrylic trophies are also great if you want to add personalization. They have enough space to for the employee’s name, their distinction, and your company’s logo. When a colleague asks them why they were gifted the award they can point to the engraving.
Desk Accessories are Practical and Well-Appreciated
If you’re looking for more unique corporate gifts, you can never go wrong with desk accessories. Gifts with practical use are great choices since they can be used daily in the office. They can also be a nice addition to any office space.
For a top sales award, consider an engraved business card holder for desk. Having a sleek desk card holder can leave a good first impression on any visitors to the recipient’s office. Clients can easily take one of their cards which makes networking a lot easier.
Much like the personalized card holder, engraved crystal bookends can be the perfect gift for employees who love to read. The recipient can choose to use this set of bookends in their office bookshelf or home, adding a practical decorative piece to their space.
Finally, a classic, engraved pen that writes well is always a welcome addition to anyone’s desk. Writing quick notes is easy with this customized ball-point pen that comes in two shades. You can engrave the recipient’s name for a more personal touch to the gift. By having the awardee’s name engraved on the pen, you are giving them a gift that will always be theirs, even if they move on from your company, making it something they’ll cherish forever. High-quality and premium pens can also help promote your company’s brand. It would be wise to use such engraved pens in front of key clients. Engraved pens are great personalized business gifts for clients, contractors, and those who operate outside of your organization.
Thoughtful Corporate Gifts are an Investment
Customized and unique corporate gifts are an investment for companies looking to increase employee satisfaction. Recognizing and appreciating their employees’ achievements is essential. Companies can create a sense of pride and engagement through something as simple as recognition. Happy employees have a positive impact on your bottom line. Personalized or luxury gifts also are an opportunity to celebrate milestones. Companies should consider corporate gifts as an essential part of their employee appreciation.
While it can be difficult to find personalized awards that speak to an employee, it’s a task worth undertaking. A quality gift will leave the employee happy, engaged, and motivated.
