Christmas gifts for employees

[lsyorke]

I struggle with this every year! I have 8 employees so finding something in a reasonable range can be tough. Last year I got a deal on Camelback water bottles($8), had the company logo made on stickers and applied them to the bottle, and then filled the bottle with Hershey Kisses. It was a huge hit! For about $100 I was done!

 

[RangerPooh]

I have always appreciated receiving gift cards. Amounts have varied $5 Starbucks to $20 Applebees (and other in between). Grocery stores, Walmart, Amazon, and Target are always appreciated. A pair of movie tickets would also be nice as it is a gift you can use with another person. I've received mugs over the years with company logos that collect dust and are eventually donated.

My dad worked for UPS for 30 years and his building provided employees with Turkeys (and later hams) each Christmas. It was appreciated as we often put it in the deep freeze for a later time. He received countless boxes of chocolate and bottles of wine from customers on his route, which would be shared with others in our family. Likewise he was happy with gift cards for local fast food restaurants that he could stop at for lunch while driving his route.

 

[sksjasams]

I really love the idea of the portable charger/power bank. You could definitely find them in the $10-12 range on amazon.

My second choice would be a gift card to a grocery store or gas station.

If you wanted to include something small with either of those, you could add in a box of Andes Candies - they come in a holiday sleeve and can be found for about $2-3/box.

 

[aprilchem]

My DH's company gives $100 gift cards to Kroger. That is always appreciated over the holidays...

 

[marcyleecorgan]

...what kind of suggestions do you think you would get if you asked your employees?

 

[asta]

For several years my husband's boss had all of his employees mailboxes decorated with Christmas greenery. I loved it! It was actually a fundraiser from his kid's school so he gifted us and helped the school.

 

[anniemae]

I would do either a gift card, or take them out to lunch. That is what people want. I received so much "stuff" from employers and most of it went in the trash or I gave it to someone else who would enjoy it.

 

[clh2]

Personally-Starbucks, Amazon, or a local grocery store would be great!

I do not like buying anyone a M/C or a visa, due to the fees to activate, and, they can be a pain to get down to zero.

 

[LovesTimone]

For my DH's office, he manages I think the total is 29 or 30... the employees had not been treated very well, so when DH asked what did they want to do for Christmas gathering, they were shocked... Last year he did a BBQ at the office were he and his 2 assistant managers did the BBQ'ing,... They loved it, then gave each employee a ticket and played Greedy Santa, were they were a lot of different item all gift wrapped... I am the one who went out and got everything and wrapped them. So here are a few things that I got for our Greedy Santa game. A little bit of everything... Christmas dish towels, candles, 32 inch TV, crock pot, deep fryers, yeti cups, small lunch size coolers, gift cards - for movies, local restaurants, bowling, amazon, bed bath and beyond, Home Depot, Walgreens and Publix and some fast food... I will say that most popular items that everyone wanted, sorta surprised me were the movie GC's, Walgreens, and the Yeti cups.


The company provides a budget plus they can win extra during the year when the company has contest. DH is very competitive and now office is to..now..So they have finished in the top 3 spots all year.

On a personal gift, I make the homemade Chex mix's stuff... I make a bunch of different flavors - Traditional, BBQ, Cajun, what I call Sweet tooth. I bag them up in Holiday treat bags, tie them with some curling ribbon, so they look festive, put them in a basket for everyone to take. Last year I made 100 bags, and they were * snap* all gone.

A little extra for the office admin. Last year I got them Yankee candles with some candy tucked in the bag, and I included the 2 assistant managers wives...

We have done parties at Dave and Busters which was so fun...

Employee and Family day's at a local park... which the office paid for the meat, and everyone brought a dish... we had face painting and games for the kids ( no cost I made our DD's do it) and then played a game of soft ball... at least that was what we were suppose to be playing it was absolutely hilarious.

Honestly really anything more than likely will be appreciated. Just go with what you can afford.

 

[HarperLeigh]

I struggle with this every year! I have 8 employees so finding something in a reasonable range can be tough. Last year I got a deal on Camelback water bottles($8), had the company logo made on stickers and applied them to the bottle, and then filled the bottle with Hershey Kisses. It was a huge hit! For about $100 I was done!

For people reading, don't do gifts with the company logo. Just don't. They'll get an eyeroll behind your back and end up in the garbage.

 

[Domo]

iTunes gift vouchers!

 

[sam_gordon]

iTunes gift vouchers!

No. Not everyone has Apple products.

I like gift cards to Amazon, Movies, Groceries, Gas. Items everyone would be able to use easily.

I agree about the "no logo" items.

 

[pryncess527]

I'd stick with generic GCs -- gas, groceries or Visa GC. Or even cash. Anything more specific has a decent chance of not being used by someone.

 

[BLAZEY]

We get a gift card to a grocery store. Nice ofthe owners to ensure each employee has a Christmas dinner (or a weeks worth of groceries). They also close the office at 1pm and take the office staff out for lunch the last business day before Christmas.