Help need gift ideas for 40 employees!!

[tinkerrn]

I am trying to think of gift ideas for me hubby employees. We have made them goodies in the past;fudge, cookies, brownies, candy, ect. Each year i try to think of something new and cute. Last year I made homemade ornaments.

Any ideas????

 

[mommytotwo]

How much did you want to spend for each employee?

 

[tinkerrn]

I am trying to get by as cheap as I can. I can think of a few different things to make, just what do you put them in??? I have seen tins at the dollar store for 1.00. But for 40 that adds up, plus the cost of baking.

 

[meeskamouska]

There is a link on this board about Christams treats and it has direction for White Chocolate popcorn!!! It tastes fabulous and you could fill you tins with it!!!

 

[fanofdisney]

Make the popcorn (I've done caramel corn in the past), head to the dollar store for packaging, and make some cute little ribbons with Hershey kisses or something on the top.

 

[Beth76]

Are there other employees at the office that are not your DH's? In other words, is everyone in the office included in the 40? Or are there other departments? You could maybe hire a masseuse to come and do 15 minute chair massages for everyone. My boss did that one year in leiu of a xmas party. It was really nice. I obviously have no idea what that costs though, but for 40 people it could be cost effective.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Like everyone else said - then put a lottery ticket in each one of them.

 

[Sherri]

Like everyone else said - then put a lottery ticket in each one of them.

I love lottery tickets, so thats my vote.

 

[golfgal]

What I have done for DH's staff in the past: a wine house with a nice bottle of wine (it was a wine bottle holder that looked like a house, made out of wood-really cute), movie basket with popcorn, theater candy and gift certificates for movie rental place in a nice popcorn bowl, a set of Christmas wine glasses, gift baskets made by a local shop with specialty foods. We would do a party one year, gift the next year. It gets really hard trying to buy things for people you don't know all that well. It also gets VERY expensive.

 

[crazyme5kids]

How about having a catered breakfast from a bagel place?

 

[tuckerkeys]

now, we dont have 40 employees, only 10. but we give them MONEY. that is what they want. nothing else. I was told 1 year by an employee that we were the only place that she worked that gave out money and she told me she threw out all of the other stuff and so did most other people. that's not why we do it though, but i feel for all of their hard work we can give them something other than a $1-2$ gift. i'm not talking a lot of money either, last year we even gave them am-ex gift cards for the cash....they work hard for us that it's the least we can do at the holidays. BTW that do not get bonuses or comission, just a paycheck.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Wow. 40. I'm trying to decide what to do for my husbands' staff. Thank goodness he has only 8 directly under him. Or are you including those who fall directly under a supervisor your husband is over?

We just can't afford to spend much. Money is kind of tight right now and Dh works for a university, so he doesn't exactly get a huge paycheck.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I have to agree with tuckerkeys as far as getting a token gift. The company I work for gives out a small gift, most people complain or laugh about how cheap the gift is (I know it's sad they complain). They do give a catered luncheon though and let everyone have a two hour lunch break. I think it's nice, but some people still complain.

 

[aprilgail2]

now, we dont have 40 employees, only 10. but we give them MONEY. that is what they want. nothing else. I was told 1 year by an employee that we were the only place that she worked that gave out money and she told me she threw out all of the other stuff and so did most other people. that's not why we do it though, but i feel for all of their hard work we can give them something other than a $1-2$ gift. i'm not talking a lot of money either, last year we even gave them am-ex gift cards for the cash....they work hard for us that it's the least we can do at the holidays. BTW that do not get bonuses or comission, just a paycheck.

Thats what one of my jobs did, I loved getting the Chrsimtas bonus..it was only 200.00 but I only worked there part time so it was really good for that...plus we had a christmas lunch out that the boss paid for. There were only about 12 of us working there though.

 

[powellrj]

I am trying to get by as cheap as I can. I can think of a few different things to make, just what do you put them in??? I have seen tins at the dollar store for 1.00. But for 40 that adds up, plus the cost of baking.

Most dollar stores and craft stores now have cellophane bags for not very much. I know at target this year they had a bag of cellophane bags with maybe 10 or 12 bags in it for under $2 and then they had a matching gift bag for .25. They were really cute and I got those to pack several gifts.

Another idea is do the popcorn treat and then pack it in a movie popcorn box. Target also has those for around 10 for $3. Pack it in cellphane and put it in the popcorn box.

Can you tell I spend way too much time at Target!!!

 

[barkley]

Are there other employees at the office that are not your DH's? In other words, is everyone in the office included in the 40? Or are there other departments? You could maybe hire a masseuse to come and do 15 minute chair massages for everyone. My boss did that one year in leiu of a xmas party. It was really nice. I obviously have no idea what that costs though, but for 40 people it could be cost effective.

i personaly love having these done BUT just as fair warning-one of my previous co-workers did this for the people she supervised and when human resources heard about it (after the fact) they had an absolute fit, they pointed out that although it was a remote possibility, if one of the staff members who was 'gifted' with this complained that they were injured in the process, it would be considered a workman's compensation issue and the insurer might pursue dropping the bsns. from coverage (or jacking the rates way up). i should say, i worked with allot of 'sue happy' people

how about making up those jars with all the dry ingredients for either some type of cookies or some type of homemade soup. you use mason jars (much less than one dollar a peice when bought by the dozen), put the ingredients in (layered to be more attractive), and attach a note with instructions on what has to be added/cooking times. i've gotten some where a small peice of holiday fabric is put on top of the seal before the ring is tightened. if you're the crafty type you could sponge paint something on the jar (gingerbread man, snowflake). there's also the possibility of buying a 'group gift' for their use at work-i did this one year. i supervised a dozen people and i noticed the long line at microwaves at lunch, i also noticed that people would keep cans of soda at their desk and choose to drink it warm over having to deal with the nasty staff fridge in the break room. i bought an inexpensive microwave and a dorm type fridge (the taller style) which we set up in our work unit. my 'ladies' were able to store their sodas and bottled water close at hand, and they had quick access to a microwave. that was a gift they truly loved.

 

[Liberty Belle]

i personaly love having these done BUT just as fair warning-one of my previous co-workers did this for the people she supervised and when human resources heard about it (after the fact) they had an absolute fit, they pointed out that although it was a remote possibility, if one of the staff members who was 'gifted' with this complained that they were injured in the process, it would be considered a workman's compensation issue and the insurer might pursue dropping the bsns. from coverage (or jacking the rates way up). i should say, i worked with allot of 'sue happy' people

how about making up those jars with all the dry ingredients for either some type of cookies or some type of homemade soup. you use mason jars (much less than one dollar a peice when bought by the dozen), put the ingredients in (layered to be more attractive), and attach a note with instructions on what has to be added/cooking times. i've gotten some where a small peice of holiday fabric is put on top of the seal before the ring is tightened. if you're the crafty type you could sponge paint something on the jar (gingerbread man, snowflake). there's also the possibility of buying a 'group gift' for their use at work-i did this one year. i supervised a dozen people and i noticed the long line at microwaves at lunch, i also noticed that people would keep cans of soda at their desk and choose to drink it warm over having to deal with the nasty staff fridge in the break room. i bought an inexpensive microwave and a dorm type fridge (the taller style) which we set up in our work unit. my 'ladies' were able to store their sodas and bottled water close at hand, and they had quick access to a microwave. that was a gift they truly loved.

The PTA did this for us at school, but everyone had to sign a release first.

 

[summerrluvv]

I think catered in lunch or breakfast is the best idea. A lot of people (including myself) don't eat homemade goodies, no offense, but you never know how clean someone's kitchen is, if they have animals climbing on their counter's etc.

 

[aprilgail2]

I think catered in lunch or breakfast is the best idea. A lot of people (including myself) don't eat homemade goodies, no offense, but you never know how clean someone's kitchen is, if they have animals climbing on their counter's etc.

I agree! I know many many teachers that toss away any home made things the kids bring in for them for Christmas. I have a friend that has a cat that is always on the countertops and I would never ever eat anything that she makes.

 

[tinkerrn]

My hubby is a nurse manager. He is the direct supervisor over 40 employees, nurses and techs. This also includes his PRN staff as well. I like the idea of a bagel platter or something of that nature. The problem with that is there are 3 shifts and not everyone works on one certain day. Some would be left out. The company gives all employees a little bonus every year, plus a HUGE and very fancy christmas party. This is way over the top type party in a ballroom at very exclusive hotel in our city. It is nicer than any wedding reception or party I have ever been to.

These gifts are just a small 'thank you' from us. We both have worked with them for years. Actually, thats how my huby and I met. We were both staff nurses on the same unit. He got promoted to mananger, I left to get my RN and we started dating 6 months later. So, these are a group of people we have known for at least 10 years. We have them over every summer at least once for a pool pary at our home. We go to parties at theirs also. So, nothing really fancy, just a little something.

I like the idea of the cellophane bags, I think I did that the first year. I filled it with baked goodies. These are the type of staff who love sweets. When we got married last year, we had M&Ms custom printed with our names and dtae we got married. We gave those out as little favors when we got back. Huby and I just got married on the beach by ourselves with no reception. We just didn't want the hassel or the cost of a big wedding or reception. The M&Ms were very cute. I could get some printed with 'Happy Holidays' and 'From David' on them. They are kinda pricey, I believe 11.00 for an 8 oz bag, and the minimum is 4 bags. Its not a lot of M&Ms, but I could mix in some of the reg holiday ones from the store with them.

I have also thought of making biscotti, but not everyone is a coffee drinker. I could also make homeade fudge and put in them. I think it would be kinda messy though. The candy would work better in the bags.