Workplace Gifts

 

Two of our favorite events are coming up and we want to help you celebrate: Employee Appreciation Day and Pi Day! You still have time to rev up the fun engine and plan ahead for these excellent opportunities to recognize employees.

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY (MARCH 3)

Let the tone of appreciation ring loud and clear! Celebrate with a team activity and message of gratitude, or use the occasion to kick off a new appreciation program.

Some activities can include:

• Tell your team about Action for Happiness’ “10 Days of Happiness,” a free, research-backed coaching program that “guides you through daily actions for happier living.”
• Facilitate an (optional) book club or group that gives employees 30 minutes a week to connect and talk about something that has nothing to do with work. The relationships they build will be a net plus for your company.
• Give your team gratitude journals. When you give out the journals, share research on their benefits and talk about your own experience. That’s more likely to inspire workers to try it themselves.
• Have a yoga instructor come in a few times a week to do short classes for employees who could use a break that’s both relaxing and revivifying.

PI DAY (MARCH 14)

When it comes to gratitude, we can keep it going forever! Serve up some delicious pie to celebrate the mysterious mathematical constant known as pi, or 3.14159….

Some activities can include:

• Host a breakfast with pie and coffee! Invite everyone to come indulge in a slice of pie and fresh coffee, allowing team members to mingle and chat.
• Ask for pie recipes ahead of time and distribute a digital or printed pie cookbook including employee names, photos and notes.
• Hand out pie gift certificates to all employees as a fun thank you to go pick up a pie to enjoy at home! We offer same day shipping for orders received by 3PM (CT), Mon-Fri. Our pie gift certificates are good for any brand of pie, cake, cheesecake or similar items — fresh from the bakery section or frozen. Redeem at virtually any U.S. grocery store chain. Your organization’s name will be printed on the gift certificates for free and Enclosure Cards with your custom message and logo (if desired) are FREE.

Ideas and Resources

2023 Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar

Inside this one-of-a-kind resource you’ll find the inspiration, creative ideas and current examples to help you keep employees feeling valued and important to the success of your organization in the year ahead. Why wait? Download Your Free eBook Now!

BIG List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas

This hefty gratitude resource offers ways to support and recognize the people who make your business work. It’s simple to download, share, print and use when you are planning ahead or need quick ideas.

The BIG List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas is broken down into helpful categories so it’s easy to find just the right gift or concept for whatever your objective or occasion may be:

• Support new ways of working
• Encourage employee wellbeing
• Reinforce teamwork and organizational values
• Celebrate holidays with flare
• Acknowledge milestone moments in work and life
• Recognize people anytime with simple gestures

We guarantee you can find something for everyone, regardless of their position and your budget. From free to extravagant, recipients will be wowed by your sincere acts of gratitude. Read to learn more here!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Pie photo by Jodie Morgan on Unsplash

 

As we prepare for the season of giving, many people struggle with what to give, what to spend, or where to even begin. We have been in the gift-giving business for a long time, and let us tell you, groceries are the ultimate gift.

Here are 5 Reasons Groceries are the Ultimate Gift

Everyone eats.

There is truly no other gift as universal as food. Whether it’s a celebratory meal or simply milk and veggies, everyone needs food to survive and thrive! You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t want a little extra food in the fridge or pantry. With a gThankYou grocery gift certificate, it’s completely possible to bring a smile to every single recipient.

Simplicity rules.

Sometimes the process of selecting gifts can overwhelm even the most seasoned shoppers. It’s even more complicated when purchasing gifts for entire organizations! Simple, straightforward gifts like a voucher for groceries embody the beauty of simplicity. Practicality never goes out of style.

People love food gifts.

There is a lot of research to support the fact that people love edible gifts. Just ask yourself, your co-worker, your gym buddy, “Do you enjoy food-related gifts?” The answer is usually a resounding YES! Sometimes it’s in the form of popcorn, chocolates, candy or cheese and crackers. Those can all be great. But what’s even better? Providing the option for people to shop for the food they want the most!

Groceries appeal to everyday eaters AND foodies.

Everyone has their own food preferences and requirements. Some people savor every bite and have rows of beautiful cookbooks lining their kitchen walls. Others see food as fuel. Everyone grocery shops — but with a different set of eyes. A grocery gift certificate allows people to buy their favorite vegan cheese, that decadent dessert, a charcuterie spread, or just the basics.

It makes financial sense.

Pure economics come into play here. People are grateful when they can save money. So, whether or not your food gift helps them feed their family or add a level of decadence to a holiday meal, it’s a financial win! For the gift giver, the gift of groceries ensures that the gift is money well-spent. Say goodbye to misspent funds on overdone corporate gear, creative-yet-odd gift ideas or straight-to-the-trash-can novelty items.

There are many fun ways to augment a grocery gift certificate, too! Ideas include:

• Attach it to a beautifully packaged candy bar
• Put it inside a reusable shopping bag
• Include recipes from co-workers
• Pair it with a subscription to a streaming service for food and entertainment

The opportunities are endless. Mark shopping off your list and let gThankYou make everyone on your list happy and full!

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Header image by Gorrin Bel on Unsplash

Believe it or not, the holiday gift planning season is here! Here are some details you should know as you prepare to celebrate employees for a year of hard work. The good news? We can handle the heavy lifting for your holiday gift planning.

Many gThankYou customers are faced with the daunting task of distributing gifts to a large number of locations, employees working from home, or to clients across the country. With dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of offices and associates nationwide, it can be challenging and very time-consuming. Let us help.

gThankYou Exists to Make Your Holiday Gift Planning Easier!

gThankYou Gift Certificates can be:

• Mailed to individuals in households or offices through the USPS, AND/OR
• Conveniently bundled and delivered via UPS to any number of locations for easy distribution to recipients.
• Have a request that requires special distribution and mailing services? Give us a call!

Gift Distribution Made Easy

We make your gThankYou Gift Certificate distribution a breeze with 4 easy steps:

1. Give us a call at (888-484-1658) to discuss the form of distribution needed, timing, and type of Gift Certificates along with any extras to include such as a personalized Enclosure Card for your kind words of appreciation; a gThankYou Recipient Letter informing recipients how and where to best use their gift certificate; or your own uniquely crafted letter of gratitude.
2. Email us a completed, pre-formatted mailing address spreadsheet with all recipient or location addresses to be mailed or shipped. Individual mailings will be sent with First-Class postage through USPS. All addresses will be verified for accuracy and we will notify you of any undeliverable addresses, before they are sent. (Pre-formatted spreadsheet download here.)
3. Send us your Logo (optional) via email to be used on gift certificates, Enclosure Cards, or envelope.
4. Approve your order. Review and approve all invoice charges and artwork/copy for your Enclosure Cards or envelope, if included. Also, confirm the most appropriate Return Mailing Address for any undeliverable gift certificates.

What Will Individuals or Locations Receive?

Individuals – Mailings to individuals will arrive in a white #10 business envelope with your return address, including your company logo (optional). We also include an eye-catching ‘stamp’ in red stating “Important – Open Immediately!” to help stand out in the mailbox and provide a higher level of importance (also optional).

Each envelope will be stuffed with your selected gThankYou Gift Certificate(s), and any combination you choose of Free Enclosure Card, informative Recipient Letter, or your own Personalized Letter of Gratitude.

Multiple Locations – Delivery via UPS to any number of locations will arrive in a conveniently bundled package. Package size will depend on the number of certificates and optional pieces for the location. For bulk delivery to locations, Gift Certificates and additional materials can be:

• Inserted into individual #10 business envelopes, similar to individual mailings above (with or without company logo and/or recipient names printed on the front) OR
• Without envelopes, for stuffing of your own or delivery in your own special way.

When will these mailings take place?

The following dates have been established to provide you with flexibility in your holiday gift planning. Typically, mailed gift certificates are received in-home or office within 3-5 business days after the mail date.

* The dates and information provided below only apply to orders with many locations or individual USPS mailings through gThankYou’s distribution and mailing services.

gThankYou orders going to a single or few locations can be placed any day, online or by calling 888-484-1658, and will ship the same or next business day. If you are unsure what form of distribution you will need, please give us a call at 888-484-1658 and we will gladly help evaluate your needs.

Learn More About gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude:

• Check out our Home Page
• See all our Gift Certificate Choices
• Watch our ‘About Us’ Video
• See what customers say in our Case Studies
• Look at our FAQ
• See our FREE customizable ‘thank you’ cards
• Reach us at 888-484-1658 or via info@gthankyou.com

Even for the most capable givers, it can be a challenge to find employee gifts for the holidays. Or rather, it’s challenging to find gifts your employees will actually enjoy and use. Too often, employers give gifts as if they’re checking a box: Here’s a golf shirt emblazoned with the company logo, hope it fits! (And sorry if you don’t play golf or it’s not at all your style.)
The end result is that workers can feel more annoyed by a gift than if they hadn’t received anything — like, Yeesh, now I have to lug this home because I don’t want the boss to see it in my office trash. Obviously, that’s not an optimal outcome, especially not when at least one recent report says employers spend an average of almost $80 per employee on holiday gifts.
While we can’t guarantee you’ll find the perfect present for everyone on your team, we can offer a few critical tips and suggestions for employee gifts for the holidays.

Tip 1: Money Isn’t Everything

Don’t let that $80 figure upset you. Not only are you not obligated to spend so much, the value of a gift to the recipient also doesn’t necessarily correlate with its cost. As an expert quoted in an HR Dive discussion of good employee gifts for the holidays says, “The best holiday gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive, but show an understanding of the recipient.”
Makes sense. Would you rather have, for instance, $500 worth of movie gift certificates if you never go out to the movies, or a $50 gift card to your favorite coffee shop? This comes down to the difference between recognizing and appreciating employees.
Money, of course, can be very welcome in the form of a holiday bonus. Just be careful that you’re issuing them fairly. Employee gifts for the holidays should bring joy, not cause resentment.

Tip 2: Be Consistent — But Treat People Like Individuals

Writing for Fundera, Rieva Lesonsky advises: “Choose a price range for your gifts that’s reasonable for your business and one you can stick to in the coming years even if your budget gets tighter.” You might not want to get your employee Jill and her cubemate Jack the same gift — if he’s a caffeine fiend, he might love a desktop coffee warmer; while she, with her green thumb, may prefer an elegant succulent that sits next to her monitor. That’s fine; just don’t spend $50 on one of them and $8 on the other. They’re likely to notice the discrepancy, and it could have a deleterious effect on both their relationship with you and their relationship with each other. At the same time, don’t be too rigid: Small differences ($5-$10) are fine. Most people will be much happier with a gift suited to their wants and needs than upset that you spent a little more to make a co-worker feel just as appreciated.
If a gift is customizable, that works too and is a way to get everyone the same thing while making it theirs. Whatever you land on, do maintain about the same budget from year to year, as Lesonsky suggests. If you decide to go overboard at the end of an unusually successful year, that’s probably OK. Just make sure your employees understand it’s a special occasion and not the new normal in employee gifts for the holidays.

Tip 3: Shared Experiences Are Treasured

We know that shared experiences make for better learning and stronger teams. But research has shown that even outside of work, shared experiences tend to make us happier and strengthen our memories of the experience. This is probably because social needs fall just below air, water, food, and shelter as critical to our well-being.
If you want to give employee gifts for the holidays that will be remembered and treasured, look for ideas that will allow employees to spend time with other people. There’s a good chance they’ll look back on your gift as something truly special for years to come.

Tip 4: Make It Personal

We harp on this one a lot, but only because it’s so crucial: Whatever employee gifts for the holidays you decide on, do everything you can to deliver them in person (with a big smile and a handshake) and include a handwritten note. Both of these things are gestures that demonstrate that you see your employees as people and sincerely care enough to spend a few minutes acknowledging that.

A Few Ideas for Employee Gifts for the Holidays

You can check out some excellent ideas in recent posts at Fundera, Business News Daily, and the Strategist. Some of the common themes we’ve seen are:

• Gifts for someone’s work space are nice — as long as you know their style.
• If your employees travel for work, there are useful and inexpensive travel accessories out there.
• Tickets to shows, fun classes, and food items can be a wonderful treat, and mean way less clutter!
• One of the most popular employee gifts for the holidays, across all industries, is time off from work. (And it requires a lot less wrapping on your part, too.)

Of course, we want to remind you: If you’re looking for a customizable, inexpensive gift that can be part of a happy memory, gThankYou! Turkey and Ham Gift Certificates or any of our other Certificates of Gratitude make perfect employee gifts for the holidays. You can also order and get them delivered quickly (in large quantities if necessary), in case you’re still looking as we get closer to year’s end! Find out how they work now.
Whatever gifts you decide on, we wish you and your employees the very happiest of holiday seasons!

Learn More: Download gThankYou’s Guide to Better Employee Holiday Gifts

Inspired to give amazing employee holiday gifts this year and share your seasonal gratitude in your workplace? Download your FREE copy of gThankYou’s Ultimate Employee Gift-Giving Guide and begin the process now — just in time for holiday appreciation and gift-giving!
gThankYou’s new, updated Ultimate Employee Gift-Giving Guide has fresh case studies, more resources and the latest research in HR management. It’s the perfect resource for planning employee gift-giving at the holidays and recognition efforts for the New Year.
Download it FREE today!

 

2-4-6-8 – Who do we appreciate? Our hardworking employees!!

Just in time for the holidays, gThankYou has released our Big List of Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas! This book is perfect all year for inspiration for ways to support and recognize the people who make your business work. Best yet, it’s FREE to download and share with colleagues.

Still looking for the perfect holiday workplace gift? Check it out! Although here’s our suggestion!

The eBook is broken down into categories and lists so it’s easy to read, get inspired and apply. It’s the perfect go-to resource as you brainstorm and think through employee appreciation planning now and in the coming year.

As you skim this guide, you’ll find something for everyone. Some gifts are costly or come in a big box. They always leave a big impression. Others are more modest, but they’re just as meaningful, especially when combined with your sincere gratitude.

 

Browse high-impact ideas in every category, including gifts that can help you:

• Support new ways of working
• Encourage employee wellbeing
• Reinforce teamwork and organizational values
• Celebrate holidays with flare
• Acknowledge milestone moments in work and life
• Recognize people anytime with simple gestures

 

(more…)

 

This time of year, employers often struggle trying to think of the perfect employee holiday gifts. What does everyone want, need and love? Food. What’s a thoughtful gift that can be shared with others over the holidays? The gift of food.

At gThankYou, we have an easy way to share the holiday gift of food with your team. gThankYou Grocery Gift Certificates allow recipients to buy any combination of food items – at the time and grocery store of their choosing. They prohibit any non-food items. such as alcohol or tobacco.

If you wish to give recipients the ability to choose the holiday meal they want for their families, choose gThankYou Grocery Gift Certificates.

If you prefer to provide the specific gift of a Christmas ham or a choice of Turkey Or Ham as a gift, we offer that too.

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard

(more…)

We are extremely grateful for our fantastic customers who enjoy giving gThankYou Gift Certificates to employees and customers for the holidays and year-round. It’s our pleasure to partner with leaders who understand that thoughtful, practical, easy-to-use gifts are an excellent way to show gratitude.

Every organization has their own unique stories of sharing gratitude.

We are excited to share three customer case studies of organizations who use gThankYou Gift Certificates to share gratitude in different ways with their workplace teams. We hope it provides inspiration and insight for sharing gratitude in your workplace. You can find all of these and download PDFs to share with your management on our new gThankYou Case Studies page!

Nothing tells a story better than satisfied customers and thousands of happy employees!

gThankYou Case Studies

Growing Company Keeps Turkey-Giving Tradition Alive

(more…)

One of our favorite moments is when we unveil the new Enclosure Cards for Christmas and the winter holidays. It’s our own little version of the traditional tree-lighting. ?

This season, we have some exciting new designs to help you offer a meaningful “thank you” to your hardworking team members.

Write a Note of Appreciation

What do employees want most for the holidays? Your appreciation and thanks for their efforts, loyalty and contributions.

When you bundle your employee gifts, include a sincere and heartfelt note of gratitude. It will transform your gift-giving – lifting spirits, making your gift memorable and ensuring recipients feel valued and appreciated.

It’s why we offer attractive Enclosure Cards for the holidays and everyday occasions – free with every purchase so all gThankYou gifts are wrapped in gratitude.

New Holiday Enclosure Card Designs

Whether you prefer elegant or playful, snowy scenes or strings of lights, “happy holidays” or “peace and joy,” there’s an appealing holiday-themed Enclosure Card to fit your company’s style. Create your own message of appreciation or use one of ours – Click to see all our Christmas and Winter Card Designs.

Here are our newest additions for your holiday note of cheer and gratitude:

Download a Catalog of Popular Designs

Want a PDF of our popular designs to share with colleagues?

Download our updated Christmas and Winter Enclosure Card Design Catalog now.

As always, gThankYou Enclosure Cards come free with any purchase of our Certificates of Gratitude. Choose your favorite Enclosure Card design, include a thoughtfully-crafted message of appreciation and sign it in text or with a logo. We’ll gladly send you a proof to approve, and we’ll make edits until you love it!

There’s still time to give the workplace holiday gift everyone loves. Order your gThankYou Certificates of Gratitude now – for ham or turkey, pie, ice cream or groceries and let your holiday gratitude bring joy and appreciation to your workplace.

Wishing you and your colleagues a wonderful holiday season.

Delight Employees This Holiday Season

Research backs up what successful organizations have known all along – that appreciating employees day-in and day-out feeds productivity, retains employees and transforms workplace culture.

In other words, as Duke University behavioral economist Dan Ariely says, “recognition drives engagement and engagement drives productivity.”

Gifts are a tangible way to express your appreciation for each employee’s contribution to your organization. It may seem like a simple gesture, but expressing genuine appreciation matters more to recipients than you may think.

Consider this: among workers who feel valued, 88% feel engaged and 93% say their motivated to do their best. (American Psychological Association).

And, when gratitude is regularly expressed, employee engagement, productivity and customer service ratings are 14% higher (Bersin by Deloitte).

Gifts Send a Powerful Message

What makes an employee gift successful? Hint: It’s not about the money.

The average employer spends $79 per employee on gifts, but most workers say they would be just as happy with lower-cost (or even no-cost) alternatives. What matters most is the spirit in which the gift is given.

The essence of workplace holiday gift-giving is gratitude: your gratitude for employees’ contributions over the past year and employees’ gratitude toward you for showing your appreciation.

Gift-Giving is an Opportunity to Show You Care

Workplace leaders understand gift-giving is an important opportunity – to show you care and make employees feel valued.

So how does one choose a successful employee gift?

Find out in our new eBook, “Making Employee Gifts Count, Secrets for Gift-Giving Success”!

In this free eBook, you learn from workplace experts not only why gift-giving is so important, but also how to do it well and effectively.

Inside this eBook you’ll learn:

• Why workplace gifts matter
• Understanding what workers value
• The best workplace gifts
• How much is enough
• Gift-giving do’s and don’ts
• How to make your gift memorable

Why wait? Download your FREE COPY Now!

Make Your Workplace Gifts Memorable

Sharing your sincere gratitude is what will make your gift truly memorable.

Just ask Sheldon Yellen who as CEO of BELFOR Holdings Inc. writes over 9,000 employee thank you and birthday notes a year. “Yellen has found taking the time to write out a card for each and every person has created a culture of compassion through the whole company.”

Whenever possible, put your appreciation in writing. It will not only be memorable but will likely become a keepsake. Think about those times someone took the time to pen a note of thanks to you. Chances are you kept that note.

Whether you intend to write a holiday letter to your entire workplace or have plans to hand-write a thank you note to your team, we applaud you and encourage you to take advantage of our resources for inspiration and real-world examples.

How to Write a Thanksgiving Letter to Employees

Your FREE guide to putting the “Thanks” in Thanksgiving for your workplace.

gThankYou’s popular resource for writing a thoughtful Thanksgiving or holiday employee letter. Full of examples of real employee letters and how-to insight for crafting a meaningful letter employees will treasure.

Download this FREE guide now!

How to Write Thank You Notes Employees Will Treasure

Our go-to resource for writing meaningful employee and customer thank you notes – anytime!

Understand the basic pillars of praise and the anatomy of an effective Thank You note. A great resource for anyone new to workplace thank you notes or who wants to learn how to make them more impactful.

Download this FREE guide now!

The holidays can be the most rewarding time of year for gift-givers and receivers alike. We hope you find our gift-giving guide useful now and throughout the year, and we wish you and your entire team all the best this season.

Should your holiday gift-giving plans involve the much loved gift of a Turkey Or Ham, we would be honored to serve you.