Top 10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Staff

The festive season is approaching once again and it’s now the time of year to start thinking about what you’ll be gifting your friends and family. As a business owner, you may also be wondering what the general rule of thumb is when it comes to splurging on Christmas gifts for employees.

Should you get your employees Christmas gifts?

Although you have no obligation to purchase Xmas gifts for staff, do remember that they have been working tirelessly to support the success of your business over the past year.

If you rarely get the time to show appreciation or reward staff for their hard work, Christmas should be the occasion to say ‘thank you’ for their efforts and achievements and in turn, treat them to a little something special.

Interestingly, studies have shown that the act of gift-giving from employers boosts happiness and engagement. A whopping 80% of employees stated that being rewarded with an employee Christmas gift has boosted their working relationship with the company.

What gifts do employees like the most?

As with any form of gift, it’s difficult to please everyone. Yet, with some careful thought, you can make a great impression by considering the individual interests of each employee.

Perhaps you could consider what would help them unwind after a stressful day in the office, an experience to share with their family, or even small treats that have a personalised touch.

While there’s no single answer as to which gifts employees would like most, it’s time to think about the needs, interests, and desires of each individual and how you can tie your employee Christmas gift ideas into those factors. 

How much should you spend on employee Christmas gifts?

How much you spend on an employee Christmas gift is all down to personal preference. If your business has made huge profits this year and has a small in-house team, you may be able to stretch to a higher budget for employee gifts.

However, if your business has been struggling financially and hires hundreds of employees, you may like to stay a little more low-key with Christmas gift ideas for staff. 

Something you may however like to bear in mind is that your gift will be tax exempt if it doesn’t exceed £50. If the cost is above £50, tax will need to be paid. If in any doubt about this law, you may want to check out this helpful business gift-giving guide by HMRC.

Here are some of the best Christmas gift ideas for staff:

1. Gift cards

If you’re unsure what your employees’ interests are, your safest bet would be to purchase a gift card. It’s a flexible gift option that allows employees to spend it however they wish, whenever they wish. 

What’s more, you can also select how much you wish to add to the card, which can then be put towards your employees’ purchases when they use the gift card.

Popular retail gift cards Is your employee a shopaholic? They may decide to swap their Wishcard for a high-street gift card for a handful of popular stores such as M&S, John Lewis, H&M, or Primark. These gift cards can be purchased as a physical card or sent as an e-card to their email address (which is beneficial if you plan on sending the gift card once the festive holiday period has started).  Retail gift cards can be purchased for as little as £12.95 and spent on any goods in their chosen store.
Restaurant gift cards A Restaurant gift card is a winner with foodies. Your employee could exchange their Wishcard for a restaurant gift card to dine in several popular chain restaurants including ASK Italian, Prezzo, Pizza Hut, Vintage Inns, Sizzling Pubs, and many more.  Restaurant gift cards can be purchased with your desired amount and spent in selected restaurants across the UK.
Supermarket gift cards Christmas can be a stressful time for many – especially when it comes to the costs of gifts, food, and other essentials. The good news is that your employee has the option to exchange their Wishcard for a Supermarket gift card. Therefore, you’re ultimately giving a helping hand to your employees financially during the festive period. Gift cards are available for many of the UK’s most popular supermarkets including ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Waitrose.

2. A care package

All employees deserve to be spoiled at Christmas and a care package is the perfect way to show them just how much you appreciate them.

There are an abundance of different packages to choose from including eco-friendly items, snacks, and even fun personalised items, so you can create a package that is suited especially for the individual.

3. Christmas hamper

If you really want to put a smile on your employees’ faces this Christmas, a hamper filled with an abundance of festive treats is sure to do the trick – and has become one of the most fashionable Christmas gifts for employees.

The Christmas hamper is an age-old tradition that dates back as far as 1066 when food, drinks, and essentials were originally collected and packaged as a generous offering to the poor. Nowadays, they have become a luxury treat with fine delicacies to tuck into over the festive period.

You could choose to fill your hamper with a selection of tasty treats such as crackers and cheese, a bottle of sherry, luxury coffee, chocolates, and perhaps even a cosy pair of slippers for those icy winter nights.

4. White noise machine

It’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep, but you can give your employees the chance to rest easy with a white noise machine.

These machines produce a calming sound that is designed to cut out surrounding noise and helps to stimulate sleep.

With the Rohm portable white noise machine, there are various settings to choose from - bright white noise, deep white noise, and gentle surf. Thanks to also being portable, it can be transported to any room of the home or even packed in their suitcase for their travels.

7. Sunrise alarm clock

Is one of your employees always guilty of oversleeping? Why not surprise them with a sunrise alarm clock this year?

These clever devices have grown in popularity over the last few years, thanks to their ability to trigger a gentle wake-up through gradual light (to mimic the sunrise) and natural sounds as opposed to the dreaded beeping.

8. Bonsai tree

A Bonsai tree is a symbolic gift for employees that appreciate the meaning of life and delightful sentiments. This plant typically symbolises harmony, peace, and good luck.

Bonsai trees are a great desk plant thanks to their small size (and luckily, they don’t require much maintenance, so they can be left on the office desk over Christmas without worry!).

10. Portable power bank

There are fewer things more annoying than a laptop, phone, or tablet going dead at the office or on the move, so why not treat your employees to a portable power bank? This practical gift means they stay connected, wherever they are without needing to find a plug.

To ensure you’re purchasing the correct power bank, you’ll need to be aware of the devices they use (Android or iPhone) which is easy if you provide employees with company devices as part of their employee perks.

Final note...

Remember that employee Christmas gifts don’t have to be show-stopping to show that you care. A small token can be all that’s needed to prove your appreciation for their hard efforts over the last 12 months. We hope that the above guide has given you some great ideas to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a staff Christmas gift.