As the holiday season approaches it is important to show appreciation for your employees, and ensure that end of year gifts that go beyond the standard holiday bonuses provide meaning and extra gratitude for employees. Here are 3 quick quick tips to make sure your employee gifts prove meaningful this year and motivate your employees:
1. Include a personal message: We often overlook the power of a written note, and written praise. Adding a personal note to a gift shows management takes the time to care personally for each employee and note their individual contribution to the company.
2. Know your audience: Choosing gifts based on your audience is important, because it shows employees that gifts were chosen with them in mind. If you give gift cards, which are flexible gifts that allow employees to do with them what they wish, choose brands that fit with the audience. For example, the employee who shops for gifts for a large family may benefit from a gift card to Burlington Coat Factory or Walmart, while a very health conscious employee may benefit from a gift card to GNC or NutriSystem. Knowing what your employees will appreciate makes the gifts more meaningful and memorable for your employees.
3. Offer non-monetary compensation: Choosing gifts that are non-monetary makes the gift separate from a traditional holiday bonus, rather than tacking on to it. It separates the gift from the bonus, which reminds employees how much their employers appreciates their hard work all year round, and into 2013.
For more information on giving meaningful employee gifts during the holiday season check out this article from Entrepreneur.com.
