The Benefits of Corporate Gifts for Employees
Many entrepreneurs and business
leaders think about corporate gifts at the end of the year. The gifts are
attached to outstanding performance for specific managers and employees. The
strategy means that employees must work extra hard to earn rewards. Hence, the
gifts are more of a reward for hard work and not a token of appreciation.
Employees should not earn gifts.
Instead, gifts should communicate the leaders’ appreciation of their presence
and contribution. Even the last in performance should receive something from
the company every year to remind him or her that their contribution is
valuable.
Corporate
gifts range from extra time off, company products, birthday gifts, branded
t-shirts or shirts, and gift cards, to paid holidays. Startups have enough gift
ideas to explore, including their own products. Why should companies bother
with gifting their employees?
1.
Happiness in the workplace
Have ever walked into your workspace
and felt a bad vibe all day? Some days are good but some are tough for
employees. We do not have space to talk about work-related stress. However, the
thought of showing up and giving your best performance at work every day is
enough stress. You can break the pattern with gifts. This does not mean that
you wait until there is a bad mood to introduce gifts. Occasional
gifts will your employees curious about the next surprise, especially days off
work. Birthday celebrations will keep the positive energy going for days. The
good thing is that birthdays happen throughout the year, giving multiple
opportunities to interrupt the serious mood in the workplace.
2.
Improving relationships
The employer-employee relationship
influences employee performance, commitment, and loyalty. Gifts communicate the
employer’s care and appreciation of each employee. The result is a better
relationship with each worker. A free product may seem small but it reminds
employees of the corporate culture. You cannot use gifts to buy employees’
loyalty. They can read in-between the lines and determine if the remarks are
genuine or not. Hence, gifts should complement your daily efforts to treat
employees fairly and with respect. Remember that employees treat your customers
as you treat them.
3.
Motivation
Everybody needs a little motivation
occasionally. We do not depend on motivational strategies to function. However,
an interruption of the intensity of daily tasks with smiles keep workers
motivated to keep up their efforts. For instance, a free pass to training
sessions outside the organization is a great source of
motivation for the participants. When gifts are attached to performance,
they motivate the recipients and other employees. Hence, you should not shy
away from such gifts. However, look for opportunities to give all employees
with corporate gifts that will motivate them.
4.
Establishing a giving culture
When you give gifts to employees,
you add a new strand to the existing corporate culture. You teach your workers
the art and joy of giving gifts. Before long, you will hear of birthday
celebrations or newborn celebrations in the office that you did not organize.
Use such occasion to strengthen the generosity culture with additional gifts.
If employees or managers come to you with ideas to celebrate a deserving
employee, honor such requests to the best of your ability. For instance, ensure
that your employees are doing well before donating to outside charities. The
culture will outlive the gift recipients and make your organization or business
a desirable employer.
Final
thoughts
Running a successful business is a
learning curve. You just gained a new perspective of corporate gifts that you
never had. Gift shops have tons of ideas for
corporate ideas that will suit different personalities in your office. Start
small, start somewhere but keep the gift-giving culture going to enjoy its full
benefits.
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