What is the best gift you could receive from your employer?

Question

Particularly at the holidays... Would you prefer time off? A gift certificate? A turkey? I am "the boss" (small business, 10 employees) and every year the owner and I drive ourselves crazy trying to come up with gifts for our employees. We usually spend between $100-$200, sometimes more (depending on how good the year was). We also give a bonus usually equal to one-two week's pay (again, depending on our financial situation). We don't do any other type of bonus (except we play games at each major holiday and give away prizes and such). We're trying to come up with the gifts for 2006 already - and I can't think of what people would like!!!

(We know our employees very well, we consider them family)... so we do try to get personalized gifts. It's just not always easy! Hard enough to come up with gifts for mom sometimes, nevermind 10 employees! :)

Answer 1

you're NICE, can I work for you?? lol
I'm a graphic designer working for a company who doesn't believe in bonuses and gifts!
Anyway, I think some money and a gift card (if someone has a family you can give the wife and kids a small gift card each too).
or you can bring a caricature painter and give him the photos of the employes and he can make a nice portrait for each (with a good sentence about the person) + bonus of course.

Answer 2

If this is driving you crazy, and I can understand how it could, you may want to consider asking your employees to provide a wish list. To minimize the workload, you can set it up so that each employee can provide (and update at any time) his/her list via computer. Personally, I've always preferred cash. That way, I can buy whatever I want whenever I want. I can even save the cash over a period of time to get a big ticket item later. Seeing that your goal appears to be to rid yourself of the difficult chore of coming up with gift ideas that would please each individual each year (really difficult to do), there's nothing quite like just asking people what they want. And the wish list would give you answers with minimum effort on your part. You don't even have to ask. Your employees just tell you when they are ready to do so, and they can also change their minds whenever they feel like it through an update to their wish list. This can consist of a wishlist email sent to a special company wishlist email address, or if you prefer, you can have a programmer create a special wishlist program to be installed on each employee's computer. The program could be set up for easy viewing and updating by the employee and easy report generating by the employer or management. For those who drag their feet and don't find the time to create their wish list, the default is cash. Good luck, and bless you for being such a kind and generous employer. Wish the world had more like you.

Answer 3

Personally, I'd like more time off, but the company I work for doesn't give very much.

The people that were here before our current employers bought us still talk about the sabbatical employees used to earn... 1 month paid time off after every 5 years of service. You had to take it all at once, or you could exchange it for 2 weeks extra pay. It really did a lot for employee loyalty.

Maybe give them a choice... something like 5 days off, or 2.5 days extra pay. Where I am, parents would usually take the time off, but others with tons of time built up would prefer the money.

Answer 4

These days, continued employment is a gift of sorts. My dad used to give gifts to poor people and include a card that said: "From the employees of .....". Usually a ham or a turkey or a gift certificate for $100.

Answer 5

I have been in and out of the work force for thirty years and it seems to me that you are doing all you can do. I know of a company locally (Rochester, NY) that closes every year and the boss takes everyone, families included, on a vacation, but that is outside your budget. While I was at Mercury Print Productions we had a dinner during the holidays and we were given a bonus and an article of clothing with the company logo we had allot of company pride.
I think your doing a splendid job of taking care of your folks, need any help? I have a back ground in printing, exhibits and circuit board manufacturing. Would love to work with folks so successful as you seem to be.

Answer 6

Investing the money you would spend on them into a profit-sharing plan is a good way to go. Makes employees feel that much more invested in the performance of the company, too. If the money is put into some sort of market fund where the money can accumulate with interest or appreciation, that makes the pot that much sweeter for them.

Answer 7

Well since you already give a bonus, that takes care of the money thing.....why don't you go to a NICE local dinner restaurant and get gift certificates for 2 (employee and spouse) with a lengthy expiration date. That way they can enjoy at their convenience.

Answer 8

What a wonderful boss!! After a cash bonus, time off is my favorite gift from a boss. Anytime we get free time off it is almost better than cash! I would rather not have a personalized gift because if you picked out something wrong I have to "pretend" to enjoy it. I would tell everyone way ahead of time what they are getting in a meeting and ask them if it is okay. Tell them that they are important to you and your business and you do not want them to think that by not buying a gift you don't care. That you want them to have time off to take care of themselves and their families because they take such good care of their jobs and you want them to know how much you appreciate them. They will be happy, trust me!

Answer 9

The best gifts that one can receive from their employer is job security and a fully coverage health insurance program. This includes the ability for employees to have flexible work hours and to take time off as needed for family.

Answer 10

A pay rise, or a bonus - then they can get whatever they want. There'll always be one employee upset by their gift. But try to get to know them as a person instead of an employee and you may be able to get a few hints.