Corporate Gift Giving the Easy Way Let your Employees Pick Out Their Own Gift!
Probably the only thing more difficult than picking out a gift for ones boss is choosing gifts for multiple employees. Get each person the same thing, and odds are that some employees will not be happy with the gift, but get each person something different, and youre swamped with work trying to figure out the likes and dislikes of a bunch of different people. And some of them still wont be happy with their gift. There is a way, however, to ensure that each employee gets exactly what he or she wants, and its much easier than it sounds. By letting employees pick out their own gift, many companies have found a solution that benefits everyone. Some might argue that this method of gift giving seems impersonal and cold, but the end result is much better than some employees being unhappy with their gift.
There are several ways to go about letting employees choose their own gift, the most obvious of which is to purchase each person a gift certificate or gift card to a popular store, such as a book or movie store, or a department store. Gift cards are becoming increasingly popular as of late, and are readily available at most stores that sell consumer goods of the type that make great gifts. Some cards come with decorative designs, and can also be accompanied with an attractive envelope that is sold with the card, for a festive look. They are more personal than just giving employees the money, as it shows that there was still some thought put into the gift. It can be a challenge, however, to come up with a store that would please everyone, so another option that many companies are choosing is to give employees gift cards from a bank, which act as pre-paid debit cards. They can be loaded with any denomination of currency, and are much safer than putting cash in an envelope, as the latter cannot be tracked in the event that it is lost or stolen. An added bonus for the recipient is that once the balance on the card has been used, it can be re-loaded with more money, and can be used as many times as the holder wishes. Parents find this feature especially useful, as the cards provide a great way to give their school-age children emergency money to carry around, without having to worry about them carrying cash that could be stolen or lost. Plus, some banks even offer interest on the cards balance, to act as a basic savings account.
Another method of providing a choice in gifts to employees is to come up with several gift options, and to circulate a memo or post a sign-up sheet detailing them. Employees can then choose which gift they would like best, and would receive that gift on the appropriate day. For example, some companies have a tradition of giving employees a ham for Christmas, but as some people are vegetarians or do not eat ham for religious or health reasons, alternative gifts must be made available. In this case, a choice could be offered between a ham, a turkey, and a gift card from a grocery store to buy a more appropriate gift.
By letting employees choose their own gift, companies can avoid the inevitable conflict and disappointment that some employees may experience when receiving a gift they do not want or cannot use. By giving gift cards from a store or bank, or by circulating a sign-up sheet to let employees pick from several gift options, companies can ensure that each employee will be happy with his or her present.