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Corporate gifts are a way to recognize employees. They’re a thoughtful, personal way to show appreciation, and the gesture pays off.
Ever since the first branded foam fingers, corporate pens, and plastic head visors started rolling out at conventions, companies have understood the appeal of giveaways – people love them!
But that enthusiasm may not last if the gift for doing your best for a demanding customer is the same T-shirt that will be handed out to the sales team covering the company’s booth at an upcoming conference.A study tracking employee satisfaction found that 83.6% of employees feel that recognition from their employer motivates them to succeed at work.
Companies don’t need to spend huge amounts of money to make their employees feel valued with simple acts, but they should be clear about the purpose of company memorabilia and corporate gifts. Memorabilia makes your company’s brand visible by printing it boldly on fans, hats, shirts, towels, and water bottles. It’s an effective way to get your company’s name in front of potential customers.
Corporate gifts, on the other hand, are a way to recognize employees. They’re a thoughtful, personal way to express gratitude, and the gesture works. But sometimes gifts can come across as “showy.” For example, giving each employee a picnic blanket with the company logo to promote an upcoming company picnic. But the two items are often treated as interchangeable, which may be why managers don’t get the engagement boost they were hoping for from the gesture.
Before investing in anything, ask yourself: Is your goal to promote your company or your employees?
Three things are key to making sure your awareness strategy stays on target: finding the right timing, choosing the right items, and fine-tuning the right message.
Method is as follows.
The right time
The perfect time for gift-giving is during new employee induction. Celebrations and gifts often intersect at this time as employees become accustomed to the company culture. Welcoming someone onto the team with a “ceremonial” company hoodie or laptop tote is meaningful. But as “feeling welcomed” evolves into “feeling appreciated,” managers need to keep showing the love.
Employees love it when their employers show them special consideration and highlight their accomplishments: Research shows that 87% of employees feel that being recognized for their exceptional efforts increases their job satisfaction.
Suitable items
It’s up to you to give your gift a personal meaning, and if you prefer personal gifts, a little preparation goes a long way.
A local company started a “question of the day” routine for new interns to get to know their coworkers. By asking a variety of questions, including favorite movies, restaurants, travel, music, and food along the way, staff slowly built up a treasure trove of personal information. When managers want to do something special for their teams or employees, they refer to the employee’s extensive trivia list.
What about gift cards? According to a Blackhawk Network study, over 60% of employees surveyed value the use of gift cards as a way to show appreciation.
Interestingly, a survey of remote workers found that the majority (65%) preferred non-monetary incentives. “A simple thank you or a personalized message can go a long way in making employees feel valued,” says Daniel M. Jones, attorney and human resources consultant.
Corporate gifts should not be used as a substitute for a cash bonus.
“Remember, the purpose of swag is to promote your brand to employees, not to supplement a cash bonus incentive program,” says Brittany Davis, head of people and culture at Fullcast.
If you’re buying clothes as gifts, Davis says to buy clothes that your employees already wear: “Something a little pricier, something of higher quality, something that makes them feel special and fancy when they wear it.”
The right message
More than a decade ago, a study examining the relationship between employee appreciation messages and company bottom line found that companies that encouraged leadership initiatives and supported employee appreciation saw a 682% increase in revenue. Today, companies still benefit from building a positive, employee-centered workplace culture that encourages leadership, flexibility, and professional growth. Corporate gifts reinforce that message.
“Corporate culture starts at the top,” says Michael McCarthy, a lecturer at Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development. “C-level executives need to understand the value of having a positive culture in the workplace and embody the behaviors that support that culture. When people throughout the organization see senior leadership embodying the values, they are more likely to follow suit.”
If it’s been a stressful quarter, you can motivate your team with a wellness-themed gift that shows support and empathy. A bouquet of flowers will provide comfort to a down-hearted employee. Celebrate a successful project with a coffee gift card or an online purchase of a little luxury.
The gift emphasizes that the executives enjoy working for the company, and they want their team members to enjoy working for the company too. The financial benefits are nice, but the impact on employees is immeasurable.
J’Nel Wright is a content writer at Fullcast, a Silicon Slopes-based end-to-end RevOps platform that enables companies to design, manage, and track the performance of their revenue-generating teams.
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