10 Stellar Last Minute Employee Appreciation Gifts

When it comes to running a company, times can be so busy that both employers and consumers forget how much the employees as a unit do to keep stores and businesses up and running. With this being said, it is important to be sure to show your employees some appreciation every so often, and thank them for all the work that they put into their jobs. Without them a number of places would be unable to exist or even maintain business. As you read on you will learn about some of our favorite gifts for employees.

When you're shopping last minute. GiftYa digital gift cards make an excellent option. Choose from any of the thousands of local and national brands in the catalog, then customize and send it off to show your appreciation. You can text it to your employees in seconds or schedule it far in advance, making it the perfect way to send a gift for Employee Appreciation Day or any other occasion -- completing a big project, landing an accounting, getting a promotion, or even just because!

1. Food Delivery Gift Card

After all, everyone has to eat Doordash has you covered.

Text a Doordash Gift Card.

Although there are many different food delivery services to choose from, we recommend Doordash as the gift for your employees. It is one of the leading food delivery services and is hard to go wrong.  Depending on the area that your office is located or where your employees work from home, the possibilities are endless. Some locations even have some grocery stores or big name stores such as Target on them so your employees can order something other than food if they so happen to desire to.

Text a Doordash Gift Card

2. Custom Onboarding Gift

Nothing is more welcoming than a little gift to welcome them to the team

As we know, starting a new job can be nerve racking. A welcoming gift can be a wonderful surprise to those who are least expecting it. Some of the common items that companies will include in their onboard welcoming gifts include computer mouses, mouse pads, headphones, mugs, water bottles, notebooks and perhaps pens. The company's name or logo may be located somewhere on the accessories or perhaps the company mascot. These onboarding gifts make the employees feel welcomed and like they chose the right place to work. 

3. Send a reward

This could be a gift card somewhere or small item that expresses your appreciation

At varying times of the work year employers may notice that their employees are starting to appear burned out or that they need a little boost of extra motivation. In cases such as these, one of the things they may do is either gift their employees with a Visa gift card or a small box filled with some goodies to show them thanks for all the hard work they put in each and every day.  A few different things one may consider is a box of snacks and goodies or perhaps even something like what is seen above. The best part about succulent plants is that they require little water yet can bring life to the room that they are in.

4. Cinema Box

The perfect decoration for your employees office or use at home.

Now this is a gift that allows your employees to be creative. With the gift they can either keep it in their office as a decoration or they could take it home with them. Either way it permits them to be creative and either have the sign read their favorite quote or a word that means something to them. 

5. Dammit Doll

A positive way to let out some frustration at work.

Do you ever get frustrated at work? We know that we do. If an employer wants to provide a different type of gift for their employees, then this is the way to go. Dammit dolls tend to be fabric dolls, some made of random fabrics like the ones above, and in some cases designed to look like sports fans or cartoon characters. What makes them a unique gift? The fact that they can allow employees to let out some of their frustrations without causing any damage to themselves or their surroundings. A story that we have heard about these dolls is that part of the reason one uses these dolls is that they not only can slap the doll against things, but it is also intended for the user to voice the phrase “damn it” as they use it. They overall are great for employees to release their stress as well.

6. Travel Mates

The perfect gift for those who are always on the go.

Does your company require your employees to travel often? If so then this is a great gift for you to consider for your employees. Travel mates are miniature travel kits that tend to include a power pack, a USB plug, a luggage tag and even a bluetooth tracker among other potential accessories. Employees would both be pleasantly surprised as well as appreciate this kind gesture. The kit is small enough that it allows for people to easily slip it in to their backpack or carry on and comes with the accessories organized in a way that allows for them to have quick access to these items while waiting at the airport, or while sitting in the back of an Uber or Lyft as they are traveling from one location to the next.

7. Popcorn Kernel Set with Seasoning

A great movie night snack for a night off, or even a mid day treat

When the holiday season comes around it can be hard to come up with a good pick me up to boost employee morale as things become busy and the work quarter is coming to an end. With this being the case, a popcorn kernel set with seasoning is a great gift to give/send out to employees. Not only does it show that you are acknowledging work with this little pick me up but it's also a great little treat for them. Popcorn makes for a delicious little snack as well as a great movie night treat. Your employees will be able to pop it at their own convenience and add a seasoning of their liking.

8. Blue Light Glasses

Protecting your eyes as you work at your computer.

Are your employees required to spend a majority of their work day in front of a computer? Sending out emails, or analyzing data, their eyes slowly start to become strained as they sit there throughout the day working away. If this describes your employees work then this is the perfect employee gift for them. Blue light glasses will not only help protect their eyes as they work on their computers but also prevent them from too much strain. The light that computer screens project can cause both eye pain and headaches, by wearing these you can help prevent that.

9. Portable Chargers

For those constantly on the go.

It is always a bummer when your phone's battery is low or goes down completely when you are out running around for work or on those rare occasions where you forget your phone charger at home and are working from the office. We have all been there at one point or another, if you haven’t found yourself in this situation, you should consider yourself to be very lucky. 

Keeping this in mind, employers can order in bulk core power banks for their employees. If they follow the link above or look further into it themselves they will find that they can order custom chargers that have their companies name or logo on it making it unique to their company. By gifting this to their employees, they are making it so that they can easily keep the portable charger in their desks or their travel bags. The main caveat that they may find is that their employees may forget to charge the power bank leading to a different set of circumstances.

10. StrengthsFinder 2.0

Invest in Their Professional Growth with This Powerful Positive Psychology Book

Each of us has our own unique strengths and weaknesses -- and the majority of professional advice and aptitude tests tend to focus on the latter. They identify gaps in knowledge, things we're bad at that we should sure up. But psychologist Don Clifton brought a different approach to the table: What if we focus on our strengths? What if we lean into the skills we naturally have, and hone them into some of our strongest professional tools? And that's how StrengthsFinder was born.

Purchasing the book also comes with a code that allows your employee to take the test online. The book guides them through the results: what their strengths are, and how to leverage them. This positive approach to employee gift will have a huge impact -- both on your company and their professional mindset!

GiftYa recommends: Email a Barnes & Noble gift card to complete this employee appreciation gift -- so they can buy any professional or leisure books they'd like!

11. Engraved Notebook

For Working Out Projects or Taking Notes

For many professions, taking notes is part of the job description. So why not help them do it in style?

Available in a variety of colors, this handy little notebook comes with a pen, sticky notes, and arrow stickies as well. Customize it with the company logo and save when you order in bulk -- making it a practical gift for management and employees alike. So customize an Engraved Note Organizer today!

12. Penzey's Spices Gift Box

Spice Up Their Home Cooking for a Great Employee Appreciation Gift

We've all gotta eat. Help ensure that the leftovers they throw in the company fridge for lunch are ten levels of delicious. Penzey's spices has a range of affordable gift boxes that you can stop in and pick up from their locations around the country. Choose the Welcome Seasonings or Welcome Spices gift bundle for just $29.95, or upgrade to a larger gift box if you know what they'll like.

Either way, this is a gift they'll surely be ordering again for themselves every time they run out!

13. Book of the Month

Keep For-Fun Reading Delivered to Their Door Every Month

Employees are at their best when they have engaging activities outside of work as well. Help them reach their resolution to read more books this year or just give them a much needed way to escape the stresses of their daily life when you get them a Book of the Month subscription. BOTM's experts select five exciting new release titles every month, and subscribers select one to have delivered to their door.

14. Personalized Visa Card from Gift Card Granny

Makes the cards more special, text a personalized gift card

Did you know that it is possible to make personalized Visa gift cards? Many people don’t. If all else fails we highly recommend that employers consider ordering a bulk order of personalized gift cards for their employees. They can have a picture on them for whatever the occasion may be that you are ordering them for. Or if they are something that you are planning on having around throughout the year, you could also have the company name or mascot printed on them. Gift cards are a great go-to for any occasion or even for a weekly office raffle. It’s up to the discretion of the employer how much they feel like making the gift cards worth. Best part? Most people don’t turn their nose to money that can be spent anywhere.

Text a gift card.

After reading through this we hope that you have been inspired as well as given some ideas of potential gifts for the hardworking employees who work for you. Remember, business wouldn’t be able to run without their contributions to the company!