19 January, 2024

Top 10 Gifts for Remote Employees to Keep Them Connected

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Employee Appreciation
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Gift Ideas
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Written by
Gifted Team
Remote employees, no matter how far, are gems of the company, and it is time to offer a token of appreciation. Explore the ideal gifts to enhance employee engagement.

Remote work is fast becoming the industry standard for workforce operation across most companies worldwide. Several industries have undergone a thorough revolution recently, with remote work being the primary option during the global health pandemic. Although the health crisis is fortunately behind us, it has successfully introduced the true potential of remote work to a large section of the worldwide working class. 

With the rapid advancement in communication technology, most professionals now find it convenient to work remotely. Although it has positively improved their job satisfaction and work productivity, it has imposed a unique challenge in front of employers. It is now a tricky task for them to instill any sense of camaraderie within the workforce. Moreover, the remote work model makes it hard for them to recognize and celebrate employees. 

Why Are Remote Employee Appreciation Gifts Important?

Corporate organizations typically consider remote work engagement activities and gift a conventional way of expressing gratitude. However, now that remote work is an accepted industry practice, they must be imaginative in their gifting exercises. Although many find it a routine corporate chore, remote employee gifting is much more than just a simple token of appreciation.

Remote employees' engagement activities convey that distances are no barrier to appreciation. You must put considerable effort into curating gifts for your workforce. It will lift their spirits, strengthen their bonds, and foster a sense of belonging.

Best Gift Ideas for Remote Employees In 2024

We have developed a comprehensive guide to help you understand the many facets of remote employee appreciation gifts. We explore their potential ramifications and return on investments. You will also receive some industry-tested tips on how to utilize employee gifting effectively. 

The Emotional Paybacks of Employee Gifting

Various industry surveys have recorded that remote employees feel acknowledged when they receive a gift from their employers. This effectively boosts the worker's morale, and the company can successfully inculcate a sense of belonging within the workforce.

The Return on Investment of Thank You Gifts

It would be ideal if you don't consider spending your budget on employee thank-you gifts as unnecessary expenses. They promise a high return on investment, measured through employee engagement and productivity.

Cultural Thoughtfulness in Employee Gifting

Gifting can become a complex undertaking if you have a diverse workplace. Although you may aim to develop unity with the gifting, your efforts could flop if you don't do it thoughtfully. It would be best to study the cultural nuances of gifting to ensure proper execution.

Bridging the Gap with Thoughtful Gifting

At a conceptual level, remote work doesn't leave any door open for physical interaction with colleagues. Not only has it effectively cut down the time-consuming office gossip, but it has distanced the workers from the office altogether. Therefore, it's difficult for employers to acknowledge the workers for their valuable contributions. You can consider thoughtful gifting to make your remote employees feel valued.

Welcome Gift Ideas for Remote Employees

You can always bank on employee engagement activities for remote workers to make the onboarding process memorable. Customizable gift boxes have the potential to make the new remote employees feel valued by the company despite their not being part of the in-house workforce. You may ideally opt for personalized gifts with a personal message. Apart from the gifting, it also acts as an effective ice-breaker for the employee. 

It's necessary to mention that a thoughtfully chosen welcome present can immediately improve the employee's first day in your organization. Do remember that corporate welcome gift options don't just include a notepad and branded company stickers. We suggest you take enough time to design dynamic gift packages. Choosing the best welcome gift packages can help you achieve positive responses and action from the recipients.

  1. Office Supplies
  2. Power banks
  3. Gift cards and vouchers

Inexpensive Gifts for Remote Workers

Remote work is synonymous with a convenient lifestyle, superior work-life balance, and increased productivity today. However, the absence of physical communication can challenge your overall engagement levels.

Employee gifting conveys recognition and appreciation, but it also means a lot more. Most employers appreciate tangible presents due to their callback factor. Top work-from-home gifts can remind employees of their previous achievements and unique goals. It would be best to keep your employee gifts meaningful and suitable for each employee.

You may consider inexpensive gifts for remote workers to increase engagement. Studies have shown that well-appreciated employees improve productivity and become supportive team players.

  1. Movie Theatre subscriptions
  2. Fitness membership
  3. Printed coffee mug

Fitness Gifts for Remote Workers

While a healthier workforce with flexible work hours and a workplace can benefit the employees, it can also contribute to the collective benefit of your organization. You may consider investing in fitness gifts for your remote workers. Keeping your workers fit can directly reflect improved productivity and concentration. 

Opting for fitness gifts will convey that you care about employees' health and well-being. Therefore, explore fitness gifts to encourage your workforce to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Your employee gifts could improve the physical health of the workforce. You can find plenty of budget-friendly remote employee gift ideas for sending fitness gifts to your remote employees.

  1. Fitness tracking watches
  2. Air purifiers
  3. Skincare bundle

Thank You Gifts for Remote Employees

Don't underestimate the significance of putting more effort into a virtual "thank you." Many business leaders lack the understanding of showing gratitude to their remote workforce. We have mentioned a handful of benefits of employee appreciation: enhanced morale boosted engagement, and better team spirit. 

Thank you gifts for remote employees are an innovative but effective way of connecting with your remote workforce. Moreover, they convey that you have a deeper understanding of their challenges and struggles. Simply put, they’re a smart way to inculcate an empathetic company culture for remote workers.

  1. Personalized video message from the team
  2. Framed photo collage of team moments
  3. A handwritten note with a memory

Travel Gifts for Your Remote Employees

Remote employees experience a niche set of challenges, which puts them in a different bracket from their in-office counterparts. They routinely struggle with identifying the borders of work and personal life. It leads them to work for extended hours and miss out on the necessary personal life experiences. Furthermore, they also develop a sense of isolation from the team. Their lack of involvement in a traditional office setting makes them feel disconnected.

If you have a team of remote workers who don't have a permanent workstation, finding the right gift for them can be challenging. They are essentially digital nomads who may have to set up offices at coffee shops, in hotel lobbies, and in co-working spaces when necessary. Therefore, sending them the right tools as employee recognition gifts only fits. 

They could get away with a laptop and a charger when working from a roadside café; however, the best gifts to show appreciation for your remote team can improve their productivity.

  1. Power bank
  2. Portable Wi-Fi
  3. Laptop stand

Tips for Appreciation and Recognition- Explained

People like appreciation- and it's never enough. When you appreciate your employees, it remains with them for a long time- a motivating factor. However, you must also realize that employee appreciation is not just about keeping employees happy. On the contrary, your primary intention should be to improve their morale to enhance essential business metrics, including engagement and productivity. 

Multiple reports have found that lack of recognition is one of the primary reasons for employees switching jobs. The same reports suggest that employees identify under-appreciation as the highest barrier to engagement.

1. Show Appreciation Irrespective of the Employee Base

More and more professionals today are working remotely. Their lack of physical presence in the office contributes to the leadership's ignorance regarding showing appreciation. However, it is essential to appreciate the off-site and remote workers to keep them away from detachment. Therefore, you must ideally ensure your recognition program also involves the remote workforce.

2. Provide Gifts To Say Thanks

Small efforts in employee recognition pack a big punch as they show appreciation and respect. Many companies now give away goodies and merchandise on special occasions. It's a fine tool for boosting employee morale. However, they should come in between occasional surprises that say thank you as well. You should consider surprise gifts and reward programs at work to encourage a healthy company culture. You can take the team out for lunch on employee appreciation day.

3. Invest In Employee Wellness

You could also consider investing in your workers' fitness. While it will directly benefit the professional, it will also improve their overall productivity, which will help your organizational success. You can provide them with suitable resources and gear to better their remote working experience. 

Moreover, you may also allow them a profitable work and personal life to complement their physical and spiritual well-being. Taking an interest in your workers' health and fitness will assist them in being more impactful at work.

4. Start a Revolving Trophy 

While the concept of a revolving trophy might seem like a yesteryear routine, it's still extremely practical and effective. It can contribute to improving team spirit across the remote workforce. Explain the award criteria—the conditions could range from business metrics to colleague nominations—your judgment should be based on your company culture. Lastly, you may consider setting the frequency of such remote team engagement activities.

5. Recognize A Team On Your Website

If you have a dynamic work culture and an exciting workforce, clients and customers would love to get a sneak peek into your operations. Therefore, you could consider including a section on your website that exclusively acknowledges outstanding work from the team. You may set up a pattern where the teams featured in this space switch out monthly, quarterly, or at whatever frequency works best for your organization.

Reward Your Remote Workers Handsomely With Our Gift Packs at Gifted!

Throughout this blog, we have advocated recognizing and uniting remote employees with the in-house workforce. Furthermore, you must ideally recognize your workers' good work and behavior on a routine basis. Compassionate leaders often inspire their workforce to be committed to their jobs, resulting in increased productivity. 

At Gifted, we have simplified the art of gifting a remote workforce. Our modern, dynamic online platform showcases an extensive range of pre-made gift boxes and gift cards. You can trust us to send exciting gifts and rewards to your remote workers without delay. We pride ourselves on assisting companies in going the extra creative mile to appreciate their remote employees.

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