Gift ideas for Employees

[dara1012]

I supervise 8 people directly and have a limited budget from my company for appreciation gifts throughout the year. I have about $30/each left. I spend a lot of money on them out of my own pocket too throughout the year (I usually make them meals at our monthly meetings and such), but don't have any personal money to supplement.

Any gift ideas that you would like to receive if you were in their shoes? (Most are female but I have 2 male staff, most in late 20's to early 30's one just turned 40). I can't do gift cards (per company policy, used to be able to but changed last year), but we typically get a VISA gift card from our company for Christmas, so this is on top of that.

I was thinking about doing a winter/holiday "survival kit": hot chocolate, gloves, hand warmers, snacks, hand sanitizer, to-go kleenex.....etc. Lame?

In the past I have done:
"Family/Date Night In": bananagrams game, $5 DVD and popcorn and snacks
"Date night out": gift card to movie theater and restaurant
Scarves for women and blankets for men + restaurant gift card
Coffee Mugs w/ gourmet hot chocolate

[sarahisis]

I like the survival kit idea... kohls has their godiva chocolate bars on sale today.. i got a big dark chocolate peppermint one for 3 dollars I think. I don't know if your staff drive wheelchair busses or vans but I alwayyyyysss loved having those gloves where the finger tips are exposed so it was easy to do the qstraints. Definitely hand sanitizer and tissues Also, may not be in the rhealm of survival, but kohls also had those card games like uno, phase 10 etc really on sale (cant remember what they were tho). those are always fun! Mini LED flashlight for keychair or purse.. those would come in handy too... then just stick it all in one of those 1 dollar stockings from the dollar store... or one of those storage mini bins from walmart that are only a few dollars. I use those for everything!
Good luck!!

[ballerinamomma]

Can you do alcohol? I guess that may not be appropriate though, but I'm sure everyone would enjoy it!

I've done wine gift bags before (I actually gave them as hostess gifts for my baby shower.) but I did an inexpensive bottle of wine, two glasses (they have pretty nice ones at the dollar store) and then some chocolate. They were a hit!

But, like said, not sure if that's allowed or appropriate.

I like the survival kit idea a lot!!!! I saw wal mart had some nice cozy fleece blankets for a little over $4!

[sonofapear]

The survival kit is a great idea, something everyone can use. I am giving my employees a corningware soup bowl with vent lid (found them at Bed Bath and Beyond). They are the ones with a handle so they are perfect for leftovers or soup at work, just place in the microwave. Even if you have one already, it's great to have a second. You could always add a type of soup with the bowl for a gift.

[dara1012]

Nope, no alcohol allowed....though that is part of MY winter survival kit

Thanks for soup idea Son!

[onlyoneboy]

I'm not a hot chocolate person, so, if it was me I would prefer coffee with some different creamers or flavoring with a nice coffee mug.

[merrr]

Check out Overstock.com
They've got so fun and inexpensive ideas

[ReneeW]

My random ideas:

If they bring lunches from home, maybe some insulated bowls/ food carriers to make packing lunch from home easier. (Oops I see that someone else mentioned that. Well, I like that idea!)
Fun travel mugs for coffee (if you've got coffee drinkers) -- I can always use more of those.
A yummy gourmet meal, ingredients of some kind ... something like you'd get from Tastefully Simple.

If I think of anything else I'll add it later!

[deannemdm]

personalized christmas ornaments? I have done the cup thing and also had found small wintery shaped soaps (reindeer, snowflake, etc for $1.