Top Christmas Gift Ideas for Employees Who Work From Home

What are some Christmas gift ideas for employees who work from home?

Working from home has become the norm for many people since the first coronavirus-induced lockdown was implemented in March 2020. But many businesses are still adapting to this way of working, including developing systems to keep employees motivated and engaged when working remotely. It can be hard thinking of gift ideas for remote workers

Corporate gifts for employees are a fantastic way to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication they have put in throughout the year. But there is rarely a one-size-fits-all gift that will be well-received by everyone in a company. Taking the time to personalise your corporate gift selection will deliver a much higher return on investment (ROI) in terms of employee satisfaction, appreciation and loyalty. Here are a few great gift ideas to give you some inspiration, such as wallpics. Some provide practical solutions to common home working problems, and others are pure luxury! 

A temperature control smart mug

Ask any home worker what their most prized possession is (besides office essentials such as a computer or laptop), and we bet that “my coffee mug” or “my flask” is at the top of their list. In these days of smart technology, even the humble coffee mug has had a makeover. Several brands are offering “smart mugs” so there are plenty of choices when it comes to the design, but all versions work in essentially the same way. The set includes a mug and a smart coaster which you can control via a phone app to maintain the user’s preferred temperature for around 1.5 hours. Who hasn’t become absorbed in their work or distracted by a video call only to find their fresh cup of tea is now stone cold and undrinkable? Some models add fun extras, too, such as the ability to track how many cups of coffee or tea you drink in a day — very helpful for those wishing to cut down.

Neck and shoulder heated pad

No matter how much time your employees spend setting up their home work station correctly and regardless of how many breaks they take, spending hours looking at a screen tapping away will take a toll on their bodies. There is an almost limitless range of neck and shoulder pads to choose from via online retailers, from basic wheat and lavender filled packs that can be heated in the microwave and worn around the neck to electric heating pads that cover the whole back. Your team will love you for sending this little bit of soothing relaxation their way!

A gourmet cheese gift hamper

Practical gifts that your people can use day-to-day are a great idea, but we all love a little luxury at Christmas too. Your employees have worked hard all year — they deserve a treat! A gourmet gift hamper never goes out of style, and for your employees who have partners and families, it’s a great treat to share. A luxury cheese gift hamper is perfect for Christmas. The festive season wouldn’t be the same without cheeseboards a plenty! Tailor your hamper to individual preferences — some may enjoy sweet treats, others may prefer a bottle of wine. Delivery can be made to the recipient’s door and is guaranteed to be a winning surprise.

Decorative items

Help your teams to create a positive workspace that enhances wellbeing and productivity by sending them some fun decorative items. This is an easy gift to personalise. Some great ideas include plants or a monthly plant subscription, scented candles, funky office lamps, wall prints, stylish stationery, wall planners — the possibilities are endless! 

Coffee or tea subscription

Many of us rely on a regular caffeine hit to get us through the workday, and most people fall into one of two camps — “can’t live without my coffee” or “a cup of tea is the answer to everything. With remote workers, it’s harder to ascertain preferences, but there’s no harm in asking. Consider setting up a document for people to add their gift preferences to — do they drink alcohol? What are their hobbies? Do they prefer tea or coffee? This could form part of your onboarding process. You’ll then have a quick and easy way to personalise your corporate gift choices.

Sending your remote workers an end-of-year/Christmas gift is a simple and thoughtful way to show your appreciation and reward loyalty to the company. Sure, it will consume a chunk of your annual budget, but a relatively small one and one that packs a powerful ROI punch in terms of employee satisfaction and loyalty.