Employee Anniversary Gifts for the staff who have everything
September 9, 2015 4:39 PM Subscribe
I work for an amazing company that is incredibly generous to their employees. 100% paid healthcare premiums, unlimited time off, tons of free swag, free food, endless offsite team building events, travel to conferences, tuition reimbursement, gift baskets full of goodies on your birthday etc.
We have distributed employees located in 32 different states as well as about 70 employees in our Portland Headquarters. There are a few employees coming up on their 5 year anniversary and I am completely stuck on what would be a great recognition gift.
It needs to be consistent for both remote and local employees as far as cost and the awesomeness of the gift. No plaques, or engraved fancy pens, we are a super fun company and want the gift to be equally as fun. We are also not wanting to do a giftcard or cash bonus.
Just for funsies, lets say we have a $2000 budget per employee, however I really have not been given a budget and that could increase or decrease by $500-$1000.
It needs to be consistent for both remote and local employees as far as cost and the awesomeness of the gift. No plaques, or engraved fancy pens, we are a super fun company and want the gift to be equally as fun. We are also not wanting to do a giftcard or cash bonus.
Just for funsies, lets say we have a $2000 budget per employee, however I really have not been given a budget and that could increase or decrease by $500-$1000.
I know of a "super fun" company that gives employees who hit significant milestones very cool pieces of artwork memorializing it. It's not a plaque, but has a lot of the similar properties (easy enough to ship and customize, guaranteed to be something they don't already have, etc.). Engraved iPads are also somewhat popular, but a lot of people in such companies already have a tablet, and it will be obsolete in a few years.
posted by primethyme at 5:03 PM on September 9, 2015
posted by primethyme at 5:03 PM on September 9, 2015
I work for a company kind of like this (slightly less generous but still) and I got to say I really would not appreciate a one-size-fits-all recognition gift knowing it was worth $2,000. There is no way anyone could pick out something worth that much for someone you haven't known for 30 years. I would say spend $100/max on custom latex statuettes/cute figures for each milestone year. Give the rest in cash.
posted by bleep at 5:04 PM on September 9, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by bleep at 5:04 PM on September 9, 2015 [14 favorites]
Some sort of limited edition photograph from a famous photographer maybe.
A case of good champagne?
posted by whoaali at 5:41 PM on September 9, 2015
A case of good champagne?
posted by whoaali at 5:41 PM on September 9, 2015
Love the art idea!
I used to work for a company that did standard milestone gifts every 5 years, with increasing levels of value as you progressed. The 30 year gift was positioned as something like, "We'll get in touch to find the right thing for you." I am pretty sure we worked with a third party concierge-type place who handled everything. I understand some people who hit this milestone arranged trips or received luxury items, based on preferences.
posted by marmago at 5:43 PM on September 9, 2015
I used to work for a company that did standard milestone gifts every 5 years, with increasing levels of value as you progressed. The 30 year gift was positioned as something like, "We'll get in touch to find the right thing for you." I am pretty sure we worked with a third party concierge-type place who handled everything. I understand some people who hit this milestone arranged trips or received luxury items, based on preferences.
posted by marmago at 5:43 PM on September 9, 2015
My company has corporate properties all over the states. When you get special recognition they give you x days and y nights in the corporate property of your choosing. We have some near ski resorts, Manhattan, Chicago, San Diego etc etc. maybe use the $2,000 for a few nights in a swanky hotel + fancy dinner in a city near them?
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 5:49 PM on September 9, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 5:49 PM on September 9, 2015 [14 favorites]
Best answer: I love art but would recommend not buying art because it's such a personal thing. I'd hate to have someone spend $1000 on a piece of art that I didn't like.
If you're going for extra awesome, how about personalizing the gift? (I realize this is a lot of work and not necessarily do-able.) You could ask each employee five questions, then base it off of that? (For example, "growing up I always wanted a _____" or "I dream of visiting ____ one day" or "If I could receive one thing every month, I'd like _____.") Admittedly, it's risky but certainly has an element of surprise and might be fun!
It sounds like you work at an amazing place (wowzers!) where people have their needs and wants taken care of for the most part. Therefore, I'd also include a personal element like an ode or toast to each employee (or at least the ones who have been there for five years.) People could pick a colleague and then write, say, a one-minute speech on why they're so awesome to work with and share that in front of the group. Most people feel underappreciated, even at awesome workplaces, so that extra special genuine and individual attention would likely be enjoyed! Again, the downside is that some people hate being in the spotlight but one-minute would hopefully be bearable, both for the speakers and those honored.
posted by smorgasbord at 6:00 PM on September 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
If you're going for extra awesome, how about personalizing the gift? (I realize this is a lot of work and not necessarily do-able.) You could ask each employee five questions, then base it off of that? (For example, "growing up I always wanted a _____" or "I dream of visiting ____ one day" or "If I could receive one thing every month, I'd like _____.") Admittedly, it's risky but certainly has an element of surprise and might be fun!
It sounds like you work at an amazing place (wowzers!) where people have their needs and wants taken care of for the most part. Therefore, I'd also include a personal element like an ode or toast to each employee (or at least the ones who have been there for five years.) People could pick a colleague and then write, say, a one-minute speech on why they're so awesome to work with and share that in front of the group. Most people feel underappreciated, even at awesome workplaces, so that extra special genuine and individual attention would likely be enjoyed! Again, the downside is that some people hate being in the spotlight but one-minute would hopefully be bearable, both for the speakers and those honored.
posted by smorgasbord at 6:00 PM on September 9, 2015 [3 favorites]
Seconding bleep here. If you want to spend money, the problem is that an expensive gift is going to be far more awesome to some employees than others; to some it will probably feel like a slap in the face because they could have really, really used the money you spent on it. Unless you know that no one is facing extraordinary medical bills, unexpectedly supporting aging parents, trying to figure out if they can afford a divorce, etc. it seems far kinder to do a fun gift + cash combo or a relatively fungible large gift.
Before my son's biological father started paying child support, his mom used to send us flowers on Mother's Day. It was the worst, because (a) that $20 for overpriced flowers was pretty substantial to me, and would have bought food or medicine or an hour off work to go to the doctor, and (b) I had to write a cheerful thank-you note and look at this pretty but sadly inedible gift for a week anyway anyway.
posted by cogitron at 6:04 PM on September 9, 2015 [10 favorites]
Before my son's biological father started paying child support, his mom used to send us flowers on Mother's Day. It was the worst, because (a) that $20 for overpriced flowers was pretty substantial to me, and would have bought food or medicine or an hour off work to go to the doctor, and (b) I had to write a cheerful thank-you note and look at this pretty but sadly inedible gift for a week anyway anyway.
posted by cogitron at 6:04 PM on September 9, 2015 [10 favorites]
How about a thing of the month (some of those can get pretty pricey) tailored to the person, plus some kind of company thingie (maybe Portland specific, some kind of rock or something that you can only get there? I have a Texas paperweight on my desk that makes me smile every time), plus a cash bonus? That scratches fun + commemorative + practical, and you've got the budget for it.
posted by joycehealy at 6:45 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by joycehealy at 6:45 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I want to follow up with this: I hadn't suggested cash or gift cards because you had mentioned it wasn't an option but I'd really, really recommend considering it. I like bleep's suggestion of spending no more than $100 for a gift per person and second cognitron's points.
posted by smorgasbord at 7:03 PM on September 9, 2015
posted by smorgasbord at 7:03 PM on September 9, 2015
My employer is fairly well-known for giving employees a round-trip airline ticket to anywhere (up to a certain dollar amount that's generous enough to cover most trips and still within your initial stated budget) on their 1 year anniversary. It's not one-size-fits-all because people can choose where to go, whether it's home to visit family or off on an adventure across the globe, and it works equally well for local and remote employees. It's a well-loved benefit that makes people feel really valued and rewarded, and I highly recommend it as a perk.
posted by rhiannonstone at 8:52 PM on September 9, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by rhiannonstone at 8:52 PM on September 9, 2015 [9 favorites]
There is nothing in that price range that won't irritate or upset employees. $2,000 is a lot of money to spend on a white elephant, especially if it creates tax liabilities for the employee. Find something generic like a line of credit at a concierge service that will let them tailor the bonus to be something they actually want.
posted by Candleman at 10:04 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Candleman at 10:04 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
At one company I worked at, we got a $500 Visa gift card on our fifth anniversaries. That was very welcome. If I'd been given a painting/gadget/trinket that was allegedly worth $500 instead, I would have been really irritated, because chances were it wouldn't match my taste.
I also worked at a company that gave personalized bobbleheads to five-year employees. That was pretty fun.
posted by vickyverky at 10:27 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also worked at a company that gave personalized bobbleheads to five-year employees. That was pretty fun.
posted by vickyverky at 10:27 PM on September 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
One of my previous employers did a cool thing: they identified 5 different types of gifts - a gift card, an all-expenses paid trip to a fun place, cool art/techie gifts, meeting with celebrities for lunch/dinner and a couple of other things.
Identified employees were asked for lunch by the CEO a few weeks before the event, handed these options and asked to pick these after discussing with their families.
I know the employees were delighted to meet with the head honcho - knowing that the company recognized them and were good enough to allow them to choose their rewards more than offset the surprise factor.
posted by theobserver at 4:48 AM on September 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
Identified employees were asked for lunch by the CEO a few weeks before the event, handed these options and asked to pick these after discussing with their families.
I know the employees were delighted to meet with the head honcho - knowing that the company recognized them and were good enough to allow them to choose their rewards more than offset the surprise factor.
posted by theobserver at 4:48 AM on September 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
These employees are already getting lavished with stuff. What if you made a contribution in honor of each one, especially if a cause of interest to each individual could be determined? $2000 will buy eight water buffalos for villagers in Nepal. You could accompany it with a tangible memento related to the gift, like in the water buffalo example, a small weaving made by a Nepali crafter.
posted by lakeroon at 6:01 AM on September 10, 2015
posted by lakeroon at 6:01 AM on September 10, 2015
Last Christmas, my mom's boss sent a limo to her work and had everyone get in, while on the clock. They were brought to the mall and given gift cards to shop with. They were returned to work before it was time to clock out and go home. It was a complete surprise and the ladies all loved it because it didn't interfere with their paychecks or their home life, and they got to go to the mall!
Five days is a work week. You could have a treat a day with them not knowing ahead of time what the treat would be. Five treats for five years.
Monday: Massage therapist sent to the office.
Tuesday: Lunch out on the company's dime.
Wednesday: $500 gift card to Amazon.com for a one hour on the clock shopping spree.
Thursday: Something specific to that employee's interest (trip to museum, mall, fishing store).
Friday: A live band to do a 50 minute performance at the office.
posted by myselfasme at 6:30 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
Five days is a work week. You could have a treat a day with them not knowing ahead of time what the treat would be. Five treats for five years.
Monday: Massage therapist sent to the office.
Tuesday: Lunch out on the company's dime.
Wednesday: $500 gift card to Amazon.com for a one hour on the clock shopping spree.
Thursday: Something specific to that employee's interest (trip to museum, mall, fishing store).
Friday: A live band to do a 50 minute performance at the office.
posted by myselfasme at 6:30 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
I second an iPad (with case) because many of them will love it and those who don't would find it easy to sell or regift. Some people really need the cash rather than the gift. For that reason, don't engrave it. My company outsources the gift process and we pick from a list. Similar things for each milestone but they get nicer as you go up in years. It is probably considered boring, but it works because not everyone is in the same place in their lives and needs.
I think a list of 3-5 things is the way to go so they can pick from a trip, a gadget, a TV or an experience. Make sure you will be able to keep up the same level of gifting for the next four years, too.
posted by soelo at 8:15 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think a list of 3-5 things is the way to go so they can pick from a trip, a gadget, a TV or an experience. Make sure you will be able to keep up the same level of gifting for the next four years, too.
posted by soelo at 8:15 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
There are companies that can take care of this for you ... Octanner being one I've heard of. I believe you pick a price range, they show you a catalogue of what's available, they handle the purchasing, shipping, add an extended warranty and a personalized webpage. People hitting the milestone (say ten years at the company) pick from the available selection. They can also include a donation in your name to your charity of choice as part of the process.
posted by Admira at 4:50 PM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Admira at 4:50 PM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
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