What is a gift that makes office life better?
November 9, 2022 5:09 PM Subscribe
My husband's office has been having a tough few years because of government funding and covid and everything else, but they do really great work for the community and I'd love to give them a gift to lift their spirits. Can you please recommend some sort of luxurious item I could buy for them, to give them a little bit of joy throughout the day?
They have a pretty typical small non-profit, with between 15-25 people on staff given the season. Mostly office staff but a few maintenance crew, doing nature education. They have a decent and new coffee machine, but the rest of the kitchen is pretty barren (it's a new building). Besides that, anything from a big box of something great, to some sort of fun toy, or a food gadget that's just great for an office? Many thanks for the recommendations!
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They have a pretty typical small non-profit, with between 15-25 people on staff given the season. Mostly office staff but a few maintenance crew, doing nature education. They have a decent and new coffee machine, but the rest of the kitchen is pretty barren (it's a new building). Besides that, anything from a big box of something great, to some sort of fun toy, or a food gadget that's just great for an office? Many thanks for the recommendations!
A note about MeFiGiftGuide2022: These next two weeks, we are collecting questions on ask.metafilter.com that help people find fantastic holiday gifts that show love for friend, family, nature, and our global community. These questions, tagged with #MeFiGiftGuide2022, will be collected into an FPP on Nov 24, the night before Black Friday, to spread our community’s love and wisdom across the universe (or at least to the hearts of our future MeFi members).
If you’re new to MetaFilter, why don’t you join? It’s $5 for a lifetime membership, and that $5 is mostly to keep the spammers out. If you end up buying something based on what you read, why not donate to MetaFilter as part of our November Fundraiser Drive.
some kind of snack of the month subscription?
posted by hollyanderbody at 5:37 PM on November 9, 2022
posted by hollyanderbody at 5:37 PM on November 9, 2022
You could put together a basket of items for the kitchen. Our office uses a lot of balsamic and olive oil, for people making salad dressings. Add Dijon, salt and honey and it allows making a quick salad dressing without having to bring anything to work. Other condiments perhaps, salsa, jams, honey, tea. For ideal 'giftiness', I'd go for stuff nicer than the basic grocery items. Your basket can come with a loaf of bread, crackers or chips to use things with, but aim to provide things people could continue to use on their own food. If it's a non-profit, I'd imagine the kitchen may not be deliberately supplied with stuff like that.
posted by lookoutbelow at 6:14 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by lookoutbelow at 6:14 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
Is there a hot water dispenser? In other words, are people able to make tea or other things that would require hot water?
I don't have a specific product recommendation, but I've worked in offices that had coffee pots but no way of making tea. So something that would enable people to do that could be nice if they don't already have it. Maybe that along with some actual tea.
posted by bananana at 6:20 PM on November 9, 2022 [16 favorites]
I don't have a specific product recommendation, but I've worked in offices that had coffee pots but no way of making tea. So something that would enable people to do that could be nice if they don't already have it. Maybe that along with some actual tea.
posted by bananana at 6:20 PM on November 9, 2022 [16 favorites]
Seconding some form of hot water maker and tea assortments, or just some nice new tea assortments if they already have the hot water. I'd especially suggest including low- and no-caffeine teas. It's lovely to be able to take a little break to make tea without getting wired towards the end of the day.
posted by earth by april at 6:38 PM on November 9, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by earth by april at 6:38 PM on November 9, 2022 [5 favorites]
A nice toaster, and perhaps a starter package of fine bagels and toastible bread? Toasters can be hazardous, but office dwellers do love them.
posted by lhauser at 6:40 PM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by lhauser at 6:40 PM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
(I'm assuming the kitchen at least has a microwave. If not, then a microwave would be appreciated.) Things that get a lot of use in our kitchen, besides the coffee pot, are the microwave, a toaster oven, an electric hot water kettle for tea and instant stuff, and a Brita pitcher. Much appreciated are a selection of fancy coffees and nice teas (both herbal and with caffeine), hot chocolate, and dairy and dairy alternative creamers, and a selection of sweeteners including honey, sugar, splenda, and stevia.
posted by gudrun at 6:53 PM on November 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by gudrun at 6:53 PM on November 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
I'd suggest avoiding a commercial snack box unless you are absolutely certain that no one in the office has dietary restrictions.
Nthing gudrun's suggestion of a hot water kettle and stuff to go with it.
posted by FencingGal at 6:58 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Nthing gudrun's suggestion of a hot water kettle and stuff to go with it.
posted by FencingGal at 6:58 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
In the snack department -- a one time or recurring delivery from The Fruit Guys or Nuts.com would be nice and practical. Or, if this is the kind of office where people would make smoothies? Maybe a good blender plus some nice cups and reusable straws? (And the fruit -- fresh or frozen -- to get started. Or, instead of the hot beverage supplies themselves, maybe a bunch of new mugs or those insulated metal travel mugs that are so popular so that people can keep drinks warm at their desks and/or out in the field.
Getting outside of the kitchen -- a decent HEPA air purifier might be great for keeping things from getting stuffy as winter arrives. Also, plants to brighten things up -- could get something big for wow factor or some small desk plants to distribute through the space.
Are they a fun group? What about something silly like a big lawn game of Jenga, a dartboard, or personalized cornhole boards? Also fun in the personalized department -- stickers that are made to order are always a big hit if people like to be goofy. You might have to be pretty inside what they think is relevant though, so could be hard to do as a gift.
It's very thoughtful and nice of you to do this!
posted by luzdeluna at 7:17 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Getting outside of the kitchen -- a decent HEPA air purifier might be great for keeping things from getting stuffy as winter arrives. Also, plants to brighten things up -- could get something big for wow factor or some small desk plants to distribute through the space.
Are they a fun group? What about something silly like a big lawn game of Jenga, a dartboard, or personalized cornhole boards? Also fun in the personalized department -- stickers that are made to order are always a big hit if people like to be goofy. You might have to be pretty inside what they think is relevant though, so could be hard to do as a gift.
It's very thoughtful and nice of you to do this!
posted by luzdeluna at 7:17 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
I work for a tiny NGO. The things that have been hits in my office kitchen so far have been:
- Ginger/Lemon twist tea bags to go with our new kettle. Agree w many others that tea is normally harder to come by in offices. A gift box of nice teas or anything to spice up coffee or tea (flavored liquid creamer, small packs of honey, sugar in the raw packs, etc.) is always welcome.
- A holiday/themed gift basket with a variety of sweet/salty snacks and fruit + fancy nuts. Best have been ones where people with gluten allergies or diabetes can also partake
- A refrigerator magnet that's a whiteboard, so people can write down which supplies are running low, rather than dumping keeping track of what needs to be purchased on some executive assistant
- If allowed, a variety pack of beers/ciders/wines for late Friday water cooler chats
posted by gemmy at 8:18 PM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
- Ginger/Lemon twist tea bags to go with our new kettle. Agree w many others that tea is normally harder to come by in offices. A gift box of nice teas or anything to spice up coffee or tea (flavored liquid creamer, small packs of honey, sugar in the raw packs, etc.) is always welcome.
- A holiday/themed gift basket with a variety of sweet/salty snacks and fruit + fancy nuts. Best have been ones where people with gluten allergies or diabetes can also partake
- A refrigerator magnet that's a whiteboard, so people can write down which supplies are running low, rather than dumping keeping track of what needs to be purchased on some executive assistant
- If allowed, a variety pack of beers/ciders/wines for late Friday water cooler chats
posted by gemmy at 8:18 PM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
in my first upscale office job, the thing that amazed and delighted me was that the coffee-drink machine had flavor dispensers so you could add irish cream or amaretto etc to your drink. So maybe a basket of Torani syrups, including sugarless ones?
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:22 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:22 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
The things our office of 15 people could not live without. All shared.
- supplied hot water dispenser
- Mavis' toasted sandwich / panini press
- the microwave. A lunchtime necessity.
- toaster (Lee and Bree couldn't live without it, anyway).
- my teapot! and my jar of quality black tea leaves
- Pam's pod coffee machine
- Nick's french press for coffee
- dish drainer for our washed but not yet dry things
- good tea towels to turn the washed things into dry things
- paper hand towels and dispenser plus an actual terry cloth hand towel
- occasional chocolate treats (but only occasionally)
- my other jar of expensive but best earl-grey tea bags
- other people's jars and boxes of their drink favourites
- a box of little sugar sachets. Because we all know how you get ants...
- a table to sit and eat and talk at
- a couch in the corner to converse on when you need to have a candid but not formal conversation. Or just somewhere to sit and read that's not a desk.
- an unspoken commitment to care for each other
posted by Thella at 10:00 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
- supplied hot water dispenser
- Mavis' toasted sandwich / panini press
- the microwave. A lunchtime necessity.
- toaster (Lee and Bree couldn't live without it, anyway).
- my teapot! and my jar of quality black tea leaves
- Pam's pod coffee machine
- Nick's french press for coffee
- dish drainer for our washed but not yet dry things
- good tea towels to turn the washed things into dry things
- paper hand towels and dispenser plus an actual terry cloth hand towel
- occasional chocolate treats (but only occasionally)
- my other jar of expensive but best earl-grey tea bags
- other people's jars and boxes of their drink favourites
- a box of little sugar sachets. Because we all know how you get ants...
- a table to sit and eat and talk at
- a couch in the corner to converse on when you need to have a candid but not formal conversation. Or just somewhere to sit and read that's not a desk.
- an unspoken commitment to care for each other
posted by Thella at 10:00 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Cute but hyper-targeted functional stationery, like the kind Japan excel in. E.g. Index tabs; sticky notes (though 3M has really nice colour sets of post-its that's not often sold - i have them and it's a little distinctive thing that delights me); highlighters.
posted by cendawanita at 10:21 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 10:21 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
Someone [yourself? Dr Glarrrk?] to clean the shared microwave and triage the shared fridge once a month.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:43 AM on November 10, 2022
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:43 AM on November 10, 2022
A tiny gift that will brighten the day of anyone in the office: special window stickers that create rainbows on the walls every time the sun shines. Inexpensive, so you could buy one for every window? Puts a smile on my face each time the rainbows appear. These are the ones i have.
I also posted them on another gifting question, but this is such an easy, joyful gift that fits everyone, also for office/corporate gifting. Plus it's affordable, and super compact to ship.
posted by PardonMyFrench at 2:50 AM on November 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also posted them on another gifting question, but this is such an easy, joyful gift that fits everyone, also for office/corporate gifting. Plus it's affordable, and super compact to ship.
posted by PardonMyFrench at 2:50 AM on November 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Do they have a window/good light? How about a nice, low maintenance plant?
NB My favourite low maintenance plant, the peace lily, can make some people a bit sneezy, so I don't recommend that.
Or how about some nice, framed art?
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:28 AM on November 10, 2022
NB My favourite low maintenance plant, the peace lily, can make some people a bit sneezy, so I don't recommend that.
Or how about some nice, framed art?
posted by unicorn chaser at 3:28 AM on November 10, 2022
I'd be cautious with electrical items. Building management for the building our office is in do not allow us to have toasters or kettles, and I'm sure they're not unique in that.
Things that have gone down well in my workplace include fruit deliveries, giant chocolate things (Belgian chocolate Easter egg, enormous Toblerone), home baking (sorry, not very applicable), fancy baked goods from fancy bakeries, colourful paper snowflakes put up on all the windows, a book swap shelf, a games console.
Perhaps they'd like the complete Calvin and Hobbes or Far Side?
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 3:28 AM on November 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Things that have gone down well in my workplace include fruit deliveries, giant chocolate things (Belgian chocolate Easter egg, enormous Toblerone), home baking (sorry, not very applicable), fancy baked goods from fancy bakeries, colourful paper snowflakes put up on all the windows, a book swap shelf, a games console.
Perhaps they'd like the complete Calvin and Hobbes or Far Side?
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 3:28 AM on November 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
An inexpensive two seater sofa can be a huge boon to an office that doesn't have anything but work chairs.
An electric kettle is always useful for the kitchen.
If they've got space, a dart board is a great way to spend some time.
If they've got a lot of empty wall space, one of those huge vinyl full-wall stickers of a nice shot of Grand Rapids would fill the area in a way where taste in art or framing wouldn't have to come into play.
posted by phunniemee at 6:09 AM on November 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
An electric kettle is always useful for the kitchen.
If they've got space, a dart board is a great way to spend some time.
If they've got a lot of empty wall space, one of those huge vinyl full-wall stickers of a nice shot of Grand Rapids would fill the area in a way where taste in art or framing wouldn't have to come into play.
posted by phunniemee at 6:09 AM on November 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
A toaster, plus an order of bagels, gluten-free bread, rice cakes, cream cheese, hummus, as well as a basket of good oranges & apples. And a bagel slicer, because slicing bagels is a major source of emergency room visits. And a toaster needs a GFCI outlet for safety.
Keep an eye on freecycle and craigslist/ free for a microwave and other kitchen stuff.
posted by theora55 at 6:25 AM on November 10, 2022
Keep an eye on freecycle and craigslist/ free for a microwave and other kitchen stuff.
posted by theora55 at 6:25 AM on November 10, 2022
One office I worked in had an automatic tea maker. (I can't vouch for the one in the link -- I can't find the one we had.)
The reason I liked this so much is that it was a nice social pause for all of us. "Let's break and drink a pot of tea." And then we'd drink white or green tea or whatever that wasn't too caffeinated.
posted by wyzewoman at 8:02 AM on November 10, 2022
The reason I liked this so much is that it was a nice social pause for all of us. "Let's break and drink a pot of tea." And then we'd drink white or green tea or whatever that wasn't too caffeinated.
posted by wyzewoman at 8:02 AM on November 10, 2022
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Or send a fresh fruit arrangement once a month for a few months?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:10 PM on November 9, 2022 [6 favorites]