It is not too early to start thinking about gift ideas for employees and subcontractors. Business owners should share their appreciation for their employees and subcontractor staff to show them how much they are valued in the business. After all, relationships grow out of kindness and gratitude. But, what do we give them that won’t break the bank? Today we are sharing affordable gift ideas to give others. Instead of hunting for these items, we shared various options and tips below to help you.
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Seven affordable gift ideas to give staff this year
Fake or real succulent plant that requires little to no watering
A real or fake plant is always a great gift for a staff member. It can be for someone who works from home or in an office environment. A splash of green in an office makes the room more comfortable and less sterile. Below I am sharing plant gifts I found on Amazon(affiliate). Feel free to click on it to purchase it.
Wireless or corded Earbuds
We all use earbuds. Whether wireless, with or without a microphone, we can use an extra pair of earbuds. They are a useful gift for any colleague. Click on the earbuds below from Amazon(affiliate).
Homemade dishes, plates, or cutting boards
Finding a store that offers engravings to customize a product for your employee/staff member is a great gift idea. Adding the first name, nickname, or initials can be fun to give something more meaningful. Find something small that can be placed in the office or their home and customize it for a particular person means you took some time to pick out and decide on what to write. It does mean a lot. Below are gift ideas I found on Amazon (affiliate).
Customize a mug for a staff member
There are lots of mugs to choose from in this collection from Amazon (affiliate). Maybe you want to add their name, favorite sport, favorite photo, family picture, or anything else. Think about that person’s favorite hobbies and pick a phrase or photo related to their hobbies.
Purchase Lunch for them and their family
You can give your staff and their family an in-office party. Getting the whole event catered or cooking yourself to save money works. Either way, people do appreciate a free meal.
Some companies offer their employees a free dinner on them. Giving gift cards to restaurants or reimbursing them may be an option for you and your business. Be sure to check with your accountant to make sure you can do this type of gift idea. You may or may not be able to use it as a tax deduction. You also may have to include it as income on your employees’ paystubs. Get more information before doing this one.
Grocery store gift cards
This one is tricky too. Giving any form of the gift card is considered a fringe benefit. Read more about it here in this post. If you want to give them any way to your staff, be sure you understand how to track this gift in your accounts. Talk with your accountant first.
Wine and beer artisan types
I found that giving wine and beer is kind and appreciative only to people that drink it. Consider buying artisan types with unique flavors. While some people like dark beers or red wines and others like lighter beers and white wines, make sure you know exactly what the recipient likes before purchasing. Taking a few seconds and asking the staff member what they like will make the gift much more meaningful.
Sending beer and wine in Pennsylvania is an issue. But other states may be OK with mailing alcohol. Be sure to check with your state and the recipient’s state before choosing to send anything.
You can visit Fine Wine and Good Spirits website to shop their gifts section to see what you can buy.
Tax implications for giving gifts!
You can only deduct $25.00 per person per year for business gifts. If you ship it, you can deduct the shipping as well. Read more by visiting this post that talks about tax deductibility from FreshBooks.com (affiliate).
Always keep paper or digital copies of the gift receipts, even if you can only deduct part of it.
Well, there you have it. Whatever you choose to give to your staff, make it a thoughtful gift instead of a common one. Showing how much you appreciate them is essential. After all, they support you and your business success, give them the courtesy of your time.
Visit our other gift ideas posts for more inspiration:
Creative Gift Ideas for Colleagues and Subcontractors
Great Last Minute Business Gift Ideas for Anyone
