An employee who feels valued tends to enjoy better physical and emotional wellness and decreased work-related stress. Statistics show that happy employees are 13% more productive than unhappy employees. Overall, an office full of happy, grateful employees contributes to a positive, supportive, and productive company culture.

So are you looking for ways to motivate your employees without breaking the bank and going over the company budget?

Well, we have a list that’s perfect for you. These 12 top motivational gifts for employees are personal, and thoughtful, and will boost productivity in the workplace.

12 Best Motivational Employee Gifts to Boost Morale

One thing to consider when giving motivational gifts is that timing is important. When will your employees need these gifts the most? What’s the occasion? At what point in the year or month do employees usually require a little boost in motivation?

For example, the last few months of the year are usually when work picks up and challenges increase. However, motivation and energy start to dwindle, and exhaustion ensues. This is the perfect time of the year to give your employees a little boost to keep them holding on until they get a well-deserved break.

1. Self-Care and Stress-Less Gifts

What better way is there to show your employees you appreciate them than by encouraging them to take care of themselves?

Stress toys are lovely, inexpensive motivational gifts for employees. Gift your employees with cute, squeezable stress balls, animals, pals, faces, foods, etc., and encourage them to let their stress out in a healthy manner. 

Some stress toy examples include sharks, squids, cats, superheroes, hearts, and human-like creatures with silly facial expressions and motivational messages.

Other self-care gift ideas for employees include a sleeping eye mask to calm the mind, soothe headaches, and improve sleep quality. 

Another idea is to gift your employees a breathing necklace to wear as a reminder to slow down and breathe deeply. Breathing necklaces hang from your neck like a little whistle through which you can take long breaths when you’re under stress. 

Coloring books filled with inspirational messages are fantastic reminders to be present and mindful. An engraved, monogrammed journal set can do wonders to encourage your employees to take time to reflect.

2. Clothing Couture

Clothing items are a practical category of motivational gifts for employees. 

Gift your employees some company swag to make them feel included, valued, and appreciated at your company. 

Matching company apparel can instill a sense of belonging and being a part of a team within your employees, keeping them motivated. Add a motivational quote, inspirational image, or each employee’s initials to the clothing item to personalize this motivational gift.

Consider making sustainable company apparel such as backpacks, tote bags, caps, hoodies, blankets, shirts, etc., your motivational gift for your employees.

3. For The Office

Boost company morale from right within the office with some motivational office gifts for employees that everyone can enjoy.

Install teamwork, gratitude, appreciation, and positivity wall decals and other framed office decor your office workers can read every day. Add a fun card game to the lunch room so your employees can relax and connect during their breaks. 

A super fun option is a big sound button that allows you to record a funny, motivational, or appreciative message. This button can be pressed and the message will be played whenever employees feel unmotivated, uninspired, or down.

Invest in a billboard light box that illuminates a section of the office with a special message that you can change every week for a bit of variety.

4. Tea Time Treats

Most people enjoy either tea or coffee, or both. So, why not gift your employees with something they’ll use every day for their calming cup of tea or their energizing cup of coffee?

One option for a small motivational employee gift in this category is a mug, cup, or flask. Engrave a motivational quote, a personal thank you message, and/or their initials or name on the outside of the item. 

Another creative idea is a seemingly plain mug with an inspirational or appreciative message that’s only displayed when hot water is poured into the mug.

Check whether each employee is a tea drinker or a coffee drinker. Add specialty teas and coffees to their ‘tea time treats’ gift as a nice little extra.

5. Gift Cards

Give your employees the gift of choice to keep them inspired and motivated. PerkUp gift cards are a fantastic choice for employee recognition ideas. They can be automated, budget-specified, and personalized, with additional notes, images, and GIFs to make them special. 

Gift cards are wonderful motivational gifts for employees because they emphasize that everyone is different, with different wants and needs. The acknowledgment of the fact that an employer can’t know everything about their employees and that employees have free will greatly boosts company morale.

Employees can pick their gifts based on their personal needs. Gift cards are especially useful if your company is partially or fully remote.

6. Living Gifts

Studies show that interaction with plants improves mental health, mood, productivity, and creativity. They’re also known to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. This is the reason why the next small motivational gift for employees on our list is plants. 

Your employees will love a little desk plant planted in a container with a special motivational message such as, “Thanks for all you do!”, “You’re an invaluable part of our success.”, or “Working. Growing. Succeeding. Together.”

We have one important tip for you to give the perfect living gift to your employees. Don’t give them more responsibility! Ensure the desk plant you gift your employee is easy to keep alive. Think low-maintenance, such as succulents, cacti, plant-growing kits, and self-watering plant kits.

7. Sweet and Savory Gift Boxes

Next on our list, we have a classic in employee motivation corporate gifting. The gift box!

A gift box can show your employees that you appreciate them and are willing to cater to their preferences. 

Ensure you are well-versed in the dietary requirements and preferences of each of your employees. Ask directly if you’re unsure! It’s better to ask and give away the surprise than to surprise an employee with a gift they’ll never use.

Do you know your one employee has a sweet tooth? Construct a basket filled with chocolate, brownies, cookies, macarons, and other handmade baked goods.

What about your employee who brings their Tabasco to work to add to every meal? Base their gift basket around an array of different types of high-quality hot sauces.

The health nut in the office will adore a basket full of organic, sugar-free goodies, as well as dried fruit, nuts, and other healthy treats.

8. Electronics

Motivational gifts for employees that fall under the electronics category are one of the most practical types. Focus on the most useful, creative ones that the average person would need. 

For example, a charging keyring or a power bank allows for flexibility and reduces worries about one’s device burning out when they’re on the go running errands (home or business-related). 

A high-quality speaker can be enjoyed at parties, any kind of get-togethers, and alone at home on a day off. The gift of music conveys the message to your employees that you understand their leisure time is vital. 

Noise-canceling earphones or headphones are another great option. They can help your employees improve their focus and concentration.

9. Exciting Experiences

Sometimes, and we can likely all attest to this, experiences are the best gifts. Your employees may benefit from a well-earned day off, a lunch out with the team, or a fun team-building activity, such as paintball or an escape room.

One idea is to gift each of your valuable employees with a gift card for a team lunch so that everyone can sit and eat together. This idea is perfect for hybrid workplaces and global teams so that team members can enjoy a meal as a unit from all over the world. It’s a pleasant way to boost company morale and encourage connection between team members who are separated by physical distance.

If you’re very familiar with your employees and know their interests and hobbies, why not base an experience gift on this knowledge? Present your employees with sports, concert, or conference tickets based on their unique interests. Or provide them the opportunity to join a class also based on their hobbies and likes.

10. Actual Awards

Motivate your employees with gifts that allow them to showcase their achievements proudly. 

A pin or lapel with the title Employee of the Month or the number of years they’ve served the company is one option. Employees can wear their badge or pin proudly whenever and wherever they choose. 

Everyone loves a trophy! Trophies in the form of paperweights are inspirational gifts for employees that can help maintain their energy and productivity. 

Get an applicable paperweight (e.g., a star) engraved with an employee’s name and achievement, as well as a motivational thank you message that is personal to them. 

11. Stationery and Supplies

Monogrammed stationery, supplies, and other practical goodies are smart, sophisticated, and unique.

Refillable pens, pen holders, mouse pads, wallets, tumblers, water bottles, and luggage tags can all be monogrammed in a beautiful, graceful way. A boring, impersonal mouse pad won’t do. Make sure you make it interesting with your company’s logo, the employee’s initials, etc.

These items, and additionally notepads, clip holders, pen holders, notebooks, sticky notes, desk calendars, and memo cubes, can also all be adorned with a brief inspirational, personalized, or gratitude message. Ensure every stationery item you gift your employees is high-quality, with a sleek or fun design.

12. Goodies for Home

Show your employees you know their lives can’t completely revolve around work by giving them some practical, high-quality gifts for their homes.

The keywords here are useful and inclusive. What can everyone use, no matter their circumstances?

Opt for coasters, chopping boards, lunch containers, knife sets, etc. All of these household items can be engraved or decorated with a company logo or a personal motivational, inspirational, or thank-you message.

Final Thoughts

A kind, thoughtful employee motivation gift can go a long way in keeping your employees working hard and building a solid, trusting relationship with them.

Consult our list of motivational gifts for employees when deciding how to show your employees that they’re valued, appreciated, and needed at your company. Simultaneously, consider your company culture and what gifts you feel would add to, enhance, or improve the atmosphere that already exists in the office.