Marianne Bard

Marianne Bard
November 7, 2025 • 6 min read
Marianne Bard is a content writer at Square Signs. Her sources of inspiration are the colors of the sun and creative design. She loves to delve deep into the field to learn about exceptional decorative techniques. Blogging is a reflection of her curiosity, offering a way for her to share endless ideas with her beloved readers.

Savji Dholakia, who runs a jewelry firm in Surat, India, gifted 1,260 cars and 400 apartments to his employees during Diwali. He stated: “Each employee must have his own home and car in the next five years.” This “humble” gesture forever stayed in history, reminding us that employees aren’t just workers but the real contributors to a business’s success.

Another story tells about Tommaso Mazzanti, the CEO and founder of the Italian All’antico Vinaio restaurant. During the corporate Christmas party, staff were given £1 million and several holiday stays in the Maldives. This was a big thank-you note to his employees, literally telling them: “You built this.”

The culture of giving staff Christmas gifts is a gesture of appreciation. It’s a good way to wrap up the year and say “thank you” for building a company that isn’t theirs.

Let’s dive into some gift ideas if you also want to say “thank you” to your dedicated staff.



 

Key Takeaways

  • Christmas gifts for employees are a special gesture of appreciation. It’s a kind way to cherish them for their hard work.
  • There are many available options for presents. Depending on the position and interests of people, you can prepare giveaways that they would like.
  • Xmas presents can be digital and physical. You can give them online gift cards, memberships, or subscriptions, as well as nicely wrapped boxes.

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas for Employees

Go beyond regular mugs and boxes of chocolate when it comes to gifting your staff Christmas presents. Think of unique, personalized, and worthy things to show how grateful you are for their dedication and hard work. Delve into some of the staff Christmas present ideas we’ve prepared for you.

Personalized Gifts

What’s more pleasant than a gift that is specially made for and addressed to you? Think of a caricature for some fun, a photo album enveloping all the happy team moments throughout the year, or personalized stationery like custom planners, notepads, notebooks, and beyond. Customized gifts make staff feel seen, appreciated, and valued. Use this idea to cheer them up!

Personalized Christmas notebooks with holiday wishes and thematic images   

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Membership Gifts

Another great Christmas gift idea for office staff is membership giveaways. It’s a wonderful idea to provide them with ongoing access to their favorite services. Prepare subscription boxes, such as beauty and wellness services, gym or yoga memberships, eco-friendly giveaways for multiple tree-planting events, as well as educational programs. Membership presents serve longer and leave a deeper impression.

A membership beauty box for Christmas with beauty products and a gift card inside

Home and Living Gifts

Think of home and living gifts to give employees for Christmas. Decorative wood prints, gourmet food boxes, tea and coffee sets, and warm thematic blankets are wonderful presents to accentuate their homes at Christmas. Your employees will appreciate the heartfelt warmth and delight that comes with your giveaways.

A personalized wood print showcasing a warm family photo on Christmas   

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Extra Paid Leaves

Time is one of the most valuable gifts for employees at Christmas. If you want to make your staff happy and relaxed, give them free time. Set them free from office duties to travel, rest, or do whatever they feel like doing. An extra day of paid leave is a win-win: a good investment in the employee’s happiness and, as a result, the company’s productivity.

A personalized Christmas gift card reading "Enjoy Your Day Off" and showcasing Christmas graphics

Tech Gadgets

Tech gadgets can be one of the most precious present ideas. Expensive tech device giveaways are a reward for your staff’s dedication and hard work. Some gadgets, like noise-canceling headphones, tablets, and smartwatches, can also serve as a good investment in the company’s workflow.

A green gift box with a pair of headphones and a smartwatch

Gift Baskets

Personalized gift baskets are eye-catching, beautiful, and aesthetic. You need to explore everyone’s interests to prepare individualized gift baskets.

Get a gourmet basket for those foodies on your roster. Eco-baskets with reusable and organic items are a perfect giveaway for environmentalists. A wellness box with herbal tea, bath salts, scented candles, and warm blankets is good for those who love to spend time alone. Pack them with love. They’ll appreciate it.

A Christmas gift basket with a tea set, scented candle, and sweets inside

Branded Games

Games aren’t played only for fun. They have a surprisingly good impact on productivity, creativity, and problem-solving. Playing games with colleagues starts a culture of good collaboration and healthy communication. If you want to boost teamwork in the office, branded games can be amazing Christmas gifts for employees.

Get a chess set with the company’s logo. It’ll boost strategic thinking among the players. Regular playing cards with personalized icons are the standard minimum that every office must have. You can play dozens of games with these cards. Another great example is customized puzzle sets. They can feature a motivational quote, someone’s favorite Christmas character, colors, and figures.

Customized playing cards for Christmas, reading "Growth" on the back of the cards   

Customize Your Playing Cards

Online Gift Cards

E-gift cards are versatile giveaways. You don’t need to lose sleep over what to give your staff for Christmas. They can pick whatever they want. Online gift cards from big shopping platforms are the best. The large selection of goods will let them surf through all the categories without any limits.

An online gift certificate for Christmas showcasing $100 gift for the winter collection of the upcoming year

Cultural Experience Days

Cultural experience days are memorable gifts for your employees for Christmas. These experiences which include activities such as visiting museums, ballets, theaters, and concerts, can boost people’s productivity and well-being. Surely, working minds are always desperate for cultural activities to refresh their minds and spirits.

A cultural experience gift card with an invitation to a Christmas Eve theater performance

Skill Development Presents

Skill development presents are another popular present idea for holidays. These kinds of giveaways aim to help someone learn, practice, grow, and gradually enhance their knowledge. Skill development gifts can be both digital and physical. Educational courses, memberships, and coaching sessions are the most prominent online gifts. For physical presents, specialized books, encyclopedias, guidebooks, and beyond make the biggest impact. No matter what you choose to give, you’ll have a huge investment.

A gift card for an online design course, reading "Unwrap Your Creativity" with the validity date and contact information mentioned below    

Customize Your Gift Card

Books

Garrison Keillor once said: “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” It’s a lifelong present with the magic of surprising you time and again every time you read it. A book is for those who appreciate it. So think wisely before deciding to gift it to someone. From industry-specific books to bestselling novels and journals, you have an endless collection to choose from to surprise the bookworms in your office.

A pack of books wrapped with a red Christmas bow, with a mistletoe leaf

FAQs about Xmas Gifts for Employees

Should I prepare the same Christmas gift for all employees?

I’d advise you not to. Each employee is an entirely different person from the other. They all have their own interests, hobbies, and abilities. Gifting them all the same present would speak about your indifference and carelessness. Try to find what they do besides working for your company. It won’t take that much time and effort.

What should I give my staff for Christmas on a budget?

You can basically find any Christmas gift for your staff on a budget. Think of gourmet boxes, a desk plant, or a lunch out. Save money on the wrapping if you pick a digital giveaway. Nevertheless, it’s not the price value of the present that matters but its usefulness. Give them something they’d like to have.

When to plan holiday gifts?

The earlier you start planning Christmas gifts, the better the result will be. Finalize your gift list in late October or early November. Define the budget you can earmark for those gifts. Mid-November is the best time to order Christmas giveaways if you want to avoid shipping delays. Start wrapping the gifts and preparing emails for the digital presents in the second week of December.

What do employees like as gifts from their employers?

The perfect Christmas gift for most employees is a Christmas bonus or an extra day of paid leave. Everyone wants to spend time with their families and friends. A bonus, on the other hand, will contribute to their holiday expenses.


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