Updated January 22nd 2024.
Employee Appreciation Day is coming up on March 1, 2024.
Looking for inspired gift ideas to celebrate your team? Look no further.
This gift guide covers why your company should celebrate Employee Appreciation Day, how much you should budget per employee, and 30 gifts your team will really want. Backed up by real data from Employee Appreciation Day 2023, we’ve got everything from affordable gifts to luxe options.
What is Employee Appreciation Day, and Why Should You Celebrate It?
Employee Appreciation Day is an unofficial holiday for companies to recognize the valuable contributions of their workforces. Celebrated on the first Friday of March each year, it’s the perfect opportunity for companies to shower some surprise love on their hard-working teams.
Although Employee Appreciation Day has been around since 1995, more and more companies are celebrating it every year.
The psychological pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic – plus a historically tight labor market – kicked this trend into overdrive, with interest in Employee Appreciation Day surging more than 400% since 2019.
How Much Should You Spend On Employee Appreciation Day Gifts?
Here at Goody, we have data from thousands of Employee Appreciation Day gifts. On average, firms that choose to send gifts spend about $30-50 per employee.
That being said, some companies spend considerably more (as much as $160 per employee), whereas others choose to send affordable gifts in the $20-30 range.
Ultimately, Employee Appreciation Day is about giving back to your workforce, so even an affordable gift goes a long way in showing you care.
30 Great Gifts for Employee Appreciation Day 2024:
1. Treat Yourself Gift Collection from Goody
The Treat Yourself Gift Collection allows you to put in a dollar amount, and your gift recipient can select anything that falls within that limit. Let them choose from this year's trendiest olive oils, decadent cookies, beauty products, golf balls, and more. It starts at $25, but you can go higher if you choose. Plus, your employees won’t see the amount you put in — only the matching gifts available to them within the set price range.
Learn more: How Gift Collections Work
Price: $15 and up
2. Nodpod from Nodpod
If you want to make sure your team is getting their best Zzz's each night, the Nodpod is arguably the best sleeping mask on the market. The pillow is available in many colors, and the brand is Female Founded.
Price: $35
3. Cravory Cookies Half Dozen Cookie Assortment
These are the cookies that get you hooked and keep you asking for more. Even non-cookie lovers can’t stop themselves with this mix of Cravory's most craveable and gourmet cookie flavors. We can’t think of anything better than a delicious cookie to help an employee get through the afternoon slump.
Price: $25
4. Gift Card from inKind
If your employee seems to be trying a new restaurant every other night, the inKind Pass is the perfect gift for them. With inKind Pass, they can choose from a great selection of curated restaurants like Gramercy Tavern, Charlie Bird, City Winery, Union Square Cafe and more. inKind has coverage around the US, particularly in the Bay Area, NYC, and Washington, D.C. The best part: Your recipient gets a 25% bonus, so a $20 gift card gives them $25 to spend, for example.
Price: $20 and up
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5. Best-Sellers Travel Kit from MALIN+GOETZ
This iconic travel collection features six of MALIN+GOETZ's best selling hair, body and face products, conveniently packaged in travel ready aluminum tubes to keep your employee feeling refreshed both during and after their travels.
Price: $38
6. Gourmet Meat & Cheese Sampler from Gourmet Gift Baskets
Send a big-time thank you to the people who matter most: your team. This gift box includes Olive Oil & Sea Salt Water Crackers, Summer Sausage by Hanover Smokehouse, Raspberry Honey Mustard by Terrapin Ridge Farms and Garlic Cheese by Mountain View Farms all nestled in a wooden gift tray.
Price: $50
7. Latte Kit from Copper Cow Coffee
In 90 seconds, these single serve filters will brew a rich Vietnamese-style cup of coffee perfection. Plus, your employees get to choose from fun flavors like Churro, Mocha, Salted Caramel or Vanilla Latte.
Price: $19
8. Crystalline Ballpoint Pen from Swarovski
Showcasing Swarovski's signature Crystalline technique, this white lacquered metal ballpoint pen features delicate crystals for extra elegance. Chrome metal accents and a clip finish this refined design, which is delivered in a pouch and makes a superb gift for Employee Appreciation Day.
Price: $60
9. Tiny Terracotta Kits from Modern Sprout
Office plants are proven to increase productivity, relieve stress, and extend attentional capacity. Plus, there’s no denying the fact that having a bit of green throughout the office brightens up your workday.
Price: $11
10. Chocolate Covered Pretzels Employee Appreciation Gift Set from Fatty Sundays
You can't go wrong with Fatty Sundays' Employee Appreciation Gift Set! It's an incredible collection of only the most popular, drool-worthy Fatty Sundays gourmet chocolate pretzels! This collection consists of four iconic flavors including Toffee, Rainbow Sprinkles, Salted Caramel and Birthday Cake.
Price: $25
11. Little Cloud Tray from Craighill
We're obsessed with this natural landing pad for daily desk essentials, inspired by clouds. Named for its visual kinship with the great cumulus cloud, the Little Cloud Tray is crafted from molded cork. Place it alongside your favorite desk plant to spark joy each day.
Price: $38
12. White Jar Candle from Sweet Water Decor
These 11 oz White Jar + Wood Lid candles are your employees' ticket to relaxation. Made with a vegan proprietary soy based wax blend, each candle has a 60+ hour burn time. Plus, your recipient gets to choose from 8 fun scents such as Weekend, Stress Relief, Spa Day and Sunday Brunch.
Price: $30
13. Single Bag of Coffee from Devoción
Help your employees get their day off to a running start with a cup of coffee from Devoción. This 100% Colombian specialty coffee is sourced directly from small family farms and roasted with care in Brooklyn.
Price: $15
14. Custom-Branded Skinny Tumbler
Encourage your employees to stay hydrated with this Skinny Tumbler with Straw. This cup is 20 ounces, making it easy to track how much water you’ve had and how much more you need. The Branded Cup is powered by double-walled insulation to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.
Goody lets the you customize the cup with your company's logo. This branded swag is available on-demand, with no minimums.
Price: $30
15. Air Fryer XL from Uber Appliance
Gifting an air fryer to your team on Employee Appreciation Day is an excellent way to show your appreciation for their hard work and dedication. The Uber Air Fryer XL is one of the best air fryers on the market, perfect for any household with its roomy 5-quart basket, you can air fry a whole chicken. And at just $75 with free shipping, it's one of the best-value air fryers on the market.
Price: $75
16. MAG:1 Essentials from Courant
This sleek, stylish charger is the perfect way to add some modern convenience to the workplace. It features three USB ports to charge multiple devices at once, and it has an ultra-fast charging capability that can quickly power up phones, tablets, and even laptops. Plus, its compact design fits easily on any desk, and its aluminum finish adds an extra touch of sophistication.
Price: $52
17. NFL Hoodie from HOMAGE
Designed to take them from the first tailgate to the last touchdown, all season long. The NFL Hoodie from HOMAGE is the softest hoodie they'll ever wear while proudly repping their team.
Price: $75
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18. Uvio Self Purifying Water Bottle from OHOM
The Uvio Water Bottle is a self-sanitizing bottle that uses state of the art UV-C technology to purify your drinking water wherever you go. Simple to use and designed with portability in mind, the Uvio Water Bottle fits effortlessly into an active and productive lifestyle.
Price: $85
19. Thanks Candle from Homesick
A scented candle is a great gift to relieve stress and make a space smell amazing. This Thanks Candle from Homesick is our favorite for under $40.
Price: $39
20. Toiletry Bag from Paravel
The Toiletry Bag from Paravel is not only super cute and chic, but it’s also incredibly functional. It’s lightweight, water-resistant, and can hold lots of stuff, from chargers to toothbrushes to facial moisturizers. It’s a must-have gift for any jet-setter on your team.
Price: $35
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21. $50 Spa and Wellness Gift Card from Spa Week
What better way to relieve the stress of a long workday than with a relaxing massage, courtesy of the organization you put in all those hours for? This gift card by Spa Week gives the recipient access to over 9,000 spa locations throughout North America, so they can maximize their next day off.
Price: $50
22. Popcorn Gift Box from Funky Chunky
This popcorn is made with just the right combination of sweet and salty flavors, with a crunchy texture that's sure to make mouths water. With a variety of flavors to choose from, including Caramel Cashew, Dark Chocolate Pretzel, and Zesty Cheddar, your employees are sure to enjoy this perfect pick-me-up snack.
Price: $15
23. Vine Voyage Wine 8-Pack from In Good Taste Wines
Welcome to the Passport Collection, a pourable postcard of our favorite wines from Italy and France. Each bottle is crafted by the masters and steeped in tradition, flavor, and Old World charm. These eight unique wines feature a sumptuous Bordeaux, a Sicilian Nerello Cappuccio, a refreshing Provence rosé, and a crisp, cool Italian Verdicchio. Plus, if you gift 6 or more wine kits from In Good Taste Wines you get a free virtual wine tasting for your team! Reach out to us at support@ongoody.com to redeem.
Price: $65
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24. Stainless Steel Grand Pinot Wine Glass Set from Snowfox
Enjoy perfect temperature wine with this large capacity 13 oz all purpose wine glass. Unlike other stainless steel wine tumblers, it's classic shape and thin 1mm rim feels just like drinking from fine glassware. Pairs well with a bottle from Goody's wine & spirits collection.
Price: $35
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25. PowerCore Portable Battery Charger from Anker
The PowerCore Portable Battery Charger from Anker makes a great gift for Employee Appreciation Day, providing your team with a convenient and reliable way to keep their devices charged, ensuring they stay connected and powered throughout their busy workdays.
Price: $50
26. Box of 12 Macarons from La Marguerite
The specialist in authentic high end French macarons, the freshness and quality of these meringue-based confections will melt in your mouth. These macarons are they perfect late night treat after a long work day.
Price: $30
27. Rosé Eye Gels from Patchology
Raise a glass of fine Rosé and toast to the ultimate dry-skin savior! When we think of the perfect weekend, it definitely involves some self-care. This kit includes 15 eye gel pairs. TGIF. It's time for their perfect weekend.
Price: $35
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28. JBL Go 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Go 3 Eco looks as vivid as it sounds with bold styling, expressive, edgy details, and rich JBL Original Pro Sound. The waterproof and dust-proof design also features an integrated loop, so your employee can take their music anywhere, rain or shine, sustainably.
Price: $60
29. Drizzle from Graza
A bottle of Graza Olive Oil is the trendiest gift this season for the foodie at your company. The delicious EVOO is grown in Jaen, Spain, using 100% Picual olives. This bottle is perfect for your employees to drizzle over salads and grain bowls during their lunch break.
Price: $22
30. 4 Pack of Cookies from Levain Bakery
There’s a reason why employees picked this cookie pack as one of their favorite food gifts from the 2023 holiday season. Levain Bakery started baking big, crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside cookies in New York back in 1995. Since then, they’ve become a cult favorite. This cookie gift box shows you care — and that you have great taste.
Price: $32
How Goody Makes Employee Appreciation Day Stress-Free
Your employees work hard, so getting them thoughtful gifts to show them that you notice their efforts is a great way to improve retention, show appreciation, and foster an overall positive work environment. Employee appreciation doesn’t only need to be confined to the holiday season: Automated gifting can improve new employee onboarding, work achievements, and birthdays for both your coworkers and you.
In addition, if you want to give all of your workers a coffee mug with a personalized spin, you can get it branded with the company logo to make them feel at home. Goody lets you choose branded swag options, including coffee mugs, tote bags, tumblers, and water bottles, giving you the freedom to gift with ease.
Goody lets you send gifts without needing an address. All you need to do is get an email or phone number, and Goody takes it from there. We relay the good news to the recipient’s inbox. Then, they enjoy a digital unwrapping experience that can even be customized for your organization.
Plus, your recipients can often choose their favorite variation of specific gifts or swap out their gift for something at a similar or lower price if they refer. That means you can always rest assured that your gift is something your employees really want.
We make it easy to find curated gifts for any occasion and send them with just an email or phone number.
Sign up with Goody and send your first gift free.
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