The Holidays are Here—It’s Time for Employee Gift-Giving

The holiday season is in full swing and it’s time for small businesses, HR departments and C-level executives to decide: what am I going to give my employees this year? Holiday gifts are the perfect way to show employees how grateful you are for a year’s worth of hard work. A recent survey revealed that 38.5% of survey respondents rank gift cards as their favorite or usually favorite gift to receive. Gift cards are appreciated, and often preferred, by many, including your employees—they are helpful during a season of heavy spending when most could benefit from a little extra money in their pocket, and make a great gift for every employee in your company.

When shopping for gift cards for employees, your options are limitless. There are four types that make excellent gifts, no matter how big or small your business may be:

1. eGift Cards. eGift cards make excellent gifts for employees who might prefer online shopping or to receive a gift via email. If you do not plan to host a holiday party for your employees and do not need something tangible to hand them, but want to make sure their holiday gift is still delivered without a flaw, eGift cards are a great option. Unlike traditional gift cards, eGift cards are delivered to the employee’s inbox, or by SMS text message.
2. Store Gift Cards. Perhaps the most traditional option, store gift cards are typically purchased at the store itself and make great gifts if you know where employees would prefer to shop. A survey by GiftCard.com shows that many are turning to websites to purchase gift cards as well, which makes shopping for store gift cards easier than ever, especially for employers buying in bulk.
3. Visa Incentive Cards. Customizable incentive cards make it simple to show employees show appreciative you are of their hard work and another successful year of business. By personalizing Visa incentive cards, you distinguish the gift card while providing a practical gift that is spendable wherever Visa is accepted.
4. CharityChoice Gift Cards. Perfect for employees, managers and executives who strive to give back to others, gift cards towards charities show employees your appreciation while allowing the to do what they love—give back to others. Many charities offer options to donate in somebody’s name, but if you want to give the recipient a chance to choose the charity, CharityChoice gift cards, through CCgiftcards.org, allows the recipient to select which charity they want the funds to benefit.

The holiday season gives businesses a prime opportunity to demonstrate gratitude towards the hard work for employees. As we close out 2012 and head into 2013, give your employees a gift they’ll love and appreciate—and most importantly, show them how thankful you are to have them on your team.