Drive Engagement and Support Your Remote Team with Work From Home Gifts

Remote work has its fair share of challenges. While modernized, remote-friendly technology helps employees coordinate and delegate, the home office can come at a cost. Being part of a virtual team can lead to workplace isolation and loneliness. The true connection and value that keeps your employees motivated is a constant challenge. However, you have a proverbial ace up the sleeve if you want to foster good relationships with the people who work from home and drive your business: work from home gifts.

These gifts are a token of goodwill, appreciation, and personalization all in one. To some degree, the gesture of giving a gift means just as much as the gift itself. Ranging from workspace upgrades to gift baskets to food and entertainment, these gifts afford a unique opportunity to stave off loneliness and increase morale among your staff. Use this gift guide to choose the best work from home gifts for the people who work so hard for you.

Effective Gifting Strategies for Employee Retention

The overarching goal is to provide a thoughtful and practical gift that will impress each individual employee. To achieve this, you can offer lifestyle and meal stipends with built-in control. For example, see how GigaStar gives employees a flexible wellness stipend without the admin work. You can also drive engagement, wellness, and employee retention by providing gift cards and more for virtual or hybrid events. Shopify sends digital gifts worldwide with zero shipping hassle, showing how easy it is to send gifts or stipends anywhere fast and securely.

Top Work From Home Gift Ideas

Consider these curated options to enhance the home office experience:

1. Classic Gourmet Gift Basket

Whether it’s the holiday season or some special occasion for your company, a gourmet gift basket is a year-round winner. A basket full of delicious fruit cakes, smoked Gouda cheese, truffle balls, bacon habanero bites, or other goodies allows your work-at-home employees to take a break or enjoy a well-deserved snack at the end of the day.

2. Houseplants

Not every worker has a green thumb, but hard-to-kill houseplants such as cacti and succulents make great work from home gifts. They liven up a drab home setup and add a touch of much-needed aesthetic beyond furniture and basic decor. More importantly, plants have been shown to increase worker productivity, reduce stress, and evoke a calming and relaxing effect.

3. Snack and Wine Combo

When it comes to corporate gifting, nothing beats a classy snack and wine combo. Put together a basket of quality meats and cheeses, popcorn, and red or white wine, and this basket can be a great gift for your employees to enjoy with their spouses or loved ones after a long workday.

4. Healthy Gift Basket

Swapping junk food with nutritious options has become common practice in the business world in an effort to improve the health and well-being of employees. Consider making a basket with organic treats (nuts, seeds, and protein bars), an affordable Bluetooth fitness device (wearable, oxygen meter), scented candles, some fruits, and a gym membership.

5. WFH Essentials

Any gift that improves the comfort and productivity of your employees is sure to be well-received. From gadgets to hardware to office supplies, you have plenty of things your employees will use to their advantage. Some options might include:

• Noise-canceling headphones or Apple AirPods to help them stay focused and avoid distraction
• Blue-light computer glasses and desk lamps to prevent eye strain
• Memory foam footrest to improve posture and comfort
• Lap desks to break away from the typical home office cubicle
• Rechargeable smart mug to keep coffee hot and wireless chargers for an iPad or iPhone

Practical Care Package Inspiration

Whether they are in their freshman year or even in their Senior year sending a little love from home always lets them know you are thinking of them, no matter how far they might be! This sentiment applies perfectly to remote staff as well. Below is a breakdown of practical items that can be used for corporate care packages.

Easily send lunch cards for lunch and learn events or provide $1,000's in lunch credits like Stone Security. These small gestures help drive engagement and we'll show you the 7 steps to create a benefits and perks program that supports your remote team.