Employee appreciation
Do employees really feel appreciated? The truth about corporate Christmas gifts
Every December, the same ritual takes place in companies around the world.
Someone opens a spreadsheet. Someone else asks about the budget. A third person suggests branded mugs. Then the whole team spends two weeks debating whether employees would prefer chocolate, a scented candle or yet another reusable bottle.
Eventually, the orders are placed, the cards are signed and the packages are handed out.
But one uncomfortable question remains: do employees really feel appreciated?
A gift is never just a gift
Employees do not judge a Christmas gift in isolation from how they feel at the company day to day.
Christmas gifts work best when they complement a healthy company culture. They should be a festive finishing touch to the year, not an attempt to replace good communication, fair pay, recognition or responsible leadership.
What does the Loopper study show?
- Nearly half of employees feel that they are not sufficiently appreciated.
- 43% did not receive any additional gift during the year.
- Almost 9 in 10 feel more appreciated after receiving a tangible gesture.
- The thought and relevance behind a gift matter more than its price.
- More frequent gestures are associated with a stronger sense of appreciation.
A well-chosen gift cannot replace a good workplace. It can, however, reinforce the feeling that an employee is valued throughout the year.
[1] Loopper, Mitarbeiter-Wertschätzung Studie 2026: Kleine Geschenke wirken, conducted among 1,052 employees.
Percentage of employees who received a gift
What makes employees feel appreciated?
Research by Gallup and Workhuman shows that recognition is most effective when it is authentic, personalised, meaningful and embedded in company culture. Appreciation should also be specific, timely and clearly connected to an employee’s contribution.
- personal and tailored to the individual,
- sincere and authentic,
- specific, meaning it recognises a particular action or achievement,
- given at the right moment,
- connected to the employee’s actual contribution,
- meaningful in relation to their role and the company’s values.
A general message such as “Thank you for your hard work” is perfectly acceptable. However, a message such as “Your calm approach during the new product launch helped the entire team through a difficult period” carries much more meaning.
This does not mean that every employee needs to receive a completely different gift. Personalisation can be simple: adding the recipient’s name to the product, including an individual card, writing a short message from their manager or allowing them to choose from several gift sets.
Source: Gallup and Workhuman, Employee Retention Depends on Getting Recognition Right .
Christmas gift inspiration
Can a small gift really make a difference?
Almost 9 in 10 participants in the Loopper study said that receiving a tangible gesture made them feel more appreciated. It does not need to be expensive. Respondents placed more importance on sincerity, usefulness and how well the gift suited them than on its price.
Do UK employers give employees Christmas gifts?
Christmas spending is common in British workplaces, but receiving a gift is far from guaranteed. An Ipsos survey found that 69% of UK employees said their workplace allocated money to Christmas activities, including parties, decorations and employee gifts. However, separate research published in 2024 found that half of UK employees had not received a Christmas gift from their employer the previous year.
The gift itself also needs to feel thoughtful. In the same research, 46% described UK employers as poor gift-givers, while 34% said employer gifts were not what they wanted. The findings suggest that simply handing out a present is not enough: its usefulness, relevance and presentation determine whether it makes employees feel genuinely appreciated.
Sources: Ipsos for GlobalGiving UK, 2023 ; Blackhawk Network, 2024 .
The corporate gift hall of fame—and failure
Some corporate gifts genuinely go down in history. Not because they were particularly thoughtful, but because it is difficult to believe that anyone genuinely considered them a good idea.
In Reddit comments, employees recalled receiving:
The conclusion? A misspelled name, an empty gift card or a compulsory event disguised as a present will be remembered for a long time—just not necessarily with gratitude.
Branding itself is not the problem. The problem begins when the gift looks more like a promotional item ordered by the procurement department. Subtle embroidery, engraving or elegant packaging is usually a better choice.
Practical gift inspiration
Fraganced Candle
Add a short description of the first product here.
Stainless Travel Mug
Add a short description of the second product here.
How to choose better Christmas gifts for employees
A good gift should be practical, attractive and suited to the team. Before purchasing it, consider:
- whether employees will actually use it,
- whether it suits different needs,
- whether it is easy to send to remote employees,
- whether the branding is subtle,
- whether personalisation is available.
It is also worth giving employees a choice, for example between three different sets:
Product options
Personalised Christmas cardAdd a personal message
A short and specific message can make the gift feel more valuable. Instead of writing a generic “Thank you for everything,” refer to the employee’s actual contribution.
The message can be placed:
- on a card inside the packaging,
- on the gift-set label,
- on the inside of the box,
- beneath a QR code linking to a recording,
- directly on the product.
More Christmas gift ideas
Powerbanks
Keep devices charged wherever the day takes you.
Cheese and wine set
A stylish set for sharing, serving, and celebrating.
12 Christmas gift ideas for employees
There is no single product that is suitable for every company. The gift should reflect the character of the organisation, the available budget and the needs of the team.
The following ideas can be used individually or combined into larger gift sets.
Personalised Christmas gift sets
A set containing several products usually has more emotional value than a single promotional item. It can be built around relaxation, remote working, travelling or starting the new year.
Travel mugs and thermos flasks
Practical for employees who commute, travel for work or work outside the office. They can be personalised with a logo, name or short thank-you message.
Embroidered blankets
A blanket suits the winter season and often feels more personal than a traditional office product. A small embroidered design in one corner usually works best.
Christmas candles
A candle can be given on its own or included in a wellness set. A personalised label or elegant packaging makes it easy to match the company’s visual identity.
Ceramic mugs
Mugs do not need to be boring. They can feature the employee’s name, an original illustration, an inside joke or artwork created especially for the team.
Power banks and technology accessories
Particularly suitable for mobile employees, sales representatives and frequent travellers. Engraving gives the product a professional, minimalist appearance.
Backpacks and laptop bags
A high-quality backpack or laptop bag can become a premium gift and also works well for onboarding, anniversaries or changes in working arrangements.
Reusable water bottles
A reusable bottle can form part of a set focused on health, sustainability or New Year’s resolutions.
Christmas socks
Lightweight, easy to distribute and suitable for less formal organisations. A subtle pattern in the company’s colours often works better than a large logo.
Wooden ornaments and Christmas baubles
A personalised decoration may return to the Christmas tree for many years and works well as part of a larger gift set.
Notebooks and writing sets
Combined with a high-quality pen, elegant packaging and a personal message, a notebook becomes a practical and polished gift.
Advent calendars
Ideal when gifts are distributed in November. Daily windows allow employees to enjoy the gift over several days rather than only when it is opened.
Checklist for organising personalised Christmas gifts
The biggest mistake is not always choosing the wrong product. Often, the real problem is starting preparations too late.
Before Christmas, production, branding and delivery times become longer, while selected products or colours may quickly go out of stock.
This checklist will help you organise personalised Christmas gifts on time and avoid unnecessary stress.
- Determine the number of recipients.
- Set a budget per person.
- Choose the products or available options.
- Collect the addresses of remote employees.
- Prepare the logo and artwork.
- Approve the digital proof.
- Plan the packaging and delivery.
The more complex the gift set, the earlier preparations should begin. This is particularly important when using individual names, custom packaging or delivery to several countries.
What about tax?
In the UK, a small Christmas gift may qualify as a tax-free trivial benefit. This applies when the gift:
- costs £50 or less per employee,
- is not cash or a cash voucher,
- is not promised in the employee’s contract,
- is not given as a reward for their work or performance.
When all these conditions are met, the employer does not normally need to pay tax or National Insurance or report the gift to HMRC. If the gift does not meet these conditions, it may be treated as a taxable benefit. Employers should confirm the correct treatment with their payroll team, accountant or tax adviser.
Appreciation cannot be seasonal
The Loopper study shows that employees who received small gestures of recognition four to six times a year rated their level of appreciation at an average of 4.5 out of 5.
A Christmas gift can therefore be a pleasant way to end the year. However, it should not be the only sign of gratitude.
The cherry on top works best when there is already a cake underneath.
Looking for Christmas gifts for employees?
Choose practical products, personalised gift sets and elegant packaging that suit the character of your team. Add the company logo, the employee’s name or a thank-you message for the past year, and request a free digital design before production begins.
View Christmas gifts for employees
