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Workplace culture

The best, worst and weirdest corporate gifts employees have received

By Alyssa Place
December 19, 2023 5:30 AM
A burlap sack filled with potatoes
Adobe Stock

As the end of the year fast approaches, employers are trying to find just the right way to say thank you for a job well done. Yet many of them are missing the mark. 

Employee Benefit News asked employees for the best and worst gifts they've received from their employer during the holiday season. While gifts like cash and gift cards were appreciated, employees also liked when their bosses put a little more thought into the gifts they gave. 

"The company organized a weekend getaway for the team — a rejuvenating spa retreat," one respondent shared. "It wasn't just about the luxurious pampering but the thoughtful gesture of acknowledging our hard work. This gift fostered team bonding, relaxation and a genuine sense of appreciation." 

Read more: 23 HR and benefit lessons learned in 2023

On the other hand, employees were not impressed with branded items like mugs, notebooks and other office supplies. One employee even shared that their boss's gift sent an insulting message. 

"The worst holiday gift I've ever received from a boss was a daily planner," the employee shared. "It might seem like a thoughtful gift, but it felt like a backhanded gift that told me he thought I was disorganized." 

Each employee is different, and what they appreciate — or roll their eyes at — will most likely depend on the person. Employees anonymously shared which gifts to indulge in, or avoid, if you want to leave them feeling appreciated this season:  

Potatoes

"One of the worst gifts I've received was a Christmas stocking filled with potatoes, each individually wrapped in a biodegradable bag from my boss at that time. This unconventional present, while environmentally conscious and humorous, made me feel somewhat out of place. I ended up taking the potatoes home." 

Read more: The corporate cafeteria is dead: Free, personalized lunch is the new office perk

Inequitable gift cards

"On Christmas Eve, my boss came in with a gift bag in each hand. I couldn't help but peek into the other bag where I could make out a Chili's gift card poking out. Moments later, I pulled out an Applebee's gift card. Had I not seen my colleague's gift, I wouldn't have been bothered by the offering. However, as we all know, Chili's is much higher on the casual dining totem pole than Applebee's is… and I've been envious ever since!" 

Unfamiliar family photos

"When I got my first job, I had a boss who often shared stories about his family during team meetings. We all knew he loved his family, but I didn't expect to receive a framed photo of his family (his wife and three kids) as a Christmas gift. I placed the photo on my work desk because I didn't want it to look disrespectful. New hires and employees from other departments often ask if they are my family." 

Doomsday prep pack

"The most bewildering gift I received was a survival kit. It was a box filled with an odd assortment of items: a stress ball, a pack of energy drinks, a motivational poster, and bizarrely, a single flip-flop (I still haven't figured out why). While the intention was to inject humor and lighten the mood, it missed the mark and left most of us more perplexed than motivated."  

Budget cuts

"At the previous company I worked at they gave us a singular plate, fork, knife, and spoon to keep in our desks. They said they would no longer be providing any kind of cutlery or paper plates. They said they were trying to save money during the next year and go more green, which is honestly respectable, but it should not have been a holiday gift." 

Local (and lazy) dining

"The worst gift I got was a gift card from the restaurant downstairs. Our boss really tried to make a big deal out of it, saying how it's about trying to help the local small businesses. Plus, the way he was bragging about this gift for the entire month was also annoying. I'm not sure which was worse, the gift, or my boss bragging about it." 

Passive aggressive advice

"The worst gift was a book about how to be better at that particular job. I'm all pro self-improvement, don't get me wrong, but part of getting a gift is who it comes from and when your employer gives you a book of how to be better, a subliminal message pops up in my brain saying, 'I am not meeting the mark.'" 

Read more: Time to rethink company swag: 40% of corporate gifts end up in landfills 

Time away from coworkers

"The best gift, hands down, was a surprise paid vacation. Picture this — a few extra days off, flights, accommodation, the whole shebang, all covered by the company. It was unexpected and perfectly timed, showcasing not only appreciation but also a genuine understanding of the importance of recharging. It made the holiday season truly special." 

A chance to explore hobbies

"The best gift I received was a Day of Experiences package. It included a variety of vouchers for local experiences — a gourmet cooking class, a pottery workshop, and even a tandem skydiving jump! This gift was incredibly thoughtful, providing not just material items, but memorable experiences and opportunities to try something new. It showed a deep understanding of our interests and a desire to offer something unique." 

Read more: Show the love: Recognition is an essential part of employee experience

Impersonal personalized gifts

"The most perplexing employee gift I've ever received was a monogrammed pen, except everyone's name was misspelled or mixed up in some way. My first and last name were misspelled and lots of people had their last names confused with other employees. The job had enough red flags from leadership as it was, and this was just another reflection of the fact that management didn't care enough to get it right." 

Cash

"I have fond memories of receiving a 13th month salary bonus before the holidays. That little bit of extra money meant my family and I could truly enjoy Christmas." 

Read more: Skip the fruitcake and offer up cash — what employees want for the holidays

A chance to give back

"The best corporate gift I ever received was a donation to a nonprofit. A supervisor knew that I'd been walking through my mom's journey with Alzheimer's after she'd been recently diagnosed. She made a gift to a national organization in my name and let me know with a simple heartfelt email. It was incredibly thoughtful and meant more to me than gift cards or any amount of company swag that holiday." 

Locally made products

"The best corporate gift I ever received was a gift basket filled with local artisanal products. It wasn't just about the contents, but it conveyed a sense of locality and connection. The attention to detail didn't go unnoticed, and it left a lasting impression on me." 

Branded corporate swag

"The least impressive gift I've received was generic, branded office supplies. While I understand the practicality behind such gifts, they lacked personalization and thoughtfulness. It felt more like a promotional effort for the company rather than a genuine token of appreciation for my work." 
Alyssa Place
Editor-in-chief, Employee Benefit News
Workplace culture Employee engagement
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