5 Holiday Gifts to Give Your Employees and Business Associates

If you’re a business owner, your head is probably swimming with numbers right now. You’ve got your 2012 budget to finalize (if it’s not done already), worries about how Q4 is going to turn out, Holiday discounts and sweepstakes, employees putting in for time off to spend the holidays with loved ones, and if you’re in retail… a lot of customers that are in a hurry. It’s easy for things to slip your mind when you’re so busy – like the fact that Christmas is now only 38 days away. It’s coming faster than any of us want to admit. Seriously, where did 2011 go?! While you’re browsing the internet and shuffling through the crowds looking for the perfect gift to give your significant other, kid or mother-in-law… remember your employees and business associates.

Those of you who manage or own a small business know how hard your employees work, and hopefully how helpful your business associates are. You spend day in and day out with them (virtually or physically) trying to run a successful business. With that in mind, make sure you pick them up something special this Holiday season. “Special” doesn’t mean it has to be grandiose or expensive, just something that shows you were thinking of them and how thankful you are to have them working for you.

So now the question becomes, “What in the world do I get my employees?!” Don’t worry if you don’t know your employees inside and out. There are some great gifts out there that can be given that almost everyone will like:

1.) Gift Cards – Some will argue that gift cards are really impersonal, but when buying for employees or associates it’s not. You can get the generic VISA cards so they can spend them any way they wish, local restaurants, chain restaurants, electronic stores or even an iTunes gift card.

2.) Gift Baskets – Stick with ones that have food in them. Don’t assume female employees want a basket of body wash and lotions. There’s a wide selection of food baskets to purchase, ranging from cookies and candies, to popcorn, to hot cocoa and tea packs, to sausages and cheese. Give something your associate’s and employee’s family can share!

3.) Items for Their Desks – Photo frames, flash drives or plants for their desks to help spruce up their work area may be nice. If they don’t want to put the frames or plants on their desk at work they’re free to take them home and decorate as they wish.

4.) Time Off / Flexibility – Sometimes all your employees need at the holidays, is the gift of time. If you can, let your employees and associates leave early the day before the holiday. Grant requests for flexible starting and end times, and even allow people to work from home.

5.) Bonuses – Depending on your budget, and especially considering how the economy currently is, this may be a tough one. However, if your employees and business associates have been wearing many “hats,” so to speak, and doing the job of two and sometimes three people, try your best to give out a bonus.

Alongside any of these gifts, please be sure you also include a handwritten thank you card. Yes, handwritten. Honestly, this is something you should do throughout the year and not just the holidays, but around the holidays expressing thanks is especially important and appreciated. Take the time out to make it happen!