Gifts for Employees: Thank You Gifts That Get Used

Anker Nano Pro USB-C Charger

• USB-C fast charging
• Compact size
• Works with most phones

A small USB-C wall charger that fast charges a phone and folds or fits into any bag. The charger that came with most phones is slow or missing; this Anker tops up a phone in a lunch break. It is cheap enough to buy for a large team at once. Everyone has a phone, so it is the gift that fits every role.^[2]

Good for

Big teams on a tight budget per person.

Skip if

The team already has company chargers at every desk; it is a small, practical gift, not a wow.

Thread Wallets Ultra Slim Minimalist Card Holder

• Ultra slim
• Unisex patterns
• Quick access slot

A thin elastic card holder with a front pocket for an ID or badge and room for a few cards behind it. Leather wallets cost more and come in his and hers styles; Thread fits anyone in any pocket and comes in many patterns. People clip it to a badge lanyard or keep it in a phone pocket. It is an easy unisex gift when you buy for twenty people.^[3]

Good for

Teams that badge in and out every day.

Skip if

The team carries a lot of cash; it holds cards, not a stack of bills.

Moleskine Classic Hard Cover Notebook

• Hard cover
• Ruled pages
• Elastic closure

The classic Moleskine hardcover notebook with ruled pages, an elastic band, a ribbon bookmark and a pocket in the back cover. Company swag notebooks feel cheap and end up in a drawer; a Moleskine looks like a gift, not a promo item. It fits a laptop bag and lasts months of meeting notes. It is the gift for a team that still writes things down.^[4]

Good for

Teams that take notes in meetings.

Skip if

Everyone types notes on a laptop; it will sit unused.

YETI Rambler 14 oz Mug with MagSlider Lid

• Vacuum insulated
• MagSlider lid
• Dishwasher safe

A stainless steel mug with a handle and a magnetic slider lid, double wall insulated like YETI's coolers. Ceramic office mugs go cold before the first email is answered; the Rambler keeps coffee hot for hours at the desk. It is dishwasher safe and survives a drop off the desk. It is the team gift that looks more expensive than it is.^[1]

Good for

Desk teams in a cold office.

Skip if

People drink on the move; the slider lid is not leakproof in a bag.

Logitech Pebble Wireless Mouse

• Quiet clicks
• Bluetooth or receiver
• Slim and portable

A slim, quiet wireless mouse that connects by Bluetooth or a small USB receiver. Trackpads slow people down and loud mice annoy the next desk; the Pebble clicks quietly and slips into a laptop bag. It works with Windows, Mac and Chromebooks. It is the desk gift for a team that moves between home and office.^[5]

Good for

Hybrid teams who carry a laptop every day.

Skip if

People have big hands or work in spreadsheets all day; the MX Master 3S suits that better.

Compare with Logitech MX Master 3S →

Clever Fox Weekly Planner Undated

• Undated pages
• Weekly and monthly
• Goal setting pages

An undated weekly and monthly planner with goal pages, a vision section and a hard cover. Dated planners are wasted if someone starts in March; this one is undated, so it starts whenever they do. It suits a team kicking off goals in January. It is a thoughtful gift that says you care about their next year.^[6]

Good for

Teams planning goals for the new year.

Skip if

The team lives in shared digital calendars; a paper planner adds a second system.

PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box

• Freezable gel walls
• No ice packs needed
• Folds flat

A soft lunch bag with cooling gel built into the walls, so the whole bag goes in the freezer overnight and keeps lunch cold with no ice packs. Office fridges are full by nine in the morning; PackIt keeps lunch cold at the desk until the afternoon. It folds flat and zips shut. It is a bulk gift for a team that brings lunch from home.^[7]

Good for

Teams with a crowded office fridge.

Skip if

The office has a free cafeteria; nobody packs lunch.

Contigo West Loop Autoseal Travel Mug

• Autoseal lid
• Vacuum insulated
• Spill proof

A stainless steel travel mug with Contigo's Autoseal lid that locks between sips, so it can go in a bag. Most travel mugs leak on the train; this one is spill proof when tossed in a backpack. It keeps coffee hot for the commute and through the first meeting. It is the bulk gift that every commuter on the team will use.^[8]

Good for

Teams that commute by car or train.

Skip if

Everyone works from home; a desk mug fits better.

Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella

• Auto open and close
• Windproof frame
• Compact fold

A compact travel umbrella that opens and closes with one button and has a frame built to flex in wind instead of flipping inside out. Cheap umbrellas break in the first storm; the Repel survives a windy walk from the parking lot. It folds small enough for a laptop bag. It is the practical gift for teams in rainy cities.^[1]

Good for

Teams that walk or ride transit to work.

Skip if

The team drives into a covered garage; they rarely need one.

JBL Go 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

• Waterproof and dustproof
• Loop strap
• Pocket size

A palm sized waterproof Bluetooth speaker with a loop strap and surprisingly full sound for its size. Phone speakers sound thin at a picnic or in a hotel room; this JBL is loud enough for a small room and fits in a jacket pocket. It works on a desk, in the shower or at a team outing. It is the fun pick for a team that is tired of mugs.^[1]

Good for

Teams with a lot of travel or field work.

Skip if

It is a quiet shared office; a desk speaker annoys neighbors.

Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Seat Cushion

• Memory foam
• Washable cover
• Non slip bottom

A memory foam seat cushion with a cutout at the back that takes pressure off the tailbone on a long sit. Most office chairs flatten after a year; this cushion makes a tired chair comfortable again. It has a washable cover and a non slip bottom. It is the gift for a team that sits through meetings all day.^[1]

Good for

Desk teams with old office chairs.

Skip if

The company just bought new ergonomic chairs; it adds little.

Twelve South Curve Laptop Stand

• Aluminum build
• Raises laptop 6 inches
• Anti-slip pads

A curved aluminum stand that lifts a laptop screen closer to eye level and lets air flow under it. A laptop flat on the desk means a bent neck all day; the Curve raises the screen and fixes the posture. It looks good on any desk and works with an external keyboard and mouse. It is the upgrade for a team that works from laptops at a desk.^[9]

Good for

Teams that dock a laptop with a keyboard.

Skip if

People type on the laptop keyboard itself; a raised laptop is awkward to type on.

Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse

• Quiet clicks
• MagSpeed scroll wheel
• Tracks on glass

Logitech's flagship wireless mouse with a sculpted grip, quiet clicks, a fast electromagnetic scroll wheel and a thumb wheel for scrolling sideways. A cheap mouse cramps the hand after a long day in spreadsheets; the MX Master fits the hand and scrolls a long file in a flick. It pairs with up to three computers and charges by USB-C. It is the thank you for the person who lives in Excel.^[5]

Good for

Analysts, designers and anyone at a desk all day.

Skip if

They are left handed; the MX Master 3S is shaped for the right hand.

Compare with Logitech Pebble →

Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Keyboard

• Backlit smart keys
• Three device pairing
• USB-C rechargeable

A full size low profile wireless keyboard with backlit keys that light up when the hands come near. Laptop keyboards are cramped and cheap desk keyboards rattle; this one types quietly and precisely all day. It pairs with three devices and charges by USB-C. It pairs well with the Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse as a full desk upgrade for a top performer.^[5]

Good for

People who type all day.

Skip if

They love clicky mechanical keyboards; the MX Keys S is flat and quiet.