Non-Traditional Employee Christmas Gifts that Still Feel Special

The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes the important responsibility of selecting holiday gifts for employees. This annual tradition offers companies an excellent opportunity to bring the festive season into the workplace and show employee appreciation for a year’s work through a gift. 

However, coming up with new and exciting holiday gifts every year can be an exhausting task. If the thought of gifting another generic box of chocolates, a well-intentioned but unused desk gadget, or another company water bottle makes you groan louder than Santa after too many cookies, then you, my friend, are in the right place.

In this gift guide, we will ditch the predictable and dive into the wonderful world of off-the-beaten-path holiday gift ideas for your workplace. We’re talking creative, memorable, and useful gifts that show appreciation that resonates long after the tinsel is packed away.

Let’s get started.

Why Creative Holiday Gift Ideas Matter More Than Ever

Over the last several years, the corporate landscape has undergone significant changes. From the introduction of a new generation of workers with different priorities to more organizations offering remote and hybrid options, the generic one-size-fits-all approach to gifting no longer makes the same impact. 

Instead, workplace appreciation through corporate gifting must adapt to make gifts a more tailored and thoughtful gesture. This shift is necessary because when a gift reflects an employee’s personal interests—be it a donation to their favorite charity, a kit for a hobby they love, or an experience they’ve always wanted—it shows that you’ve been paying attention. 

Here are other reasons why it matters:

• Remote and hybrid workplaces need more creative ways to connect teams across geographical barriers.
• Younger generations place a higher value on working in an organization where they can bring value. 
• Personal and creative gifts do a better job of showing that the company knows the employee and wants to put effort into appreciating them.
• Innovative gift ideas help set the company apart, making it more likely to attract and retain top industry talent.

While a workplace gift can’t be as personal or creative as a gift for a close friend, it can still convey a powerful message of care and consideration. The goal is to move from transactional gifting (“Here’s a thing because it’s December”) to transformational gifting (“Here’s something we know you will love because you are a valued member of our team”).

Organizations that invest a little thought and effort in their corporate holiday gifts, going beyond a nice pen, will see their presents met with bigger smiles, greater employee morale, and a stronger company culture.

Non-traditional Employee Christmas Gift Ideas

Now that we understand the why, let’s put on our thinking caps, reject tradition, and discover some of the best employee gifts that will make them feel special.

Creative Experience Christmas Gifts for Employees

In the modern world of gifting, more people are opting for experiences over material gifts to create lasting memories. You can hop onto this trend by offering an experience that encourages them to explore, recharge, and have fun outside of work. Below is a list of our favorite experience gifts, sure to please.

• Professional Sports Tickets: Whether for the whole team or just the sports enthusiasts, this can be an excellent way for them to get in the action and support their favorite team.

• Concert Tickets: To the person who is always listening to music or creating the office playlists, a concert ticket to see their favorite musician or an open mic night to discover the next big thing will have them singing their gratitude.  

• Ski Lift Passes:  Add a little bit of the outdoors to their winter with ski lift passes. This gift will show just how much you value not only their hobbies, but also their physical well-being.

• Rock Climbing Gym Passes: A winter spent locked up indoors or commuting through the cold can be dreary for some. Passes to the local climbing gym can be the perfect way to break up the winter blues. 

• Family Pass to a Local Attraction: Facilitate family fun with a pass to a local attraction. Attraction ideas are zoos, museums, planetariums, and more. 

• An Immersive Local Tour: From a food tasting tour through a city’s historic neighborhood or a guided hike through a nearby national park, this gift allows employees to explore their community in a new way, creating memorable moments and supporting local businesses.

• Bowling Night: Bowling is a fun and laid-back activity that most people enjoy, making it the perfect experience gift for your employees. Whether you host a bowling night or give it as a gift, they will be sure to have a night of laughter and a little bit of healthy competition.
  
• A Professional Holiday Photo Session: Give your team the gift of a professional holiday photo session. You can hire a local photographer to set up a festive backdrop in the office or at a nearby park. Employees can bring their families, significant others, or even their pets to capture a beautiful, high-quality holiday portrait.

Charitable Employee Christmas Gifts

Give the holiday season a deeper meaning by giving back. Not only will this benefit others, but it will also appeal to the growing desire of employees to participate in purpose-driven work. It’s a gift that transcends the individual and has a positive impact on the world. Here are some charitable gift ideas:

• Company-Wide Donation: Poll your employees to find out which causes they are passionate about. It could be a local children’s hospital, an environmental conservation group, or an organization that supports mental health. Then donate the money allocated for holiday gifts to the top-voted charity in the team’s name. 

• The “Micro-Grant” Program: Give each employee a small “grant” (say, $50 or $100) to donate to a charity of their choice. Once they’ve donated, encourage them to share their choice and the reason behind it on a digital shout-out board, such as those at Kudoboard. This gift will not only give back but also foster a deeper understanding of what’s important to each person on the team.

• Volunteer Day: Dedicate a workday to volunteering together at a local food bank, animal shelter, or community garden. It fosters a sense of purpose and collective good, making everyone feel great.

Employee Holiday Gifts for Focusing on Skill Development

Give them a jump start on their New Year’s resolutions by giving them opportunities for growth in areas they want to improve. Investing in your employees’ personal and professional development demonstrates that you value their long-term success, not just their current role. Set their year up for success with one of the following gift ideas:

• Online Course Subscriptions: Give a one-year subscription to a platform like Coursera, Skillshare, or MasterClass. Whether they want to learn a new language, master a software program, or take a class from a famous chef or musician, this will be a meaningful gift to the employee who loves learning. 

• Mentorship or Coaching Sessions: For a truly high-impact gift, offer a few one-on-one sessions with a professional coach or a leader in their field. This gift idea may be particularly valuable for rising stars on your team.

• The “Book Club”: Offer to buy a book for each employee to read over the holidays. It can be a professional development book, a creative non-fiction, or even a fun novel. Kick off the new year by having everyone share what they learned or enjoyed about their book, either in person or by posting on a themed Kudoboard.

• Online Cooking Classes: Give the gift of culinary exploration with a subscription to a top-tier online cooking class platform or a gift card for a private virtual class. A cooking class allows employees to learn new cooking techniques, try new recipes, or master a specific cuisine from the comfort of their own kitchen. It’s a fun and practical skill that employees can share with family and friends.

Innovative Physical Holiday Gifts for Employees

• Pet Accessories: For the animal lovers on your team, consider gifting them something special for their pet. Whether it is a high-quality treat subscription box, a stylish new collar, or a pet sitting gift card, a gift for their pet will be a meaningful way to recognize a part of their life that brings them joy.

• Luggage: Give the gift of smooth travels with a sleek carry-on bag or a durable weekender duffel. This practical gift is perfect for employees who love to travel or are frequent business travelers.

• Strategy Board Game: Spark some friendly competition and fun with a popular strategy board game, such as Catan, or a classic like Ticket to Ride. It’s a great way to encourage unplugged downtime and social connection with friends and family.

• LEGO Kit: Tap into a sense of nostalgic creativity with a LEGO set to match their interests, featuring iconic movie scenes, botanical collections, or their dream car. This gift offers a relaxing, hands-on activity that also yields a unique display piece.

• Paint by Numbers Kit: Unleash their inner artist with a beautiful paint-by-numbers kit featuring a landscape, animal, or abstract design. It’s a calming and satisfying hobby that requires no prior experience and delivers a finished piece they can proudly hang.

• Custom Artwork: Commission a unique piece of art, such as a custom portrait of their pet or a minimalist print of their favorite city skyline. This highly personal and memorable gift shows a level of thoughtfulness that goes far beyond a generic present.

How to Make Any Gift More Creative and Thoughtful

While it may feel like there is a lot of pressure to find the best gift this holiday season, the fact is that any gift can make an employee feel special. Yes, even the company-branded lunchbox or a fruit gift basket. 

Why? 

Because the perfect corporate holiday gift isn’t about the item, it’s about telling someone that you notice and appreciate them. The problem with many of the generic gifts is that they arrive without context. They become “just a nice pen” or another Christmas treat.  In contrast, if one of these gifts is accompanied by a letter of appreciation, your team member will feel special, regardless of the gift itself. 

All that most people want is to see that their hard work is valued–they want to feel important. The easiest way to make any corporate gift special, whether creative or traditional, is to add a little bit of appreciation.

The Secret Ingredient to Any Holiday Gift: Kudoboard

Making employee recognition a key part of your holiday gifts this season (and throughout the year) is easy with a group holiday card from Kudoboard. Kudoboard is an eCard platform where companies can send one-to-one or group cards filled with messages of genuine gratitude.

Kudoboard transforms a universal gift into a profoundly personal one. Acting as a personal appreciation bulletin board, each invited contributor can post messages, GIFs, photos, and videos sharing their love and gratitude for a job well done this year. It’s the perfect way to tie your thoughtful gift to your larger employee recognition program.

So, whether you have a team of 10 or 100, with the help of Kudoboard, any gift you select will ensure your employee knows just how much they mean to your team.

Final Thoughts: Making it Memorable

The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and show your team how much you value them. By stepping away from the predictable and embracing creative, off-the-beaten-path gifts, you’re sending a message that you’re a forward-thinking, caring organization.

However, remember that the gift itself is only half the story. The true magic happens when that gift is a tangible representation of the gratitude and recognition that your team members deserve. 

By pairing your holiday gift for employees with a note of appreciation, you’re not just giving a present; you’re celebrating the people who make your company great, fostering a culture of appreciation, and creating a holiday memory that will last far longer than any piece of fruitcake.