With a long year behind you, the holidays are the perfect time to surprise your remote workers with thoughtful holiday gifts.
We know what you’re thinking – isn’t giving gifts reserved for those who work in an office?
Not really.
Having a remote team means that you need to make an extra effort to bond with your team, and holidays are a great opportunity to show your appreciation for their hard work.
Remember – gifts are more than just material items, they are ways to boost morale and make your workers feel valued!
But how exactly does it work? How much should you spend? And how do you send it out?
When it comes to the price, that depends on your budget. If you can’t afford to pay for a gift + shipping for your entire team, don’t immediately write off this idea, as there are always ways to cut back on the costs.
For example, streaming services and media subscriptions are very affordable options that your workers can enjoy virtually! However, if you want to get something more personalized, it doesn’t hurt to know a bit more about how your workers across the world celebrate winter holidays.
Although January 1 is recognized as New Year’s Day in the majority of the Western World, many cultures celebrate traditional holidays on dates according to their own calendars that are movable in the Gregorian calendar.
For example, China will celebrate New Year on January 22 with a fifteen-day long festival Since the Islamic calendar includes 354 days, New Year falls on a different date of the Gregorian calendar each year. The same goes for Jewish New Year, which was celebrated in September this year!
If you have remote workers from Eastern Europe, you may be curious to know how they celebrate Christmas.
While Catholic countries celebrate Christmas on December 25, in Orthodox countries (Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Serbia) Christmas is celebrated on January 7.
Bulgarians celebrate Advent – four weeks before Christmas – from November 15th until Christmas. Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) celebrate Advent by lighting one candle each Sunday until Christmas day. Also, if you ever visit Croatia during this time, we strongly recommend visiting Zagreb’s traditional Advent market!
The truth is, the holiday spirit is in the air throughout the winter in most of these countries. So whenever you choose to send a gift to your remote workers, they will surely appreciate it!
If you want to know more about your remote employees’ countries and traditions, you can organize a virtual party and have each of your employees bring their favourite holiday dish. They can share stories about their traditions and later bond with their co-workers by swapping recipes!
Despite the differences, all of these countries have similar ways of celebrating. People prepare traditional food, visit places of worship, and spend time with their families. That’s why the holidays are the perfect time to spread holiday cheer by giving gifts to your remote workers! Here are some ideas:
- Media Subscriptions
Media subscriptions are a great option if you want to avoid shipping fees. It’s not easy to get a personalized gift if you don’t know all your employees’ hobbies, but Spotify Premium ($9.99 per month) or Audible Premium ($14.95 per month) are affordable options that anyone can enjoy.
- Streaming Services
Nothing gets you into the holiday spirit like Christmas movies! That’s why Netflix, Hulu or HBO services are great options for employees who like to relax and binge-watch holiday movies with their families during the weekends.
- Course Subscriptions
Providing opportunities for your worker’s professional growth is important for two reasons: they’ll feel like they’re progressing in their field and become loyal to your company, and you’ll know that your workers are constantly improving their skills. That’s why giving them a subscription to Skillshare or a similar learning platform is a great holiday present.
The Escape Game gift card is a perfect holiday gift for remote teams that love to organize fun virtual activities. Your workers can choose from several themes and then work together on finding clues and solving missions. The price is $256 for a team of up to 10 people. Also, you can include this game as a fun activity in your virtual holiday party!
- Personalized Items
Whether it’s a mug, a thermos, or a pillow, giving your employees a personalized item has a special meaning. It will remind them of their co-workers and strengthen their bond. You can photoshop a photo of your entire team, order it placed on an item on Etsy and send it to your employees! This way, they’ll have something to remind them of their co-workers, even when they’re miles away.
If buying a gift for each of your remote workers costs more than you can afford, you can always go for a game of Secret Santa. This way, each of your employees will have a chance to get something – and give something in return. It will also help them bond and learn more about one another.
Also, are you sending out a gift through the mail? Make sure to include a handwritten note to make your gift extra special!
These were our ideas for holiday gifts for remote workers.
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