When an employee or coworker is facing a personal crisis, there is a lot an employer can do to make their life easier. The most obvious help is to be flexible with work hours and vacation time. But sometimes, a small gift can also show that you not only value the employee, you understand what they’re going through.
According to Mark Singer, CEO of Giftbee, an online gift-giving platform, “When it comes to supporting employees during challenging times, the impact of a gift lies not in its monetary value, but in its thoughtfulness. A well-chosen token can convey deep care and support, yet caution must be exercised to avoid trivializing the recipient’s struggles with an inappropriate offering or generic gift.”
“The key is to strike a delicate balance, demonstrating genuine concern while respecting professional boundaries,” said Singer. “The nature of the employee’s difficulty should guide the gift selection process, with practical gifts often being suitable for those facing financial hardships, while comfort-oriented gifts may be more appropriate for those experiencing personal loss or emotional distress.”
So, what are some of the best gifts to show employees you care?
Practical Gifts for Employees
Food
In an informal survey, many caregivers mentioned some form of food as the most helpful gift they received from an employer. These gifts included gift cards to food delivery services, gift cards for local restaurants, grocery gift cards and grocery delivery. There are some services that specialize in providing food for families in need.
While many people greatly appreciate the care that homemade meals or other food items show, they can become a logistical difficulty. Bringing a meal to someone requires that you know their food allergies and preferences, and can find a convenient time to deliver the food.
Other Practical Gifts
Other practical gifts include gas cards, parking vouchers for people making multiple trips to the hospital, and laundry and house cleaning services. Gift cards to places such as Amazon, Target, or other big box stores allow caregivers to decide if they should spend the money on something needed or wanted.
Self-Care Gifts for Employees
For most caregivers, self-care is the first thing to go. Gentle reminders that your employee deserves care too are often appreciated. Some of the best self-care gifts are succulents (more forgiving than other plants) or a subscription to a self-care or meditation app like Calm. Candles and lotions can also be good gifts, but be aware that many people avoid scented products, especially around someone who is ill.
For employees who are caregiving for a sick child, gifts such as Legos or coloring books for the child or other children in the family can help provide the employee with a break and make all members of the family feel valued.
Employee Gift-Giving Best Practices
Many long-term caregivers feel that while people are eager to help in the beginning of a crisis, once it becomes a long-term situation, the help goes away. If possible, scheduling several smaller gifts instead of one big gift may help employees feel supported throughout their journey.
The most important element of gift giving for an employer is to ensure that the gifts are fair and equitable. Gifts should never be gendered (don’t give one gift to women and another to men) and should be of equal monetary value. Most importantly, if one person receives a gift when their loved one is ill, everyone in the same situation should receive a gift. Although co-workers should feel free to help each other in whatever way they want personally, managers should keep an eye out to ensure that all employees feel supported. If gift giving is the exclusive responsibility of one individual, make sure someone is assigned to provide gifts when that employee needs them.
Find out more ways to support your employee caregivers by learning about the benefits that can help. To receive caregiving benefit insights delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our weekly newsletter.