Years ago when I worked for a large corporation, people from my department and others from various branches, were invited to attend a 5 day company meeting at a lovely southern resort. Several weeks before the trip, I (the admin) received a call from someone back east telling me to go around to the chosen employees and ask them each for their jacket size. I admit I was curious, but I definitely did not enjoy the task.
The first night of the meeting, during orientation, we were presented with flashy black satin jackets emblazoned with a gold company logos on the back and our first names in smaller letters on the front. We were a site to behold – several hundred ADULTS parading in matching jackets, from VP to stock clerk, large, tall, small, boarding buses to take us to off-site meetings.
Great marketing promo? Name recognition, a mini lesson in team-building or even an achievement award? I’m not sure but more than 20 years later, I still smile when I get a peak at the jacket hanging in my closet.
Gift giving to your employees or team is a thoughtful and necessary way to say “thank you for a job well done”. Employee gifts needn’t be extravagant, expensive, or exotic. A smart, useful gift is always welcome and price should not be an issue.
Things have changed and today I’m looking around for a great gift to bestow on my darling staff. It was a toss up between a thermos and a duffelbag. Both great gifts for either sex but the duffelbag won out – the thermos was not in stock and (spare me) could not be customized in time.
My duffelbags were ordered in a rich red color (which just happens to be our company color) and come beautifully embroidered with the company logo. Consider them a necessity that will be used day in and day out – carrying gym clothes, work-gym, extra supplies, lunch and file folders, home-work, last minute weekend, work-country, and my favorite use- onboard companion on first class flight to oversees VIP meeting.
Now everyone knows where I work and wants to be my friend. Get the picture?
