Thermometers have taken their annual plunge. Colors of red and green can be seen all around. And jingle bells are already echoing in the distance. You know what that means. The holidays are rapidly approaching, and it’s time to start making those gift-giving lists and checking them twice.
A few people you definitely don’t want to overlook are your coworkers. Whether your business team is akin to a tight-knit family or more of a keep-it-professional cohort, presenting your colleagues with a small token during this time of year goes a long way in showing your appreciation for all they do for the company and as a teammate.
That said, we also know how hard it can be to find the perfect gift that your associates will actually use—not to mention one that fits into the inevitable pre-planned budget. If you find yourself scratching your head and coming up short on ideas this year, get inspired by our list of curated presents, all appropriate for your work friend or acquaintance.
30 Gift Ideas For Coworkers This Holiday Season
Whether you’re partaking in Secret Santa, an office gift exchange or just a direct present swap, the following coworker gift ideas are sure to fit the bill. Explore by budget from gifts under $10 and up to $50 per present. There’s something for every kind of deskmate from treats and tech finds to artsy decor and family-friendly games.
Gifts For Coworkers $10 And Under
Do small gifts get any cuter than this mini spud? (Hint: the answer is no.) This crochet potato is made with premium wool and compact enough to fit into a backpack or pocket. The best part is that it comes complete with its own motivational message. It’s a present that will have your coworker smiling well past the new year.
For the practical associate or one who’s always borrowing your charger, opt for a compact emergency kit of cell phone accessories. The four-piece set includes a three-foot lightning and micro USB charging cable, a cable wrap for organization, screen cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth, all to keep their mobile functional and squeaky clean.
Spectacle-wearing friends at the office won’t be able to resist the cuteness of these handmade holders. Glasses will always be safe and sound on a desk with the wooden animals there to show them off. All you have to do is make the impossible choice between the sloth, corgi, fox or pig.
Tea is always a good idea during the holiday season to combat the cold or even to soothe your throat following a night of caroling. This signature black tea from M&S will get the job done, but it also acts as two gifts in one, as its light-up carrying tin is a collector’s item in and of itself. Treat your coworker to a gold, silver or bronze version of the gift.
For any office goer with the mantra “a clean office is a happy office”, we have just the thing to brighten their holidays: a universal dust cleaner. This gel glob is designed to tackle everything from keyboards to air vents to car cupholders. Each one is durable without being sticky to the touch and leaves behind a sweet lemon fragrance–a perfectly simple yet satisfying present.
Santa isn’t the only one with a sweet tooth. Odds are someone on your list is also a sucker for sugary treats, and this Very Merry Holiday Gummy Box from Target offers a solution. The plastic container includes a different Favorite Day brand gummy in each compartment from peach rings to sour drops, ensuring that there will be a crave-able taste for everyone.
Related: $10 Gift Ideas: Be A Hit With Budget-Friendly Holiday Presents
Gifts For Coworkers $20 And Under
Tired of stretching your brain trying to think of a good gift idea? Why not present your confrere with a moment of relaxation? This desk yoga card deck contains 52 simple practices that can be done anytime and anywhere. We all know long meetings, deadlines and corporate jargon can sometimes be draining, so jump on the destress train with these moves for mental and physical wellness.
Speaking of your mental wellness, you can also pick up a copy of this paperback on success for the office bookworm and go-getter. Written by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone, the empowering guide promotes a positive attitude and walks readers through the steps and optimistic outlook needed to achieve their goals and dreams. It’s a best-selling self-help classic that anyone would be proud to house on their bookshelf.
A power strip, but make it convertible and aesthetic. These connected outlet blocks with AC ports and USB ports come in four trendy colors, including pink, light blue, mint green and white. They can morph into any configuration to fit around your computer, the legs of your desk or other tight spaces. So, no more bulky eye sores or jumbled plugs, and the convenient 5-foot power cord is just the cherry on top.
A game like What Do You Meme? Family Edition is perfect for a coworker with kids and a good sense of humor. The card game is similar to Apples to Apples or the more risque Cards Against Humanity, just in picture form. The player who is up chooses a card featuring a viral meme from the internet, and everyone else must submit a caption to match. Then, the funniest combination wins!
You’ve likely been privy to the hype around satin pillowcases by now, and this product gives us all the more reason to see why. The silky sleeves make it feel like you’re sleeping on a cool and comfortable cloud and help to reduce frizz—meaning fewer bad hair days at the office. This one from the Kitsch brand comes in beige, blue, ivory, pink, silver or a mesmerizing pink, blue and yellow multicolor.
You can also always leave your gift-giving fate to the dice. This particular set from Two Tumbleweeds is made specifically for mood-boosting, whether your colleague is at home, with friends or confined to their cubicle. All they have to do is choose a well-being category from movement or growth to nature or food, give the cubes a shake and prepare for a fulfilling experience.
Related: 8 Employee Gift Ideas Your Team Will Love This Holiday Season | 2023 Edition
Gifts For Coworkers $30 And Under
Forget fidget toys; gift your deskmates therapy dough instead. Its light and fresh aromas, including scents like melon, beach and sun, are restorative, and its putty-like texture can provide anxiety relief. Not to mention, it acts as a hand strengthener for those who are locked to a keyboard and mouse from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pinch Me’s set offers both a three-ounce tub of dough and one in locket form for on-the-go solace.
Sometimes upbeat tunes are necessary to get employees through the workday. A Crosley brand retro speaker helps them to do it in style. The portable Bluetooth speaker’s compact size makes it the perfect addition to any work surface and its wireless design allows for hands-free streaming and calling.
For the office pack mule who always has their hands full, a chic tote bag is in your purchasing future. At 15 inches by 15 inches, this model is spacious, durable and able to carry up to 44 pounds of daily must-haves. The bag itself is neutral white but comes with an eye-catching yellow, natural cotton bull denim handle.
Candle gifts are a bit “been there, done that.” So, spice things up with a candle lamp warmer instead. With an ornate moon shape and sleek black shade, this one from SpaRoom is eye-catching but also functional with adjustable light and heat settings. It’s also a safe office option as one can still enjoy soothing fragrances without a completely open flame.
‘Tis the season for colder weather and longer nights. As such, anyone on your list would probably be delighted to receive this cozy faux rabbit fur throw. Available in cream or a neutral tan, the blanket features an artful ruched design. And at 50 by 60 inches wide, it’s the perfect size for snuggling.
Nothing’s worse than a cold cup of coffee—a reality that’s sure to lead to a dragging workday and maybe even a few snarky emails sent. Save your colleague’s sanity with a coffee mug warmer. Bonus points for one with multiple temperature options, an easy-to-clean surface and auto turn-off.
Gifts For Coworkers $40 And Under
If you have a comrade who’s constantly quoting Michael Scott, Jim, Pam and the rest of The Office gang, then boy do we have the gift idea for you: A LookSee box jam-packed with the show’s most beloved memorabilia. Each one comes complete with collectibles like a Dwight Schrute bobblehead, a “World’s Best Boss” coffee mug, a WUPHF.com sticker and an Office Fun Run lanyard. Even the outside of the box is decorated with images from the quick-witted episodes.
When holiday shopping feels impastable, go with this four-piece noodle-inspired cook set. Between the ravioli spoon rest, penne garlic peeler, farfalloni pot grips and mafaldine elastic bands, it’s a gadget assemblage anyone would be happy to add to their kitchen repertoire.
As the new year approaches, resolutions to journal more or to become more successful are bound to be swirling around your workplace. Set your associates on the right foot with The Jim Rohn Leadership Journal. With 250 lined pages, a soft black shell and gold foil lettering, it’s one of the best in the biz and one that’s sure to spark inspiration.
Real flowers are needy and wither away to brownness in the blink of an eye. Lego flowers or succulents, on the other hand, are much less likely to let you down. They can brighten up any space sans the hassle and even make for a fun and creative project on the front end.
Nowadays, many people walk around with at least three forms of technology strapped to their person. So, a charger that tackles all three devices at once makes for the ultimate gift. This stand is particularly suited for Apple Watches, AirPods and phones of any kind, including iPhones, Samsung or Google phones.
A planner that’s erasable and reusable? Yes, please. The genius, non-wasteful design comes with multiple page templates for all your note-taking needs, including a calendar view, weekly breakdown and project-based layouts. Once your ideas are all laid out, you can digitize with the connected app, wipe it clean and start anew!
Related: 25 Gifts to Help You Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions
Gifts For Coworkers $50 And Under
A Jingle & Mingle advent calendar is perfect for wine aficionados—just remember to gift it early in December so it can be enjoyed leading up to the holidays! The calendar contains 12 mini bottles of vino, including a medley of reds, whites and even rosé.
This one might require some sneaky detective work, but we promise the result will be well worth it. If you can track down one of your coworkers’ photos—of their pet, on their wedding day or any other special moment—Texture of Dreams can turn it into a customized paint-by-numbers kit with the image printed on a canvas, brushes and personalized acrylic paints.
Holiday stress piled on top of work stress is enough to make anyone tense. But when a spa package doesn’t quite fit into the budget, a heated neck and shoulder massager wrap makes for a great substitute. Various pulse settings target sore muscles all over, and its non-bulky design makes it easy to bring anywhere, even the office.
If you haven’t heard of Graza yet, it’s one of the current IT olive oil brands. It’s crafted from single-varietal picual olives and never blended with other ingredients. The variety pack, including a Sizzle bottle for cooking and a twin Drizzle bottle for finishing, is the best way to send your workmate right into the EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) deep end.
Gift a lunch box that puts all others to shame. No more brown bags or mismatched tupperware—these sleek double-layer bento boxes hold it all and then some, and they do it all in style. Not to mention, they’re conveniently dishwasher and microwave-safe, BPA-free and come with a wraparound elastic band and on-the-go fork.
Pura is the future of fragrance diffusers. The modern design of the Pura 4 Smart model not only fills entire rooms with premium scents, it also allows you to customize your aroma experience all through the app. Your giftee will be able to adjust fragrance intensity, switch fragrances and set schedules and timers all with just a simple press of a button.
Lift The Office Mood With The Best Gifts For Coworkers
Finding gifts for coworkers can be tricky. You want to select an item that is office-appropriate yet also thoughtful and functional. Hopefully though, with the right picks (and a little help from the above collection of coworker-inspired presents), you can infuse the season with a sprinkle of festiveness and comradery, contributing to a happier and more cohesive work environment.
Photo by Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
