Here are our guidelines for choosing the right Christmas gifts for your clients this year:
With businesses becoming ever more mindful of our impact on the planet, many companies are on a mission to reduce their carbon footprint. However,
Christmas can be a time when some businesses part ways with their eco values as they order branded items in bulk to send out to clients with a generic holiday message. If you want your Christmas client gifts to be memorable for the right reasons then we advise ensuring they’re sustainable.
There are many reasons to opt for sustainable Christmas gifts for clients and you don’t have to be a B-corp or a purpose-led company to do so. Businesses of all types and across all sectors are choosing eco-friendly corporate gifts in order to reduce their impact on the planet. In fact, plastic and single-use items are fast becoming a stigma, especially in future-focused companies, modern workplaces and for the highly influential generation Z.
Sustainable Christmas gifts can be food and drink-based gifts which are always well received. This might include hot chocolate kits and festive treats. All of our foodie Christmas gifts at Out Of The Box are vegan and ethically sourced. However, plants, reusable water bottles, seed bombs and items made from recycled materials (such as our gorgeous notebooks made from reclaimed kiwi fruit in our Keep Growing Sustainable Corporate Gift Box), are also very popular amongst ethical businesses.
It’s been a tough couple of years and what most of us are most in need of is a big dose of TLC. It’s the feel-good gifts that are going to be most popular in 2022 and they don’t just have to be for friends and family. Historically, client gifting has been quite corporate in nature and somewhat practical or even directly work-related. Yet, company culture is changing and so is the working relationship between companies. With a more holistic approach to work, the world of business is transitioning to a people-focused model where who we work with is as important as what we do or what we're selling,
Gifts of a comforting nature are highly memorable because they’re designed to be. Enjoying rewards, such as chocolate, brownie bites, self-care and uplifting gifts, can release oxytocin which gives us that lovely warm and fuzzy feeling. Being such a welcome emotion, our brain stores the source of the state, thereby associating the gift giver, as well as the gift itself, with that feel-good factor. As a result, wellbeing and comfort-inducing gifts can be particularly good for nurturing a positive connection with a new or existing client.
Check out our Wellbeing Gift Boxes - brimming with positivity and cheer.
Standing out in a crowded marketplace is not easy but you already know this. If you’ve built a business then you’ve been making a success of getting noticed, so don’t forget to carry this uniqueness through to all parts of your business, including corporate gifting.
It probably takes only a few minutes of unbiased thought to realise that no one wants a pen, an umbrella or a desk calendar with your company logo on it. No matter how much they might like working with your business. Just because client gifts fit into the corporate category does not mean they have to have anything to do with the world of business at all. Show your clients the personal touch with unique Christmas corporate gifts.
Being creative with your gifting can certainly help you stand out. However, it’s also important to balance this with giving something that will be genuinely well received. We love positive uplifting gifts that can be treasured, including luxury items such as environmentally friendly candles, self-care promoting gifts and bamboo desk organisers. However, those we can’t wait to tuck into also never let you down, including speciality teas and coffees, luxury vegan hot chocolate spoons and seasonal treats, such as our mince pie slices. In fact, we have a highly popular seasonal snack box that’s a big hit as a Sustainable Christmas Hamper Gift. Plus a food and beverage box has the benefit of containing multiple treats so your client is reminded of your gift again and again over the holidays.
It’s not just about what you give it’s about how. Whilst it’s often a company’s marketing department who will order the gifts, ensure that each one contains a personal note from the person at your company most connected to the client.
Most clients will feel more comfortable and valued receiving a gift signed by their account manager or liaison at the company, than a CEO they have never met. The best Christmas corporate gift cards are usually signed off by the key contact ‘and the whole of the team at (company name).’
Here are some last top tips from us on getting your corporate Christmas gifts right:
Have you checked out our new brochure for Sustainable Corporate Christmas Gifts For 2022?
]]>In the ever-evolving landscape of the corporate world, the emphasis on employee engagement and satisfaction has never been more important. One often overlooked but highly effective way to achieve this is through corporate gifts for employees. These tokens of appreciation go beyond mere materialistic value; they serve as powerful tools to build a stronger and more loyal workforce. In this blog, we'll explore the importance of corporate gifts for employees and how they can contribute to a thriving corporate culture.
Corporate gifts are a tangible way for companies to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of their employees. Whether it's a personalised thank-you note along with a small gift or a grand gesture like a year-end bonus, employees feel valued and motivated when they see that their efforts are acknowledged. This recognition reinforces their belief in the organisation and encourages them to continue giving their best.
Receiving a thoughtful gift from their employer can instantly lift an employee's spirits. It not only brightens their day but can have a positive impact on their overall job satisfaction. High morale is directly linked to increased productivity and a decrease in absenteeism, both of which are essential for the success of any business. Corporate gifts play a crucial role in maintaining and elevating employee morale.
Employee engagement is a key factor in driving business success. When employees feel connected to their work and the company, they are more likely to go the extra mile to contribute to the company's goals. Corporate gifts create a sense of belonging and camaraderie, helping to build a positive work environment that promotes collaboration and engagement.
Loyalty is a two-way street, and corporate gifts help cement the employer-employee relationship. When employees receive tokens of appreciation, they become more attached to their organisation. A strong sense of loyalty not only reduces turnover rates but also turns employees into advocates for the company, both inside and outside the workplace.
Corporate gifts are often used to mark important milestones and achievements in an employee's career. Whether it's celebrating a work anniversary, a promotion, or reaching sales targets, these gifts signify the value of an employee's contributions and inspire them to set even higher goals in the future.
Corporate gifts can be tailored to suit individual preferences and tastes, making them even more special. Personalised gifts demonstrate that the employer has taken the time to understand and appreciate their employees on a personal level. This level of thoughtfulness can have a lasting impact on an employee's perception of their employer.
In addition to individual recognition, corporate gifts can also be used to strengthen team dynamics. Team-based rewards or gifts that encourage team activities can enhance cooperation and camaraderie among employees, leading to better collaboration and overall team performance.
Corporate gifts for employees are not just a formality; they are an essential part of nurturing a thriving, productive, and loyal workforce. They serve as tools for recognition, motivation, and engagement, and they help create a positive workplace culture where employees feel valued and appreciated. In a world where the competition for talent is fierce, investing in your employees' happiness and well-being through thoughtful corporate gifts is a win-win strategy that benefits both the company and its valued workforce.
]]>In this blog post, we'll explore a variety of great gifts that can help you create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your new hires, making their onboarding experience truly memorable.
Personalised Welcome Kit: Start the onboarding journey on a personal note by creating a customized welcome kit for each new recruit. Include items such as a branded company mug, a welcome note from the team and choose a few treats that you think they will love. This thoughtful gesture shows that you've taken the time to make them feel like a part of the team from day one.
Professional Development Resources: Demonstrate your commitment to your new hires' growth by providing them with resources to enhance their professional skills. This could include a subscription to an online learning platform, access to industry-specific webinars, or a book relevant to their role.
Plant or Desk Décor: Bringing a touch of nature into the workspace can brighten up any office. A small potted plant, a succulent or a plant pot and some seeds can bring a refreshing and calming element to their desk.
Local Treats and Snacks: Introduce new employees to the local flavors by sending them a gift box with a selection of regional treats or snacks. This not only gives them a taste of the community but also helps them feel at home, especially if they're relocating for the job.
Company Swag: Swag items like branded water bottles, tote bags or plantable pencils are both functional and fun. They also serve as walking advertisements for your company, helping to spread the word about your brand beyond the office walls.
Virtual Team-building Activities: If your new recruit is starting remotely or in a hybrid work environment, consider scheduling a team-building activity or an online class. This not only promotes team bonding but also helps them connect with their colleagues in a fun and engaging way.
Coffee or Tea Set: For those who enjoy a good cup of coffee or tea, a high-quality mug paired with gourmet coffee beans or a selection of unique teas can make their mornings more enjoyable and energising. Our coffee gift box is a popular onboarding choice.
Welcoming new employees with thoughtful gifts is a wonderful way to show them that they are valued members of your team. Whether it's a personalised welcome gift box, professional development resources, or local treats, the key is to make the gifts meaningful and relevant to their interests and the company's culture. By making their onboarding experience warm and inviting, you're setting the stage for a successful and fulfilling journey together.
Need some help with onboarding gifts? Get in touch, we'd love to help!
]]>Happiness is a state of mind that everyone aspires to achieve in their personal and professional lives. It is an emotion that not only enriches individuals' lives but also contributes significantly to a thriving work environment. As we celebrate Happiness Happens Month, it's the perfect time for employers and leaders to focus on promoting happiness and wellbeing among their employees. A happy workforce translates into increased productivity, improved job satisfaction and a positive company culture. In this blog, we explore the significance of Happiness Happens Month and the ways in which organisations can support their employees' happiness and overall success.
Happiness Happens Month, celebrated in August, is an annual observance that encourages people to embrace happiness and share it with others. The initiative aims to remind us that happiness is not just a fleeting moment, but a way of life that can be cultivated and nurtured. For employees, this month serves as a reminder to prioritse their mental and emotional wellbeing, and for employers, it presents an opportunity to create a work environment that promotes happiness and positivity.
Happy employees are the backbone of any successful organisation. When employees are happy and valued in their roles, several positive outcomes manifest:
a. Increased Productivity: Happy employees tend to be more motivated, focused, and engaged in their work. They are more likely to go the extra mile to achieve their goals, leading to enhanced productivity levels.
b. Reduced Stress and Absenteeism: A positive work environment can alleviate stress and prevent burnout, reducing employee absenteeism and turnover rates.
c. Improved Creativity and Innovation: Happiness fuels a more open and collaborative atmosphere, which can lead to enhanced creativity and innovation within the workforce.
d. Better Teamwork: Happy employees tend to collaborate more effectively, leading to stronger team dynamics and improved problem-solving capabilities.
Creating a happy and fulfilling work environment doesn't happen overnight. Employers can take proactive steps to support their employees' happiness and wellbeing:
a. Encourage a Healthy Work/Life Balance: Promote work/life balance by offering flexible working hours, remote work options, and encouraging employees to take time off when needed.
b. Recognise and Appreciate: Recognise employees' efforts and achievements regularly. A simple "thank you" or a public acknowledgment can go a long way in boosting morale.
c. Provide Growth Opportunities: Offer opportunities for personal and professional growth through training, workshops, and mentorship programs.
d. Promote a Positive Company Culture: Create a culture of positivity and respect, where employees feel valued, heard, and part of a cohesive team.
e. Prioritise Employee Wellness: Implement wellness programs that focus on physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This may include yoga classes, meditation sessions, or access to counseling services.
Engaging with employees is key to understanding their needs and concerns. Open communication channels allow employees to express themselves freely and enable employers to address any issues promptly. Employee surveys, feedback sessions, and town hall meetings can be effective ways to keep the lines of communication open.
Conclusion
Happiness Happens Month serves as a timely reminder for employers to prioritise their employees' happiness and well-being. By creating a positive and supportive work environment, organisations can foster a culture where happiness thrives, leading to increased productivity, reduced turnover, and a more successful business overall. As we celebrate this joyous month, let us commit to embracing happiness not only in August but throughout the year, making it an integral part of our work culture and personal lives.
]]>It's important to spend time on the onboarding process to ensure nothing is left out. It's a good idea to pre-empt any questions that new recruits might have and ensure that they have time planned in their diary with any people that they may need to get them set up with access to systems they may need such as email, intranet and any software that they need to carry out their role.
First impressions count and it takes a long time to recover from a bad initial experience. Carefully planned and thought out onboarding reflects well upon the business and will ensure that new employees feel that their wellbeing and job satisfaction are the priority of the business.
Properly onboarding employees helps to prevent mistakes being made. If a new employee has been properly trained, then it is less likely there will be issues. Mistakes can be costly and time-consuming to fix, but can also affect an employee's confidence or unfairly damage their reputation in the company.
Whether a new employee is joining you as an expert, or whether they are a junior hire, they will need a mentor to help them to navigate the company and get to grips with your processes and how you do things. Although the high-level responsibilities of their role would have been covered during the hiring process it’s also important to revisit this over their first few weeks to ensure that expectations are clear, but also so they have an idea of what they should be doing day-to-day and how their role fits into the wider company.
Effectively onboarding remote workers can be made much more effective and simple when the company has a thorough and thoughtful onboarding plan. The first thing to consider is to create a process and ensure this is properly communicated to and then implemented by anyone responsible for onboarding remote workers.
Here are some of the key areas your onboarding remote workers process should cover:
All companies do things a little bit differently. Though a new employee may be familiar with some of your systems, processes vary between businesses. An employee contract should cover essential details such as information about salary, working hours, holiday entitlement, etc. Yet, there will be internal processes your new employee will need to become familiar with.
Therefore, supplying new remote workers with a digital guide to how things work inside your business is ideal. This may be part of your staff handbook or could be a separate document. What is included depends on your company and the employee’s job role, but it may include such things as:
Technical glitches happen, even in this digital world we now operate in, it’s rare for someone to not need IT support in their first week on the job. Before the employee's first day, ensure that the tech team are aware of the solutions they will need access to so that it's ready for them on day one. Email addresses, logins, access rights and software licences should be set up in advance to reduce the amount of time that the new employee has to wait around whilst IT support gets them established.
Remote employees rely on systems and technologies to keep in touch, share work and manage projects so it's even more essential that remote recruits are given the support and attention that they need in those first few days.
Offering virtual tours of systems and solutions via video conference is useful in those first few days, bringing the technology that they'll be working with on a daily basis to life. Using screen share, you can help new employees log in and navigate the network with your hands-on support and advice. There may be some systems they are not familiar with so having somebody show them around using online video conferencing can be extremely helpful. This person could be in IT support or could be a colleague already familiar with the software and systems the remote worker will need, so this is also another great opportunity to connect with other co-workers.
Connection with other employees is all important for remote workers. The connections work offers us don’t just enable us to do our jobs better but can improve an employee’s wellbeing and enjoyment of their job.
As a manager, part of your role will be to facilitate relationships between colleagues, in your team and across other departments. Of course, in a virtual world, this doesn't tend to happen organically and therefore it does need to be managed in a more structured way.
Some remote employees may need to liaise with multiple employees across video conferencing for meetings but it is important they also have time to get to know each other in a more personal way. So, one solution can be adding an extra 5-10 minutes to the start of meetings where a new employee is present so that new colleagues can meet, chat and get to know each other a bit before the business talk commences.
Informal meetings online between colleagues can be a little awkward but they are so important. The better your employees know one another the better they will work together. When colleagues know who to contact for what and they communicate well with one another they can be even more productive.
Lastly, ensure your remote employees are made aware of and are included in events (both social and work-related), social groups and team celebrations. You may need to employ a little creativity for this as remote employees may not be able to join physical team lunches or attend work events if they’re unable to travel to the office. So you may need to reward them in other ways.
At Out Of The Box, we offer Bespoke Onboarding Gift Boxes. Some of the requests we get include stationery but also speciality teas and coffee blends, which new remote employees may use for these informal online meet-ups with their new colleagues.
Clear communication is key when it comes to welcoming and training new employees, especially remote workers. Plan everything ahead of time so that remote workers, who may also be working on flexible hours, already have meetings in the diary (both business-related and get-to-know-each-other meetings) and know about any deadlines, training sessions or in-person meetings/events beforehand.
Ensure you catch up with your new employee regularly to see how their first few days and weeks have gone. Check that they’ve received the right training and provide feedback on their initial performance. These meetings should be planned out in advance so that your new team member has time to prepare any questions and feedback that they have for you, which will make the process much more constructive for both parties.
You may find that since onboarding remote workers inevitably lacks the same personal connection that onboarding in-person can have, you need to manufacture this a little. Having proper processes in place and a plan, both for you and for your new employee, will help everything go smoother. It will also ensure they feel their introduction to your company, their ability to do their job well and their wellbeing, is a priority of yours.
A little extra welcome never hurts though, so why not make sure they immediately feel valued with an Onboarding Gift Set? We work with a number of customers who send their new recruits onboarding gifts just before they start, with a QR code directing them to the onboarding plan and employee handbook. This gives them a great head-start to their new role and they know exactly what to expect in their first few days. Gifts can include useful items such as stationery but also comforting and uplifting gifts such as snacks and hot drinks that reflect the company values that make them feel valued and appreciated from the offset. We have a wide range of sustainable gifts and can create a bespoke gift set to suit any new employee, choosing gifts that best reflect your organisation and have that personal touch.
Get in touch today to find out more about gifts for onboarding remote workers.
*source: Brandon Hall Group
]]>Make it inclusive and ensure there's something for everyone: When organising an away day, it's crucial to consider the diverse interests and preferences of your team members. Plan activities and experiences that cater to different personalities and hobbies. Offer a range of options, such
as team-building exercises, outdoor activities, or creative workshops. By providing a variety of choices, you can ensure that there is something enjoyable for everyone, fostering a sense of inclusivity and engagement.
Don't put anyone on the spot - Take the Introverts into Account: While some team members thrive in social situations, others may be more reserved or introverted. It's important to create an environment that respects and accommodates everyone's comfort levels. Avoid activities that overly spotlight individuals or force participation. Instead, provide opportunities for introverts to contribute in their own way, such as through optional activities or by encouraging written contributions instead of mandatory verbal presentations. This approach will make introverts feel valued and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed or excluded.
Make Everyone Feel Appreciated - An away day is an ideal occasion to express gratitude and appreciation for your team's hard work and
dedication. Throughout the day, acknowledge individual and collective achievements. Take the time to highlight successes and recognise the contributions of each team member. Publicly commend their efforts, and if possible, share specific examples of how their work has made a difference. Showing genuine appreciation will boost morale and strengthen the bond within the team.
Ensure There Are Plenty of Snacks - Food is an essential element of any successful gathering, and an away day is no exception. Ensure you
have a variety of snacks and refreshments available throughout the day. Consider different dietary preferences and restrictions, providing options that accommodate everyone's needs. This thoughtful gesture will keep energy levels high, promote socialising during breaks, and show that you've considered the well-being and enjoyment of your team members.
Give Them a Thoughtful Gift That Matches the Theme - As a memorable way to conclude the away day, consider presenting your team with a thoughtful gift that aligns with the theme or purpose of the event. This gift can serve as a token of appreciation and a memento of the day spent together. Think beyond generic items and instead choose something meaningful. We can help with this one! Get in touch
Planning the best away day involves creating an inclusive and enjoyable experience for your team. By considering everyone's preferences, accommodating introverts, expressing appreciation, providing delicious snacks, and offering thoughtful gifts, you can ensure a memorable and engaging event. Remember, the success of an away day lies in fostering a sense of unity, appreciation, and enjoyment for each team member, ultimately strengthening the bond and productivity within your team.
]]>We all know that it’s big business, industry and government-level decisions that will have the biggest effect on the environment. However, we do have consumer power and if the majority of us change our buying habits, we can confront the climate crisis together and put pressure on organisations and governments to change their policies and practices.
With a growing population to sustain, recycling is far from a perfect solution. There is an energy cost and a carbon footprint in the recycling process. The only way to really reduce waste is to stop making so much, to buy sustainably-made products and reuse them. So, how can we incorporate this into gifting? Especially for those friends and family members who are particularly eco-conscious.
Buying gifts for eco-friendly friends may not be as challenging as you think. You only need to explore our eco-friendly feel-good gifts to see how many wonderful options there are. What’s more, our gifts are focused on comfort, inspiration and relaxation so are designed to spark positive vibes.
So, let’s take it a step further and look not only at sustainable gifts but at feel-good gifts that could actually help to support the environment.
Here are some of our favourite feel-good gifts that support the environment:
We are running out of wild spaces. Too much of what was once countryside is
now farmland but, even before that, England’s traditional landscape was very different. Where now there are fields there were once forests. Now we are fighting to help save the bees and butterflies where once we had a huge range of insects and wildlife. Where foxes crept through trees instead of around rubbish bins and a whole other world of burrowing creatures existed below ground.
Our landscape has changed very quickly over a relatively short period of history and if it continues at this rate then we might lose all of our wonderful wildlife in Britain.
It begins with birds, bees and butterflies. These creatures help wildlife thrive because they are pollinators, seed-spreaders and the undervalued workers of the land. Yet, many of their wild spaces have been destroyed. We have built houses and farms and concreted over green spaces. Yet, those of us with gardens (or even window sills and hanging baskets, can plant in a way that attracts bees and butterflies.
Plants are the ultimate gift that keeps on giving! Whilst cut flowers can be uplifting, they won’t last (and they’re not great for the planet either). When you buy outdoor plants as gifts you aren’t just giving a gift a loved one can treasure for a long time, but one that will also be appreciated by all sorts of British wildlife including birds, bees, butterflies and other insects. Most garden centres will even specially label plants that help bees or butterflies thrive.
Seedboms also work very well. They are not only filled with insect-supporting seeds but they're simple and fun to scatter. You don’t even need your own garden as they're ideal for scattering in parks and in the countryside where wildflowers have significantly decreased over the past few decades. Children love seed bombs and seed balls and they can also make great party bag tokens, wedding favours and stocking fillers.
Our favourites are:
Apart from planting wildflowers and other wildlife-supporting plants, you can also offer bees and birds food or even places to live in your garden. You don’t even
need a large garden, though you might have more success if there’s some wildlife nearby. There is great stress on bees to find homes these days and, amazing as they are, they tire quickly in the sun and so it can be devastating for them to have to travel too far to find nectar.
There are some beautiful bee houses available and these make for wonderful presents. One of our most popular gift boxes, amongst nature lovers, is The Bee Box. This contains our beautiful bee honeycomb trinket plate, bee design notebook, a bee bom seed bomb and the amazing bee keyring which contains life-saving revival food for tired bees.
Bird feeders have long been a way to attract an array of beautiful birds to a garden. As well as feeding the birds though, you’re also helping with seed spreading as seed-eating birds end up distributing seeds to other places.
Reusables are not always a great gift for the eco-conscious because many who are trying to live more sustainably will already have reusable coffees, water
bottles and other items designed to negate the need for buying unnecessary plastic. Having an excess of reusables rather goes against their purpose. However, these can be wonderful gifts for eco-conscious consumers to gift to those who wish to be but have not yet adopted these changes.
Bento lunchboxes are also particularly good because, not only are they designed for regular use, but they look in freshness so well there's no need to wrap your food in cling film or foil. Plus, the sectional structure encourages diversity in diet.
When in doubt, there’s always food! There are few people who don’t love receiving some luxury chocolate, cheese (or vegan cheese), drinks and other speciality snacks. You can even put together a food hamper or make it easier for yourself and select one of our eco-friendly food gift boxes. Here are some of our favourites:
Plant-based foods tend to be more sustainable but remember to take packaging into account, as well as how ethically products are sourced.
This is not a cheap option but it is an amazing gift for nature and history lovers. The National Trust runs many areas of natural beauty, historical properties (including country houses and estates), heritage sites and some places notable for a link with popular culture. As a charitable and membership organisation,
there is a cost to visiting these Trust sites. However, membership can grant access to individuals, families, children and seniors for a year. Adult membership starts at £84 per year and prices are less for under 25s and children. Couple memberships start at £139.20 and it’s £91.20 for single-parent families and £146.40 for families of two adults and their children.
National Trust membership would certainly be considered a substantial gift in terms of cost but they can give nature and history lovers many fun, educational and fascinating days out throughout the year.
Being closer to nature can help to nurture a love for our natural world as well as improve overall wellbeing. Furthermore, the National Trust uses its funds for many things but among them are tree planting and preserving wild spaces and wildlife habitats.
]]>With the right theme, these gift boxes can be tailored to any occasion or situation, and you can choose from a wide range of items to make your corporate gift box truly unique.
Keep reading to learn more about creating the perfect corporate gift box for any occasion!
Corporate gift boxes provide an opportunity for companies to express gratitude and appreciation to their employees, clients and partners. By sending thoughtful gifts, companies can strengthen relationships, foster goodwill, and maintain a positive image.
Corporate gift boxes are often used to recognise and reward employees for their hard work and achievements. Such gestures can boost employee morale, increase job satisfaction, and enhance overall engagement. It shows that the company values its employees and appreciates their contributions.
Companies also use corporate gift boxes to maintain relationships with clients and partners. It's a great way to show appreciation for their business and loyalty.
The gift should reflect the company's values and style, so it's important to choose the right theme and items.
Thankfully, these days companies are increasingly seeking out Eco Friendly Corporate Gift Boxes. With increasing awareness of environmental issues, companies are keen to show that they care about the planet as well as their staff and clients.
Employee Gift Boxes can be a great way to show appreciation and boost morale. By including items that are relevant to their interests and needs, the gift can be personal and thoughtful. A little creativity can go a long way in creating a memorable and appreciated gift.
In the following sections, we'll explore some popular themes for corporate gift boxes and offer tips on how to make them unique and personalised.
When selecting a gift, it's important to consider the purpose or message you want to convey.
Here are a few guidelines to help you choose a gift that aligns with your intended purpose:
Understand the occasion: Consider the event or occasion for which you are giving the gift. Is it seasonal celebration, a business milestone or a simple thank you? Understanding the significance of the occasion will help you select an appropriate gift.
Consider your audience: It's essential to think about who will receive the gift. Will it be employees, clients, or business partners? Different groups have varying preferences, and understanding their interests and preferences will help you create a gift that resonates with them.
Wellbeing Gift Boxes are a lovely way to show that you care about your team and show them that they should prioritise some time out to take care of themselves . In these gift boxes, you could include items such as mood cards, aromatherapy pulse-point roll-ons, and healthy snacks and teas. To make your Corporate Wellbeing Gift Boxes even more special add a personal note to the gift tag.
We personalise your corporate gifts with your logo and personal message on the gift tag , but there are other ways to add a personal touch to your gift box. You could include items that are relevant to the recipient's interests or hobbies, or even tailor the contents to their job role. For example, if you're giving a gift to someone in marketing, you could include a book on branding or a planner to help them stay organised. Additionally, adding a handwritten note or a small gift that shows you know their preferences can go a long way in making your gift more memorable and thoughtful. Overall, taking the time to personalise your corporate gift box can show your recipients that you truly care and value your relationship with them.
]]>It’s a modern problem. Some employees and some managers see the importance of making businesses eco-friendly. Whereas others are so busy with running the company, keeping everyone in employment and meeting their many other responsibilities that, although they may wish to be operating more sustainably, they lack the time or energy to make it happen.
Often business partners, managerial teams and board members find themselves disagreeing over whether being eco is in their interest.
It’s completely understandable. Becoming more sustainable is often a goal that moves further and further down the to-do list because the day-to-day operations of running a business are huge and demanding. However, the question we have to ask is, can we afford not to focus on sustainability?
If you’re trying to encourage fellow business leaders to adopt better environmental practices then you need to be able to demonstrate how good being eco-friendly can be for the company itself. How it can be a key part of reducing everyday business pressures. After all, making business more sustainable can be key in cost-cutting, improving efficiency and propelling a company forward.
Let’s look at five benefits of making a business more sustainable and how we might use these to get the whole company on board:
Generation Z are becoming known as the sustainability generation and it’s not surprising. They have grown up around conversations about climate change and they were severely impacted by the pandemic which has led them to engage more with the environment they are growing up in. Tech-savvy, Gen Z are also good researchers and know how to use the internet to check on a brand's credentials and double-check their eco-friendly claims.
According to research by First Insight, 73% of Gen Z shoppers are willing to pay for sustainable products. PwC recently found that 77% of consumers are influenced by a company’s environmental record when making purchasing decisions.
Social media has lifted the curtain and consumers are now seeing and are engaged with what happens behind the scenes. It has changed the way we perceive brands - the services we use and the products we buy. For example, many consumers don’t simply select their coffee brand based on which tastes the best but also on where it comes from, whether the company practice fair trade, what they are doing to protect the environment and how eco-friendly their business practices are. Consumers know more now and they can get to know a brand not just by what they do but also by how they do it and why.
A good reputation is not just a business benefit, it’s essential. Greenwashing, though, won’t wash with Gen Z and could do you more harm than good. Businesses who falsely claim green credentials are likely to be called out and misleading consumers not only risks attracting the attention of the ASA, it can also lose you customers and severely damage your brand reputation.
However, if you can go greener, and find ways to promote this factually and with transparency, then it could earn your company some positive publicity. Increased exposure, raising the reputation of the brand and creating more positive company content online are key points to raise when persuading business leaders that sustainability is worth the effort.
We know that Gen Z care about the environment. That company values are important to them and that they prefer to align themselves with brands and organisations striving to have a positive impact on the wider world. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that this is a huge factor in where Gen Z choose to work.
Companies who carry a large carbon footprint or whose values are ambiguous or questionable are struggling to attract talent to their organisations and this is only likely to get worse.
Generation Y and Z don’t just care about the environment, they feel a personal responsibility, believing the burden of environmental action falls to them. A survey by Bupa found that 63% of both Gen Z and millennials reported feeling the burden of climate change.
Businesses looking to the future need an engaged workforce and the generations entering the workplace now have an abundance of skills, especially in technology and digital communication. Therefore, we may not only begin to align company values with those of employees and future employees but also include staff in forming and delivering on these commitments.
Some businesses don’t believe they can become more sustainable because business leaders lack the knowledge or time to research ways to reduce their company’s carbon footprint. Gen Z could provide the answer.
Probably the best way to win over sceptical business leaders in the argument for business sustainability is to point to cost savings. Reducing energy usage, cutting down on company travel and addressing wastage are key areas that don’t only help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint but also save organisations money.
Admittedly, there is often initial spending involved. When Tescos invested in LED lighting, better refrigeration systems, smart building management systems and energy-saving technology there was a need to find the budget to implement these changes. However, by 2020 Tesco reduced its energy usage by 41% per square foot saving £200 million in energy spend annually. So, being environmentally friendly can help companies to save both energy and money which opens up the potential for long-term sustainable growth. Perhaps some of those cost savings can even go towards environmental projects that can contribute to offsetting the business's carbon footprint.
Many B-Corps and companies who have made strong environmental commitments will not work with other businesses who do not have sustainability policies in place, or who carry a large carbon footprint. When companies look at their carbon footprint and ethical responsibilities they won’t only focus on themselves directly, but also the impact across the whole supply chain. It’s ever likely that sustainable supplies will become preferred suppliers and those who are considered a negative impact on an eco-conscious supply chain will be rejected.
Regulatory compliance also needs to be considered. Many countries and trading bodies now have regulations and standards that businesses need to be meeting to trade with them. It’s likely that increasing regulations and minimum carbon impact standards will be applied as businesses, and whole countries even, strive to become carbon neutral. Therefore, failing to adjust could limit a business's ability to compete and grow in a changing marketplace.
Good business leaders are able to deal with issues and promote growth in the present but great leaders plan for the future. More than anything else, the biggest reason for businesses to be sustainable is to protect their own future, because if we don’t look after the planet then there is no future for our businesses. If we allow the climate crisis to continue then we’ll face financial crashes, mass displacement of people, extreme weather and many more negative changes that could destroy businesses and livelihoods too. If people struggle to afford food, they won't be buying luxury goods. Food cannot be packaged and sold if it cannot grow. Travel and leisure may not be possible in much of the world as temperatures become extreme and other businesses will not be in a position to work with suppliers if their businesses are struggling.
The health of the planet will not just affect a few unfortunate people in certain parts of the world. The effects will spread and businesses will be severely impacted. So, whilst there may appear to be more important things for companies to focus on now - things that keep them in profit - operating sustainably should be a priority for every person and every business. The future of business depends on many things but most of all it is dependent on the future of the planet.
How though, can this be communicated to decision-makers in businesses? Perhaps we should be approaching it the way we measure other potential threats to a company’s ability to thrive. With a risk assessment. Carrying out a risk assessment based on the effects a changing environment may have on operations, safety and profitability could persuade a board, influential executives, or even small business owners to make adjustments to the way they operate. Maybe it will make making changes seem like a drop in the ocean but, if we all do it and if we all encourage other businesses to do it then we can be a force for good and a force for change. Not because we’re jumping on the 'eco bandwagon' but because it is the only way to ensure our business's survival.
]]>Recognising and rewarding their hard work not only boosts morale but also fosters loyalty and productivity. While there are many ways to express gratitude, one of the most effective ways is through thoughtful gifts.
If you're looking for some inspiration, here's our take on the top 10 employee appreciation gifts that are sure to make their day:
A Box of Snacks: Who doesn't love a snack? With our mix of sweet and savoury, eco-friendly snacks, we've got something for everyone! Worried about dietary requirements? All of our gifts are vegan-friendly and we loads of nut and gluten-free treats too. Choose our ready to go snack box or contact us for a proposal.
Personalised Note or Thank You Card: Sometimes, a heartfelt message can mean more than any material gift. Take the time to write a personal note or thank you card expressing your gratitude for their contributions. Be specific about their achievements and the impact they have made on the company.
Gift Cards: A versatile and practical choice, gift cards allow employees to choose something they truly want or need. Consider a sustainable coffee chain, a local restaurant or a gift card to choose their favourite treats for a gift box.
Wellness and Self-Care Packages: Self-care is big on the agenda, help your team prioritise it by gifting wellness packages. This can include items such as journals, aromatherapy sets, or even a cosy candle and a book to unwind with.
Stationery: Enhance their workspace with sustainable stationery sets. This can include pens made out of recycled single use plastic, notebooks made form reclaimed materials and pencils made out of recycled CDs.
Professional Development: Invest in your employees' growth by offering professional development opportunities. This can be in the form of online courses, workshops, or conference tickets related to their field. Supporting their ongoing learning demonstrates your commitment to their long-term success.
Subscription Boxes: Monthly subscription boxes tailored to their interests can be a delightful surprise. Whether it's a gourmet snack box, a beauty and skincare subscription, or a book club membership, these curated packages provide ongoing enjoyment beyond a single gift.
Team Outings or Experiences: Foster team bonding and create lasting memories by organizing team outings or experiences. This could be a group cooking class, a fun outdoor activity, or tickets to a local event. Encourage collaboration and camaraderie among employees outside of the office.
Flexible Work Arrangements: Show appreciation by offering flexible work arrangements. This could include remote work options, flexible hours, or additional time off. Granting them more control over their work-life balance demonstrates trust and respect for their well-being.
Company Swag and Recognition: Finally, don't underestimate the power of company swag and public recognition. Branded merchandise such as T-shirts, reusable cups, or tote bags not only make employees feel like part of a team but also serve as a constant reminder of their contributions. Contact us with your branding requirements and we'll put some ideas together for you.
Additionally, publicly acknowledging your team's achievements in team meetings or through internal communication channels boosts their sense of pride and motivation.
Remember, the best gifts are those that are sent with thought and purpose. Take the time to understand what works best for your team at the time to ensure your gifts resonate with them. This is where we come in!
By showing genuine appreciation, you'll create a positive work environment where employees feel valued, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.
If you'd like some help with your Employee Appreciation Gifts, please get in touch! It's what we do best.
]]>Creating a positive work environment and showing appreciation for your team's hard work is essential for fostering high morale and productivity. One impactful way to achieve this is through the use of sustainable corporate gifts.
With the right approach, you can enhance employee satisfaction, boost team morale, and drive productivity. Let's dive into all of the positive impacts that eco-friendly corporate gifts can make - including, of course, showing appreciation to your team while caring for the environment.
Come along as we explore the wonderful world of sustainable corporate gifts, and be sure to read on until the end for some inspiration.
Here are just some of the ways that eco-friendly corporate gifts can be used to boost morale and productivity and thank your employees for their dedication while showing environmental responsibility:
This was just a broad overview, so come along as we unpack some of the key points about sustainable corporate gifts.
Sustainable corporate gifts offer a unique opportunity to express your genuine appreciation for your team's contributions. By carefully selecting eco-friendly alternatives, you demonstrate thoughtfulness and consideration towards their well-being and the environment.
When employees receive these gifts, they feel acknowledged and valued, leading to increased job satisfaction and a sense of belonging within the organisation.
Here are some of the key reasons why a gift can make your employees feel appreciated:
Eco-friendly corporate gifts provide an opportunity to lead by example and promote environmental responsibility within your organisation. By choosing sustainable alternatives, such as recycled materials or renewable resources, you demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.
Encouraging eco-conscious practices among your employees fosters a sense of collective responsibility and helps to create a greener workplace.
Appreciating your team with eco-friendly corporate gifts has a direct impact on their motivation and productivity levels. When employees feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to be motivated to perform at their best.
Sustainable corporate gifts can help create an inspiring and comfortable work environment. The positive emotions generated through these gestures translate into increased focus, creativity, and efficiency.
By fostering a culture of appreciation and sustainability, you create a work atmosphere that drives productivity and ultimately leads to the achievement of organisational goals.
is the ultimate destination for unique and purposeful gifting in an ethical and aesthetic manner. If you’ve been trying to find the best corporate gift ideas, we have just the thing for you. Our impressive eco-friendly corporate gifts are sure to impress your team.
We are a climate-friendly, independent small business dedicated to making a positive impact. With us, you'll not only find the perfect sustainable corporate gifts but also support local British suppliers and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.
Our commitment to the environment is at the forefront of every aspect of our brand. All gift boxes are plastic-free, containing only sustainable products sourced from ethical businesses.
But you best believe that it doesn't stop there. We have partnered with Ecologi to combat deforestation, ensuring that with each box sold, we contribute to the restoration of our planet.
No need to brainstorm sustainable corporate gift ideas anymore; we’ve got your back. Eco-friendly corporate gifts that are great for morale and Mother Nature? It really doesn’t get much better than that.
What sets us apart above all else is our attention to detail and thoughtfulness. Every box we create is carefully curated to match the purpose behind your gift, making it truly memorable and meaningful.
At Out of the Box Gifts, you have the option to choose from our ready-made boxes or customise your own sustainable corporate gifts, adding a personal touch that will make them even more special. We can even incorporate your branding into bespoke gift boxes, creating a unique representation of your brand.
We believe that the unwrapping experience is just as important as the gift itself. That's why all of our eco-friendly corporate gifts are beautifully packaged, creating a moment of delight for the recipient. And to make your experience even more convenient, we offer direct delivery to your team's door, ensuring that every step of the gifting process is hassle-free.
Join us on our mission to redefine gifting. Together, we can make the world a better place, one gift at a time. Explore our collection of sustainable corporate gifts today and enjoy 10% off your first order. Out of the Box Gifts - where sustainability, thoughtfulness, and personalisation come together to create extraordinary gifting experiences.
If you have any questions about eco-friendly gifts for the team, please feel free to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
]]>Eco-friendly offices are also said to have a positive effect on employees and their wellbeing. Environmentally-conscious offices tend to make use of natural light to help warm and light the space and they often have lots of plants too, both of which can boost mood and energy levels.
You will likely find you meet many obstacles in your journey to operate more sustainably and being completely carbon neutral may take a while but many eco-friendly office ideas can make a big difference.
Here are some of our top eco-friendly office ideas for a greener business:
In terms of single-use products, there are two problems that companies can address - those available for use in the office and those being brought into the office.
It’s not your place, as an employer, to ban employees from bringing in single-use products but you can deter them from reaching for these by offering other options. Making tea and coffee available in the office and keeping a supply of mugs and glasses in the cupboard may make employees less likely to buy takeaway drinks on the way to work each morning. Even recyclable cups are not as sustainable as using washable mugs. You may find you have to invest in some decent brewing equipment and blends if you’re going to tempt them away from coffee chains though.
You can also limit, or maybe even eliminate, buying single-use items for the office. For example, you can buy refills for biros so you’re not replacing the whole pen when the ink runs out. Ensuring that you have proper cloths in the kitchen and dryers in the bathrooms you can also negate the need for blue rolls and paper towels.
One of the worst culprits for single-use products in the office is cups. Plastic or polystyrene cups are often used for the office water cooler. This can mean your employees each use multiple sing-use cups per day. Not only is that wasted spend but it is a lot of unnecessary plastic. Employers should stock the kitchen cupboards with glasses so that employees can take advantage of the water fountain or cooler, without needing to use throw-away cups. Even better, why not welcome new employees with their own reusable water bottles? This can then be used for external meetings, in the gym and on the commute, as well as in the office. Our reusable water bottles are made from 92% recycled plastic bottles and are an ideal sustainable employee gift.
Most offices have recycling bins and facilities but these often go underused. There are a few possible reasons for this but a key culprit may be the desk bin. When employees have individual wastepaper baskets they’re very likely to throw items fit for recycling in their desk bins without thinking.
In 2014, desk bins were removed from Etsy employees. At first, according to Business Insider, Etsy employers were unimpressed but they quickly adapted and recycling in Etsy offices increased by 20%.
To encourage recycling you need to make it really easy to do. Or, another way to approach it is to make it difficult not to do. Make sure there are enough recycling facilities in the office so it isn’t a mission for anybody to reach one and make sure they’re well labelled and it’s clear what can and cannot be placed in there.
Collaboration is essential in an office environment and printing documents is
often very necessary. Although we can encourage employees to think before they print, if documents need to be properly read, shared, poured through or seen in hard copy then the printing will be necessary. However, there are things we can do to reduce the impact of this, including:
Not only are we using ink (in plastic cartridges) and paper, but the machine is also using energy so carries a significant carbon footprint. Therefore, eco-friendly office ideas to reduce printing are worth implementing.
Eco-friendly products can sometimes be more costly. However, if you’re buying office supplies in bulk then you may find they are far more reasonable. You might consider notebooks made from recycled materials, such as Vent For Change notebooks made from reclaimed cotton that can also be co-branded with your company logo. Alternatively, Out Of The Box includes a sustainable notebook, made from reclaimed corn pulp, in our corporate onboarding gift box.
There are many changes you can make to your stationery order to opt for more eco-friendly items, including pens made from recycled materials, staple-less staplers, refillable ink cartridges and bamboo products. However, keeping a discernible eye on your stationery spending is also wise, to ensure that you aren't overordering which can encourage waste.
If you have not already switched to LED lighting then this can cut your energy usage dramatically. Plus, it can reduce spending and you’ll need to replace bulbs far less frequently.
Since most of us in office environments are usually facing bright computer screens, it may not be necessary for your office lighting to be so harsh. Many modern offices are adopting softer lighting which is better for employee wellbeing as well as for energy saving.
The more modern your tech is, the better it tends to be at conserving energy. However, if you are updating your office equipment, don’t forget you can recycle computer hardware or you can donate your old computer to charities and organisations such as the Turing Trust who securely refurbish unwanted computers that are then used by disadvantaged students around the world to further their education.
Leaving office computers on standby for long periods can also use unnecessary energy. Encourage your employees to turn off their computers when they leave the office, even turning them off at the mains if possible. This will reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bills.
One of the largest parts of your company's carbon footprint is likely made up of employees commuting into the office. During the pandemic, there were many notable improvements in the environment and this can be put down largely to
human beings travelling far less. If some employees can work from home, even some of the time, this can be a simple way to become a more sustainable company. Naturally, this will depend on whether roles are suitable for remote working and you needn’t leap into full-time home working either, even one day per week could make a big difference over a year.
In terms of wellbeing, remote working has differing impacts from person to person. Many employees have found many benefits to working from home, including better work-life balance and more productivity too. However, others have felt isolated and unsupported during periods of home working. Therefore, it is important to adopt a flexible policy if remote working becomes an option for your employees.
If you’re going to be an eco-friendly office then you’ll want to be opting for sustainable options in your external business too. Many traditional corporate gifts are not environmentally friendly but this is changing fast. Now your corporate gifts must be sustainable, especially if you’re promoting eco-friendly values. Even if you’re not, your clients could be and may not welcome single-use gifts or plastic items. It is not only more sustainable but it is generally wiser for businesses these days to invest in eco-friendly corporate gifts.
Out Of The Box have many sustainable gifts ideal for corporate clients, corporate events and employee gifts. We even have a highly popular Eco-friendly Onboarding Gift Set for new employees, which contains a desk plant, reusable water bottle and many other sustainable and wellness-inspired treats. Perfect for welcoming them to your organisation and sharing your values with them.
It doesn’t matter how good your environmental policies are if no one knows about them. Office communications that aren’t urgent or directly relevant to a person’s role may go unnoticed or forgotten. Still, many companies write an environmental policy, put a couple of posters up around the office and add a sustainability page to their website and consider the job done. Businesses that have been more successful in going greener know that ongoing communication is key.
Here are a few ways you can encourage employees to get behind your eco-friendly office ideas:
Taking simple steps to make your office more sustainable can be highly beneficial. It is becoming increasingly important to employees that their employers are operating ethically and ensuring their operations are not impacting the environment negatively. With many other businesses placing value on sustainability, this has driven up demand and choice in eco-friendly office supplies, making it easier and more affordable to become a sustainable business. Furthermore, conserving energy in the office can help to reduce running costs.
]]>The summary of a recent survey by Indeed-Forrester sites a key takeaway being that employees tend to be wrong about what makes them happy at work. Whilst benefits were thought to be motivating, what ranked most highly as being most important was being energised and a feeling of belonging.
As mentioned in our recent article on Attracting Gen Z To Your Workplace , real benefits for the younger generation are more basic. They want learning and development programmes, wellbeing support, pensions, holiday and sick pay. Not away days, memberships, freebies and other perks. In fact, according to a survey by the Workforce Institute, only 11% of those surveyed by the Workforce Institute saw such things as a priority.
Ways to boost employee morale cannot be separated from job satisfaction. However, although there are some overlaps, there are also some differences. Even when you have created a generally happy and harmonious workplace, there will be times when morale is low, for one reason or another, and you might look at ways of boosting this that go beyond the core foundation of a positive work environment.
Here are some ways we’ve found to establish, nurture and boost employee morale as a business leader:
Corporate Social Responsibility has been incorporated into businesses for some time now. However, company values have become more than policies and statements in recent years. With the rise of B Corps and purpose-led businesses, both employees and customers have become more interested in what businesses stand for. This has penetrated beyond the wider reputation of a company and nestled itself into many employees as a core motivation at work.
Devising, supporting and embedding values into all areas of a company is no easy task. To truly be successful, your values must be clear, visible and instilled from top to bottom. However, doing so can be a wonderful way to bring the vision together, work towards shared pursuits and boost employee morale.
For employees, working for a company that shares the same values as them makes it more than work. It becomes an extension of their beliefs and thus themselves. Therefore, work is not only an accumulation of repeated tasks but a place in which there is a sense of purpose.
Of course, values must be properly communicated and supported if they are to assist in attracting, retaining and bringing employees towards your vision. Here are a few ways you can ensure your values boost employee morale:
Wellbeing and mental health support are particularly important. Employees are looking for employers who understand the pressures of work can inflict stress and exacerbate anxiety. Although generations Y and Z are very keen to work hard, they want to do so within organisations that will help and support them in ensuring they don’t reach overwhelm.
You can support employee wellbeing with:
Making your business a place where people feel supported is essential. Talking about wellbeing lets employees know their health is important to you. There are many wellbeing practices you can incorporate to build the right culture, such as lunchtime walking groups, meditation App subscriptions and on-site healthy food. However, it’s even more important that your employees know what to do if they do need support. For example, do your workers know who to talk to if they’re struggling with mental health or with anxiety or stress? Do they know what kind of support they might receive? Are they confident they will not be held back in their career progression if they do ask for help? It’s wise to never assume your employees know what to do, just because it was in the handbook they received on their first day. Reminders can go a long way.
More than anything, most employees on a career path want to know they are going to be able to progress with you. They’ll want to understand the progression path, the milestones they’ll need to meet along the way and what will happen when they do. The old 'carrot and stick' approach to employee retention is very unpopular these days. Not only do employees feel undervalued but it can also take a toll on their wellbeing (see above). Having your progression stalled without knowing why can lead to feelings of self-doubt which isn’t going to boost employee morale and can make it hard for staff to focus.
We work best when we feel good about ourselves. So positive reinforcement and encouragement can go a long way. However, it should be working towards something, if that’s what the employee desires. Such things should be discussed in employee reviews. Rather than them simply being a list of ‘things X does well’ and ‘things x can improve on.’ Appraisals can be an opportunity to put together a progression plan (or not to progress, if the employee is happy where they are) with a proper timeline and fair and realistic goals.
Often, if an employee seems to lack motivation, it’s because they don’t feel they are getting where they want to be or they need help working out their next steps.
Where generation Y were likely to move companies every few years to progress, generation Z favour more stability. They are not looking to work for multiple employers in their careers. Rather they wish to work their way up within one company over a number of years. This relates to the path for progression and how this can infuse a positive work environment. Now that retention is far more possible, employers will be rewarded with loyalty so long as they are providing a fair wage, real benefits and a properly mapped out career path.
To achieve a stable environment there must be no culture of fear. For example, a feeling that jobs may be under threat if targets are not met is neither useful nor will be tolerated. The old ‘if you can’t do it we’ll find someone else’ is less effective when you have a generation of employees who crave stability but will go elsewhere if they do not feel valued. Or worse still, if instability is used to nurture an authoritarian environment.
Good relationships in the workplace are the building blocks of a stable environment. Nurturing a family feeling amongst employees and also between employers, management and leaders is essential to creating a workplace where everyone feels they have a role to play and that they are valued.
One way to bring people in the workplace together is by creating situations whereby they can enjoy themselves together and build relationships. When done right, events can be a great way to boost employee morale. There is a sense of reward and recognition. Plus, it allows everyone the opportunity to get to know one another outside of their roles. Events might include:
Inclusivity is especially important when planning events because if members of
the team are unable to attend or fully participate then it can have the undesired effect of bringing morale down. Perhaps not only for the person or persons unable to join in but also for others who may see this as unfair or exclusionary. Furthermore, with more employees working remotely, events are becoming an essential way to bring teams and even the wider company together. This keeps everyone feeling they are part of the same team, working towards the same goals and vision.
Events can also be work-related. This can work particularly well for companies who have a wider purpose as it can be an opportunity to build support for company values. For instance, if you’re a food-based business, then food fairs would not only be fun for employees but will hopefully refuel that passion for the business you’re all involved in, which is a great way to boost employee morale.
As highlighted throughout, gestures without the foundation of substance will reap only short-term rewards or even breed resentment. However, corporate gifts and rewards can be an effective way to boost employee morale when it’s seen as genuine and supportive. For example, giving a gift to an expectant parent in the workplace, a corporate gift as a reward for hitting a milestone at work or a corporate birthday gift can go down very well.
Lots of businesses give out flowers as standard. However, this can come across as unoriginal and a box-ticking exercise. Something more unique will make the receiver feel more valued. And talking of values, the gift should align with yours. If you’re an eco-friendly company then eco-friendly corporate gifts are a wise idea. In addition, if you are looking to support wellbeing at work the corporate wellbeing gifts are a good way of rewarding staff with something that will encourage some self-care and a well-earned treat. Furthermore, they’ll be even better at boosting employee morale.
]]>If you’re a UK business, reliant on a productive workforce, then you’ll likely be looking at Generation Z to help drive the future of your business. Whether you employ three people or 30,000 you know that every person you employ has an influence and an effect on your company.
Generation Z includes those born between 1996 and 2012.
It’s often implied that Generation Z are entitled but the research suggests otherwise. There is a big difference between entitlement and knowing your value. Generation Z do have high expectations regarding their employment (or fair expectations depending on your stance) but they are very willing to work hard when these conditions are met.
Having grown up with smart technology and social media they are not intimidated by new systems, platforms or software and most of them are IT proficient. However, despite their reputation as the Tik Tok generation, they are highly optimistic in general and prefer in-person contact at work.
There’s no doubt that Gen Z has a lot to bring to the UK workforce. So, how can we make sure that we are appealing to the best in a generation as potential employers?
1. Flexibility and Motivation
In a 2019 survey by the Workforce Institute, 33% of Generation Z said they would not work for an employer who gave them no say over their work schedule. Whilst they claim that they are the hardest working generation, Gen Z want to be trusted and able to have flexibility over their working hours and place of work.
Although working-from-home culture is growing generally, the social aspects of work are important to Generation Z who prefer a hybrid approach. Especially favouring in-person training and being in the workplace more in the early days of their job.
Gen Z derives their motivation from feeling passionate about the work they’re doing so are keen to work on projects that inspire them and where they can have real input.
Generation Z were arguably amongst those the pandemic affected most in terms of education and entering the workplace. During the years often referred to as ‘the best of their lives,’ many young people were dealing with studying from home, virtual learning and even entering the workplace online. They were unable to enjoy the essential social aspects of work and education. Furthermore, they suffered and continue to suffer more from anxiety than most other age groups.
Therefore, wellbeing in the workplace is important, not only for these employees but for your business also. A 2021 survey by Deloitte found that 22% of Gen Zs and 26% of millennials had taken time off work due to stress and anxiety following the pandemic. In response, some companies have increased efforts to offer mental health and wellness support.
Of course, offering meditation, yoga, having plants in the office and wellbeing away-days are a great bonus. However, what most employees are looking for is better work and life balance, as well as processes and support when work becomes stressful.
Generation Z generally take a zero-tolerance approach to prejudice and certainly won’t accept any in the workplace. This includes any discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation and any other bias, whether it is happening to them or others.
Most companies have anti-discrimination policies in place but it is important to make sure these are being enforced. Unconscious bias training can help to support this, but generation Z are alert to statements without action. So if you’re flying a rainbow flag at Pride then make sure you’re LGBTQ+ friendly in practice every other day of the year too.
As an aside, climate change is also a leading concern of Gen Z and they are looking for eco-conscious workplaces working to combat their environmental impact.
In the early 2000s photos of Google’s offices, with their gaming rooms, massage chairs, slides and climbing walls circulated and many thought this was the future of company offices. Yet, it hasn’t happened on a massive scale and that’s mostly because employees have other priorities.
Although free food, gym memberships, happy hours and other benefits are a bonus, only 11% of those surveyed by the Workforce Institute saw such things as a priority. By far, paid sick leave, competitive wages and generous holiday allowance were far more important.
Real employee benefits are those that make a real impact and make employees feel valued. Basically, it’s about getting the basics right.
Although the trend has, for a long time, been to change jobs every few years in order to pursue better salaries and move up the corporate ladder, Generation Z is looking for more stability than the former generation.
It is widely assumed this has a lot to do with increased economic uncertainty and the disruption of the pandemic, which has motivated Generation Z to find the right job and put down roots.
So, the good news for employers is that if you’re providing a workplace where Generation Z can thrive, they’re pleased to pledge their loyalty to you.
]]>Firstly, there are probably more people on plant-based diets than can be accounted for. Far more people are vegetarians and, although the vegan diet doesn’t become long-term for a lot of people, many people try it. For some, veganuary has become an annual month of diet change. In addition, the term 'flexitarian' has become commonplace in the UK as more Brits resolve to eat less meat, often citing climate change as their key motivation. Therefore, the number of non-meat-eaters and those who don’t consume animal products may be higher than you think. It’s also climbing. According to a survey by YouGov, 77% of those over 45 years describe themselves as meat eaters, whilst just 53% of 18-24-year-olds claim to eat meat. Furthermore, given the upwards trajectory of veganism, it is predicted that a quarter of the UK will be on a vegan diet by 2025.
The effects of the global rise in veganism could be widespread for businesses, with many needing to consider their supply chains, product sourcing and other operations as consumers become more environmentally conscious and reject the practices that inflict harm on animals. Companies may also have to consider the rise of veganism in their workforce. Of course, what a business's employees eat seems irrelevant. Yet, diet feeds into so many other things. After all, when we come together to celebrate or bond it is often over food or drink. Beyond this, the way we eat is often influenced by our values and although a company does not have to completely share the values of each employee, being mindful, aware, and acting with consideration, can strengthen the employer-employee relationship.
This is a key reason why many businesses are seeking vegan-friendly employee gifts and rewards, as well as catering for plant-based diets at events.
Generally, when we are tasked with coming up with ways to reward a whole group of people, we take the majority's preferences to guide us. This can be a mistake. Focusing on the default profile of customers or staff may seem like the best approach, but offending or ostracising a minority can tarnish relationships.
For example, if staff celebrations are regularly held at a steakhouse, then it's likely vegan employees won't feel able to attend. This could create distance between them and other team members. It can also lead them to feel less visible within the organisation. Whereas, if team dinners were held at vegan-friendly restaurants the event becomes inclusive. So, being vegan-friendly isn't about trying to change the diets or values of any other employees, it's about ensuring your plant-based staff are not excluded or upset.
The problem is, unless you follow a vegan lifestyle, what is and what is not vegan-friendly isn't always obvious. So, here are a few ways that businesses can plan inclusive work events and source vegan-friendly employee gifts.
Good food is often at the heart of a good event. A few years ago, vegans and sometimes even vegetarians, would need to fill out the ‘special dietary requirements’ section when RSVPing for a work event. Now though, it is becoming standard to offer vegetarian and vegan options.
Not only should there be a vegan option as standard but it should convey the same level of thought that has gone into other menu items. For too long vegetarians have delivered the inevitable eye-roll at seeing yet another ‘pasta in tomato sauce’ or ‘vegetarian tart’ as their only option. They knew that vegetarian food wasn’t boring but it took a lot longer for many restaurant kitchens to realise. Thanks to a growing number of mainstream celebrity chefs focusing on plant-based meals though, vegan options are becoming more adventurous. Being that many plant-based eaters are actually food enthusiasts it’s only fair that non-meat-eating employees get to experience the same high quality and care in the dishes they get served at corporate events.
Food is not the only consideration when it comes to veganism and events though. Veganism is more than a diet - it’s a belief system that rejects any animal products or practices that cause harm or distress to animals. Therefore, some traditional corporate events may not be willingly attended by vegans, such as horse racing, fishing or dog racing. For some team-building events it may be worth double-checking the suitability for vegans even if it doesn’t seem relevant. For instance, paintballing is not technically vegan since the paint and the balls themselves contain animal products.
Vegan-friendly employee gifts needn’t just be for vegans. When giving employees gifts we are unlikely to know the individual as well as we’d know other people we might buy gifts for. Therefore, a 'better safe than sorry' approach is usually wise. In terms of diet, vegan food choices are highly advised because they also tend to be free from other common allergens. It’s also not only vegans who refrain from eating certain products. Others may also eliminate certain foods due to religious beliefs but plant-based products don’t usually contain anything which may cause offence. Also, vegan chocolate and other vegan alternatives are so much better than they used to be so you don’t have to compromise on quality. Take our amazing vegan chocolate range, which contains all sorts of plant-powered punchy flavours and easily rivals anything milk-based.
At Out Of The Box, we create sustainable corporate gift boxes that promote the health and happiness of the receiver as well as of the planet. Since we source only ethical and sustainable gifts, they are also suitable for vegans as there are clear crossovers between eco-conscious and vegan lifestyles.
Therefore, if you’re a business that values sustainability, you may find selecting vegan employee gifts helps to further reduce your company's carbon footprint.
Mostly, you don’t want any employees to feel disregarded. Therefore, it’s about the small everyday things. Here are a few ways to be mindful of vegan employees in the workplace:
Remember, being vegan-friendly does not mean pushing a vegan lifestyle upon all of your employees. It’s about ensuring everyone in your organisation feels welcome, included and valued. Corporate events, rewards and employee gifts may seem like added extras in someone’s working life but they are also the areas in which staff can see how well employers really know them and how much their wellbeing really matters.
With global warming, plastic pollution, continued devastation of wild spaces, and 71% of parents admitting they’re concerned about the impact of climate change on their children (survey by Ipsos), you have to wonder why environmental charities aren’t more prominent.
However, although individuals may not be investing as much in environmental organisations, businesses are. For many, it helps to underpin their sustainability values but there are many other reasons for businesses to support environmental charities, including:
There are some amazing organisations there helping the environment to recover and thrive and many have schemes allowing companies to support them in simple and productive ways.
That being, we thought we’d give businesses a helping hand by sharing some of the top environmental causes for businesses to support in 2023.
Although not a charity, Ecologi are dedicated to the restoration of forests and wild spaces. They have been a popular choice for businesses small and large over the past few years and their logo has become very common on webpages, letting users know that the company is helping Ecologi to plant trees.
It has to be said that Ecologi have invested in getting businesses on board by providing them with marketing materials and useful apps. They have also integrated with Shopify and Zapier which allows Ecologi to work with WordPress, Woohoo, Stripe and many other online service providers. This is important because Ecologi’s most appealing feature for businesses is its tree-planting plugin. This allows you to pledge the cost of a tree for every order placed on your site or each invoice raised.
Not only does that mean you are helping Ecologi to restore essential forests and create and expand wild spaces, but you’re not having to do any of the administrative work as so much is automated. Plus, it costs just 24p per tree which won’t make a big difference in many businesses’ profit margins but could make a huge difference to the planet.
An amazing organisation based in Wales, CAT started as a community, grew into a visitors centre and is now an educational charity researching and campaigning for positive solutions for environmental change.
Based in their visitors centre in Mid Wales, science is at the heart of this organisation. At the centre you can see for yourself the research and examples of renewable energy, sustainable buildings and managed natural habitats. From here they offer training for individuals and for businesses to help them live a more eco-friendly lifestyle or operate more sustainably. Out in the world, they’re talking to campaigners, government and other organisations about potential solutions, policies and technologies that could help to combat climate change.
CAT is a great option for businesses to support in the UK as their focus is on living in partnership with nature and embracing positive change to allow Britain to reach Net Zero. With a focus on modern technology and digital innovation, it is perhaps an especially good fit for digital and tech companies.
CleanHub is a little tricky to understand, which is why they make it very easy for businesses to book a discovery call with them through their website so they can explain it all in person. If your business creates plastic waste, then CleanHub is definitely something you should learn more about.
Recognising that, despite efforts, it’s not always possible for product producers to use alternatives to plastic, CleanHub clean up by recovering coastal plastic. They work with businesses first by accurately calculating their plastic footprint. This will then be connected, via an online platform, to CleanUp’s recovery operations so that you can see how much recovery is happening versus how much plastic you emit. When you are funding more recovery of plastic than you are producing you will receive their Plastic Neutral Trust mark which you can use on your website and your packaging.
If you’re a business that needs more time, industry-level change or technical advances to enable you to move away from plastic packaging, then CleanHub provide an excellent solution. Furthermore, they are intent on accuracy and transparency so that you can be confident that your support of them is really making a difference, as well as having the trust to share this with your customers.
Rewilding in land and sea could make a huge difference to nature’s ability to thrive and maintain balance. Wild spaces increase biodiversity which is essential for health, since much of what we eat comes from the soil, and they also release more oxygen into the air. They also protect the natural habitats of British wildlife enabling us to live alongside the natural world.
A few years ago, rewilding to most people was as simple as protecting species of animals from having their homes built upon. Now, humankind is beginning to understand that wildlife does not need us to survive, it is very much us that needs it. Plant life must thrive to provide the conditions we need to exist at all, and yet we’re destroying so much of it.
Rewilding Britain are tackling this through research, education and petitioning to drive real change. They also actively support landowners and national parks by helping them to create and/or enhance their wild spaces.
As a small charity, Rewilding Britain don’t have any flashy plug-ins or digital donation apps. However, you can simply make donations, you can partner with them or you can involve your team in fundraising, which is great for bringing everyone together in a shared goal for a good cause.
This is a genuine grassroots organisation and one of the most essential but small environmental charities for businesses to support in 2023.
Offsetting carbon by planting trees is an idea that’s really taken off in the past few years, with charities like Ecologi making it easy for businesses to support reforestation. But, did you know that a huge amount of our oxygen comes from underwater plants?
Not only does marine plant life support a variety of ecosystems, but it also draws down carbon dioxide, taking it out of the atmosphere and thereby easing global warming. In fact, seagrass can capture carbon 35 times faster than rainforests and they increase biodiversity in our oceans which helps keep our seas healthy.
SeaTrees are an environmental charity responsible for supporting communities and experts in the protection of marine plant life and the creation and nurture of new coastal ecosystems. This includes restoring kelp and seagrass meadows, coastal conservation, planting mangrove trees and regenerating coastal reefs. As a business, you can help them by adding an optional donation at your customer checkout, so they can plant marine forests with you.
You can also let SeaTrees help your business by allowing them to calculate your carbon footprint to work out how much marine reforestation you’d need to do to reduce or even neutralise your impact. They’d then be very happy to use your investment to carry out their work and they’ll give you a good shout-out for supporting them. Plus, you’ll be able to declare your business carbon-neutral.
Can you recommend any other environmental causes for businesses to support in 2023? We’d love to hear from you.
]]>Some start-ups advertise their positions emphasising that they’re a new business and therefore there will be a lot of late nights and out-of-hours work required. They’re hoping to attract talent willing to burn themselves out working all hours to achieve the business owner’s vision, hoping they'll be rewarded in the future if the company is successful. This sometimes works for business owners but generally not so well for employees. Certainly, it is not going to nurture wellbeing in the workplace.
Wellbeing is largely about having the basic needs met. It’s about keeping the body and mind healthy and the good news is that we need little to achieve this, in normal circumstances. One of the reasons why the workplace is so essential to employees’ wellbeing is that it can either be a source of stress and/or unfulfillment, or it can be a place where individuals feel valued and positive relationships flourish.
Happy employees have a positive influence on the work environment. Healthy employees take less sick leave and contented employees are focused and therefore more productive. Start-ups need these qualities in their team because in the early days of a business, or for keeping a small business competitive, the people behind the business have a huge amount of influence and visibility. Therefore, start-ups need to promote wellbeing in the workplace. Here are some super easy, affordable and effective ways to do so:
According to a survey by Maru Public Opinion for The Business Journals, 43% of Gen Z rate salary as a top factor in where they decide to work. Yet, if you
look at other important conditions for Gen Z then flexible working and company values are also key. It is easy to see financial achievement and general wellbeing as two separate goals. However, wellbeing is greatly affected if our basic needs are not met and financial wellness is a basic need, especially with the rising cost of living.
This is not to say paying salaries way above market rate is going to further increase the wellbeing of your employees, which is fortunate since most start-ups cannot afford to do this. Yet, salaries that fall below can lead the employee to feel undervalued and can put a financial strain on them that could cause their mental health to suffer.
Therefore, wellbeing in the workplace starts with fair pay.
To promote wellbeing in the workplace, you may find you have to make the tools available. These might include:
Making sure there is healthy food, drinks and snacks available in the workplace
will ensure your staff have access to the fuel they need and let them know that their health is important to you. Yet, feel-good snacks can also help to make people feel cared for and they'll also need spaces within the office where they can socialise or take a break, away from their desks.
To get employees off to a great start you can provide them with an Onboarding Gift Box full of healthy snacks, sweet treats and sustainable gifts.
Reaching goals can be invigorating. So much so, it drives us to keep going, set new goals and strive for more. This is great but all too often we forget to take a
break and enjoy the latest win. This is even more important when it’s the employee who has reached this goal for or with you because they might not be quite so keen to move straight onto the next project. Hopefully, they too will feel jubilation but it may not come in the same energising fever form as yours, since it is not their business. The best thing you can do for them, and your business, is to reward them with a little rest time.
When targets or growth are achieved there is often some form of financial or celebratory reward. Maybe a bonus or a team dinner. Whilst this is great for validation and job satisfaction, what many employees would be most grateful for after a particularly intense week or even quarter, is probably a day off. Furthermore, giving hard-working employees a break means they return to work rested, grateful and mentally ready for the next challenge.
An essential component of wellbeing in the workplace is good relationships between colleagues and managers. Positive social experiences are key to wellness and, since many of us spend significant time working, it often falls upon the workplace to provide us with this.
You can’t force everyone to get on of course, but you can provide opportunities for colleagues to get to know one another. After all, a team that is bonded socially will usually communicate better, have a more in-depth understanding of one another’s strengths and weaknesses and work effectively in collaboration.
One way to bring colleagues together outside of meeting rooms and work-centred discussions is to throw team lunches. Of course, for a start-up taking a team to lunch can be unaffordable. It doesn’t matter that the long-term benefits outweigh the costs because you probably have a less comfortable cash flow and tighter margins at the beginning of your journey. Yet, team lunches can take place in the office if you can provide the food. Bringing in outside catering, even if that means picking up a couple of family meal pizza deals locally, can reduce the cost burden of team socials.
One of the best things you can have around to promote wellbeing in the workplace is plants. Nature carries with it all sorts of benefits for wellness including lowering stress levels and improving mood and clarity.
They can also improve air quality in indoor spaces which may explain why those who work with plants nearby claim increased attention span, focus and productivity.
Aside from this, having plants inside is aesthetically pleasing and shows employees that you have made an effort to make the work space a pleasant one to be in.
No amount of plants in the office can replace the benefits of getting outside. In the modern world, many of us are working predominantly indoors, at screens for long uninterrupted periods. This can cause us to feel sleepy, sluggish and struggling to focus as the day goes on and this is largely due to a lack of fresh air and physical movement.
We needn’t, nor cannot, change our entire lifestyles. However, all most of us need to maintain balance is to get outside and moving around for 30 minutes at some point during the average working day. This can help re-energise us and boost our mood.
An increase in oxygen allows the brain to function better, resharpens the mind and hones concentration. Being outside also exposes us to vitamin D and gives us the chance to move our bodies and elevate our heart rate which, again, can energise us for the afternoon ahead.
Preferably, you’ll be on the doorstep of a national park or the beach, but most of us working in offices are in towns or, if we’re working from home, in residential areas. It doesn’t matter too much where you are or where you wander. A walk around, even a short one, will do wonders.
Employers who encourage their staff to take daily walks, get outside and away from their screens or be out of meeting rooms for at least half an hour per day, will likely see an improvement in focus and energy levels in the office. Whilst it can be tempting to skip breaks when work is busy, the benefits of getting outside during the working day improve productivity more than enough to make up for any time lost.
Some employers have even set-up lunchtime or morning walking groups within the office where colleagues come together to get out for some fresh air.
Companies are often able to acquire special corporate rates at local businesses that they can pass on to their employees. Partnerships with gyms, yoga studios, fitness classes, meditation centres and similar local organisations give your staff better access to wellbeing by reducing the cost for them, without it costing your business.
Setting up these staff discount programmes can be time-consuming but having a focus on partnering with wellness providers demonstrates that the wellbeing of employees is important to you. Furthermore, having these schemes in place can help to attract talent to your organisation who prioritise their physical and mental health which can make them better all-round employees.
It’s tempting in a start-up situation or as a small business with limited cash to splash, to take on more than your share of the workload and work excessive hours. Whilst a business owner can take on this sacrifice, employees shouldn’t be expected to.
Aside from this though, working longer hours may not be improving productivity at all. In fact, it may even be having a negative effect on the quality of output. Let’s say you needed medical care; would you rather be treated by a doctor who has been working twelve hours without more than a 10-minute break, or one who has just come on their shift after a good night’s sleep in a proper bed? We know the quality of work, attention to detail and emotional state of a working person is better when work-life balance is achieved. So, clocking off is important for you, your employees and the business.
This doesn’t just mean encouraging employees to go home on time. Since most of us can carry work literally around with us, on our mobile devices, you may consider introducing a policy around checking or sending emails outside of working hours. Potentially, this could cause problems with employees you have on flexible or non-conventional working hours so their needs must also be considered. Essentially, teaching your employees to clock off is not about introducing rules but rather creating a culture whereby you don’t have staff being sent ‘urgent’ emails or messages when they’re supposed to be outside of their working hours. It’s about ensuring your organisation isn’t supporting a culture that is stress or anxiety-inducing for those who work there.
You can introduce and make available as many wellbeing schemes, policies and practices as you like but if you’re not following them yourself then your staff won’t because they are literally employed to take their lead from you.
If you truly believe that wellness at work is important then you’ll be taking care of your own wellbeing too. Setting an example doesn’t just permit employees to take care of themselves at work but it may encourage those who are less prone to looking after their physical and/or mental wellbeing to start to do so. Besides, you can’t be the inspiring leader you need to be to bring everyone together in working towards and achieving your vision if you're not taking care of your wellbeing .
]]>Likely it seems that a decrease in prioritising team wellbeing is a result of distractions rather than unwillingness. Especially as we’re increasingly seeing evidence of how prioritising team wellbeing can increase productivity.
During busy times and economic uncertainty, it can be easy to let wellness in the workplace go unchecked. This can be detrimental as wellbeing is not a box-ticking exercise or one-time project but an ongoing process. This is why we wanted to look at the real benefits and specifically at 5 ways prioritising team wellbeing can increase productivity:
A key benefit of ensuring employees are well is they are less likely to be absent from work. According to a Deloitte 2022 survey, mental health-related staff absence costs UK businesses £56 billion per year. Whilst not all of this may be triggered by work, since most people spend circa 31-45 hours per week working, it stands to reason that the workplace should be one of the places where mental health is addressed.
Though short-term absence may have less of an impact, mental health conditions tend to develop, resulting in possible longer-term leave from work. Hence why it is important not only to ensure the workplace is encouraging the wellbeing of its employees but also that there is a proper process and support system in place for those who begin to suffer from stress.
Wellbeing should be a priority for UK businesses that rely on employees being well and at full function in the workplace. However, businesses and team leaders should also be aware of what to look out for in terms of the early signs of burnout and have a compassionate procedure for approaching and assisting employees they believe may be experiencing work-related stress.
As well as affecting the person signed-off for stress, staff absence can also have a detrimental effect on the team and the wider business, as staff absence usually increases everybody’s workload.
Businesses that prioritise team wellbeing often see a decrease in employee absence and therefore an increase in productivity.
Happy people are nicer people. When we’re positively energised, motivated and fulfilled we have more patience, empathy and optimism. This can improve our relationships, especially in the workplace where people often need to work with those they wouldn’t necessarily have chosen as friends.
Building good relationships at work can be a struggle. Especially since many of us are in roles where we need to come to agreements regarding decisions or directions to take. Within a group of people all skilled for their roles, disagreements in teams are completely understandable and common. It’s how we deal with them that's important. Conflicting ideas and debates can help us to develop, to create better products or come up with better ways of doing things. This is a key reason for creating teams - we can make each other better. Of course, sometimes this works well and at other times it causes conflict. There are many factors involved in whether colleagues work well together or not, yet the wellbeing of employees plays a major part.
Prioritising team wellbeing can increase productivity among team members because they are more likely to get along better. Especially if a business's wellness schemes include team bonding by incorporating group rewards and events. Team-based reward schemes encourage members to ensure no one is left behind, meaning that working well together and focusing on a common goal nurtures not only the work project but also the relationships between employees. Rewarding successes fuel wellness and in turn reminds employees that they owe such successes to one another as much as themselves.
Creativity and wellbeing go hand in hand.
Creativity is cited as a key component in fuelling wellbeing. Being creative, in nature and approach, can help us to find solutions to problems. Doing so can give us a sense of fulfilment and achievement and can stimulate mental wellness.
Wellbeing can also increase our ability to be creative. Creativity is understandably impacted when we are under stress or approaching burnout. Therefore, when wellbeing is not prioritised by businesses, teams can find creativity harder to harness. This can lead to a drop in productivity and innovation. However, when a culture of wellbeing is established and protected, employees who benefit from this may also perform better, especially in areas of creativity and innovation.
In addition, allowing employees more opportunities to be creative and present their ideas can have a positive impact both on business and on wellbeing. People need to feel valued and useful. They want to know they have an essential role that makes a difference and the ability to raise ideas and work creativity underpins this.
Wellbeing initiatives can also be creativity focused. For example, team-building exercises or events that involve teams being creative or artistic outlets can have a positive effect on mental wellbeing.
Reputation is everything. In the modern world, this is even more true. With faster access to information than ever before and social media documenting not only a company’s successes but also the behind-the-scenes action, clients and customers are not only making decisions based on what they are selling/offering but on who they are as an entity. This includes the way businesses care for their people.
Many will assume that how a company takes care of its own will be reflected in how it takes care of its customers. Having a reputation as a company that prioritises team wellbeing can therefore affect the wider success and also who a business is able to attract to work in the organisation. Businesses with reputations as great places to work will inevitably attract the kind of employees whose talent means they can choose where they work. Having strong people makes a company stronger and improves productivity. Yet, companies cannot expect to attract or retain these employees if they do not create and nourish a culture of wellbeing. Not if their competitors are.
High levels of staff turnover are disruptive. It can stall growth, make it difficult for employees to build productive working relationships and it can discourage talented potential recruits from joining an organisation. In short, high turnover costs businesses money.
Again, there are many factors involved in retaining talent including salary, development opportunities and flexibility. However, these are also components of wellness and wellbeing itself plays a part too. Happy people don’t generally look to make changes in areas of their lives that bring them joy. A culture of wellbeing is highly valuable both to the company and the individuals that work there.
The 2022 Deloitte survey, mentioned earlier, also reported that 28% of employees either left in 2021 or were planning to leave their jobs in 2022. 61% of these cited poor mental health as the key reason. So, not only is team wellbeing crucial to productivity but it's essential in retaining employees.
Well-thought-out and implemented programmes that encourage and nurture wellbeing in the workplace can see a decrease in work-related mental health problems. Despite a continued increase in work productivity over the past decade, the workplace can still be a stress-fuelled place. Especially in difficult economic climates and even when a company is experiencing success since that can up the pressure. Therefore, there needs to be a foundation of care, respect and rewards that aim to combat stress and make the workplace somewhere staff want to be. If you can do this, they will be far less likely to take their skills elsewhere.
For tips on improving wellbeing in the workplace, take a look at these blog posts;
A guide to looking after the wellbeing of remote employees
Thoughtful Reward and Recognition Schemes
Affordable ways for startups to promote wellbeing in the office.
]]>As a result, many of us returned to the office with the resolve to do more. To prioritise sustainability, especially in the workplace. Just under a third of the UK FTSE 100 also pledged their commitment to Net Zero in March 2021. And yet, nurturing a culture of sustainability in a busy office is challenging. Whilst you can make plans, set out guidelines, introduce schemes and more closely measure your business’s carbon footprint, without changing the mindset of your organisation you will always struggle to get everybody on board.
Therefore, rather than present a list of ways to make your office more eco-friendly, let’s look at a more psychological approach to nurturing a culture of sustainability in a busy office for the long term.
How can we use human nature to cultivate sustainability in the workplace?
As a business leader or manager, you probably know how motivating a challenge can be. After all, it’s our nature to learn, develop our abilities and strive to achieve. It’s what has kept humankind evolving. Therefore, turning your environmental goals into challenges can be highly effective.
This also stimulates teamwork and a sense of tribal togetherness that relies on everyone playing their part to meet company-wide goals. In terms of setting challenges, it’s important to select ones that will both be impactful and achievable. Reaching for carbon zero in 6 months, for instance, may be setting yourself up for failure.
So, for this article, let’s use an example of a challenge that could be set to change workplace behaviour. You may set multiple goals in your steps to nurture a culture of sustainability in your office but, for this example, we’ll focus on one - Let’s imagine a scenario where you set a challenge for your office (or multiple offices) to reduce paper waste by 50% in one year.
Almost every motivational speaker, psychologist, sociologist and educator will tell you that human beings are not motivated by fear. In fact, fear paralyses us. Yes, there are stories of a rush of adrenaline that has enabled ordinary people to do extraordinary things in exceptional circumstances but this tends to be a short-term response. Over time, fear as a key driver is generally proven to be ineffective. Why? Because human nature is to run or hide when we are afraid - and for good reason - it’s a highly logical approach to survival. Yet, in schools, in
business and even in the ways we govern ourselves, it is still common to use fear as a motivator.
Therefore, when it comes to nurturing a culture of sustainability in a busy office it may be tempting to plaster pictures of floods, famine and apocalypse all over the place. You would think that showcasing the impact of climate change or pointing to statistics on global warming would encourage more sustainable practices and it may do, for a short period of time. Yet, how many smokers do you know who have quit the habit after reading the warning on the cigarette packet?
A positive approach is far more likely to see employees getting on board with eco-friendly policies you are trying to implement.
Few people who don’t lead sustainable lifestyles do so because they don’t care. The most common reasons for not being more environmentally friendly are lack of time or lack of knowledge. Yet, many will concede that if they really believed making changes in their behaviours would make a real difference to the wellbeing of the planet, then they would take the time and make more effort. This suggests the main barrier is the denial of, or disillusionment with, the difference we can make as individuals.
Of course, there is some logic in this. With so many huge and seemingly unstoppable polluters and destroyers of our environment, it can feel unfair to be asked to make changes in our lives that are a drop in the ocean in comparison.
However, slowing down climate change will likely be achieved by a ‘ripple effect’ created by individuals, like you, me, our friends, families and colleagues. In one way this is inspiring but, in another, it works against our nature because many of us are motivated by feeling that we are personally making a significant difference.
As pointed out in step one, a positive approach to the challenges you set is also important. Therefore, to nurture a culture of sustainability in the workplace, make sure you amplify the impact of our carbon-reducing pursuits, rather than the impact of climate change itself.
To take our example challenge of reducing paper waste in the office you would not then, for instance, put up a sign above the printer that reads, ‘using paper contributes to deforestation’.
Instead, you would highlight the positive effect that specific action can/will have. For instance, ‘when we print double-sided we are reducing deforestation by 50%’.
Promoting sustainability is important but you cannot assume that employees will know what they need to do to put this into action. Therefore, don’t neglect to provide specific instructions on how to make the office more sustainable.
Let’s look at our example of promoting double-sided printing to reduce paper waste in a busy office. Now you have set the challenge and presented one possible solution (you'll likely need more) of double-sided printing, but does everybody in the office know how to print double-sided?
You need to make it really easy for colleagues to implement the changes needed to meet the challenge because generally, people in the office will not have a lot of free time to make inquiries.
It seems obvious that anybody leading change should be setting an example themselves. However, in a company, this extends through to business practices including supply chains, how products or services are delivered and who the company works with.
Since early civilisation, we have worked together to form productive societies. These have relied on everybody playing their part and sharing and supporting common goals. We have, therefore, developed a penchant for fairness. This means we become frustrated when it seems our leaders are not making a contribution or holding themselves to the same standards. Even worse when their actions actively work against the goal.
Not only can this fuel resentment but it can also be demotivating, making nurturing a culture of sustainability in a busy office extremely difficult.
Therefore, before implementing any policies or setting any goals for improving sustainability in the workplace, it’s worth looking at the effect of business operations on the environment. Whilst some may be unavoidable, where improvements can be made this should be a priority for the organisation’s leaders, before requesting employees change their habits.
Not only is it encouraging to see an organisation, as a body, take positive action on reducing its carbon footprint, but it can even attract more eco-conscious employees to the business. A company that implements its values in its business practices may be seen as a more appealing brand, client and/or employer.
So, if we again take our above example goal of reducing paper waste, then this is likely to be far less effective if the organisation itself is producing products that contain palm oil that's not sustainably sourced. Meaning, the business itself is likely contributing to deforestation and actively harming the cause. Setting a goal for employees to reduce waste paper may then come over as hypocritical and can have a demotivating effect on others' commitment to the company’s sustainability goals.
Fundamentally, there needs to be harmony between the values of the business itself, the company leaders and the employees. Only this way can you truly nurture a culture of sustainability in a busy office.
Most people want to protect the planet but it’s incredibly daunting and it can seem like there are no perfect solutions. So, all too often, we end up doing very little.
Whilst office rules are generally met with eye-rolling, having a culture of sustainability supported by goals and direction can have many positive effects and it is generally welcomed by employees. The relationship shared between sustainability and wellness, means increasing eco-awareness can encourage a focus on wellbeing and, because it is a shared venture, it can also promote colleague camaraderie. However, to truly implement eco-friendly practices, it’s essential that you first nurture a culture of sustainability and this can only be done through a shared and positive mindset. Therefore, we must not only ask what can be done but how we can motivate and support one another in doing so. That being, here a few simple ideas for changing mindset around sustainability in a busy office:
Blue Monday refers to the third Monday of January, which is rumoured to be the most depressing day of the year. The claim seems to be based on various factors including that the date is usually low in temperature, a fair distance from payday, has the fewest (ish) hours of daylight and is one of the furthest from a bank holiday.
In truth, the evidence for Blue Monday is thin at best and the theory that this is supposedly the day of the year when our mood is likely to be lowest seems to have surfaced only within the last ten years. Nonetheless, there is usually some truth in mythology and January certainly has a reputation for being a most unwelcome month. After all, Christmas is over but winter will barely have begun. Financially, we’re likely to be feeling the pinch after the holidays and due to the cost of energy (especially this coming year).
For these, and various other reasons, you may find it beneficial to promote employee wellbeing on blue Monday and the surrounding days.
There are many ways that employers can make the workplace a more uplifting place to be through the more depressing weeks and on Blue Monday. Whether that’s by introducing special activities or by positively shifting the energy in the office.
It is also essential that you’re supporting your own mental health in January so that you may lead by example. If no one ever sees the boss or the management team taking their lunch breaks or prioritising their wellbeing, it can be a barrier to employees doing so. More importantly, if they can sense stress or frustration from company managers and owners then it may also deter struggling employees from reaching out for support when they need it.
Here are a few ways you can promote employee wellbeing on Blue Monday:
It can be easy to get down when we feel we’re not working towards anything in particular. January can be a quiet time both in our social and in our working lives. The New Year can leave us contemplating the directions we're taking and whether we should be making changes. Some employees may even be using January to consider a job or even a career change. So, whilst business tends to be slow early in the new year, it’s a good time to keep your teams motivated.
Why not work together to make a list of New Years’ Resolutions for the company? Perhaps focusing on furthering your values, extending your reach or being braver and bolder? Bringing your people together creatively to generate ideas and have their say on the future goals of the business is highly motivating, making them feel a part of the journey and showing how much they are valued. Yet, it’s also a great opportunity for you to learn from your staff and perhaps uncover potential in the business you might not have otherwise seen.
Remember, great work is often created in collaboration and great teams work best when everyone is given a voice and purpose. This is especially motivating during that post-New Year’s slump.
We’re far more likely to take proper lunch breaks in the summertime when the weather is bright and warm. It’s not quite so appealing to leave the office on
those colder wetter days. However, our bodies still need fresh air and a walk around to stretch our legs and clear the cobwebs.
During January, encourage your employees to take their lunch breaks away from their desks. Perhaps start a lunchtime walking club or set up an area where everyone can come together to eat and socialise.
After such a busy festive season, the quiet of January can bring on the blues. Yet, there is nothing wrong with a less eventful month. In fact, it can be a great opportunity to reconnect and refocus.
Getting mindful in January can help us to find the clarity we need for optimism in the new year. So why not help your employees find some peace in the quiet with some lunchtime meditation classes or by offering access to Headspace for Work or another mindfulness or meditation app?
January is an ideal time to book workplace wellbeing or mindfulness workshops for your teams if you’re in a position to do so. Not only can this help staff individually, but it can also boost productivity since happier employees make better employees.
Falling approximately 3 weeks after New Year, Blue Monday might be the longest time you’ve gone without an event or social occasion for a couple of weeks. It can seem as though you have suddenly become very isolated and the decrease in social interaction that often occurs after the holidays and during the cold dark winter months can leave us craving company. Although many may be craving the peace and quiet of January after Christmas, it can be a lonely time for others and so may be a good time for a workplace event.
Organisers should be mindful that some people won’t be drinking alcohol during January and invitees may also be more amenable to a low-key event, after the holiday celebrations. Small events directly after work are more accessible and can help employees leave the office feeling positive. After-work pizzas, for example, can be a good way to bring people together in a simple way that doesn’t encroach too much on their personal time. Team brunches or lunches are also a wonderful way to get everyone out of the office to interact, which can assist with employee bonding as well as boosting morale.
Perhaps most important in promoting employee wellbeing on Blue Monday and the surrounding months is to ensure your employees know where to go for mental health support if they need it. Although Blue Monday is mostly linked to feelings of the winter blues, a more serious link can be made between this and depression. Financial strain, lack of motivation and the loneliness that can come in the longer darker months where we can be more vulnerable to isolation can be the beginnings of or can exacerbate mental health problems.
As an employer, you want to support any staff who are dealing with mental health issues. Therefore, having someone in your organisation they can talk openly with, who can offer support both within the workplace and refer them to professionals outside of the company, is essential. Make sure your staff know what to do if they are struggling with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression and ensure they know that anything discussed will remain confidential and not negatively impact their career.
Managers should also be trained in how to compassionately and constructively support members of their team who may be facing mental health problems.
Now that many employees are working remotely, it is important to have processes in place to ensure they too are receiving the support they need and that you are aware of any struggles they may be having.
As above, remote employees should also be made aware (and reminded often) of what to do and who to go to seek support if they are having any personal issues. However, low feelings in January are common and this can affect how employees feel about work.
A few ways you can help remote employees during the lead-up to and on Blue Monday include:
It can be beneficial for some employees, who cannot come into the office, to work in coworking spaces. Of course, not everyone will have access and this would be an extra cost to the company, but being around other people in working environments can be motivating and increase creativity and productivity in some people. Moreover, it can be a mood boost during times when work may become somewhat monotonous and when inspiration may be harder to find.
Employee gifting, when done well, has been found to:
Gifting from an organisation cannot always be entirely personal but it should reflect the values and general culture of the company. For example, a publishing house may gift books or notebooks as it’s likely to employ avid readers, whereas tech companies may go for gadgets. Although your employee gifts do not have to relate to what you do, or even relate to work at all, it’s important to make sure they align with your values. For instance, an eco-friendly company giving single-use gifts to their employees would come across as inauthentic and may dampen relations with employees who were motivated by the organisation’s sustainability mission.
It’s also important to ensure that gifts for employees are not too expensive or too generic. Mostly, you’ll want whatever you gift to fill your staff with that warm fuzzy feeling of being cared for. That being, wellbeing gifts are ideal for workplace gifts at Christmas.
Here are some of our best staff wellbeing gifts:
Christmas is supposed to be full of treats. Yet with so much to do, so much to plan for, so many deadlines to meet before the holidays and so many events to be present for, the festivities can become more of a burden. Especially in the winter months when our general wellbeing can be difficult to nurture.
Help your employees embrace the colder darker months by gifting them with warming gifts that promote winter wellness. These might include:
Not only is it good for your employees to have a rest and practise some self-care over the winter break, but it can make for a more productive and positive work environment in the New Year.
Check out our Winter Warmer Christmas Box or our Festive Treats Corporate Christmas Box for expertly put-together corporate wellbeing gifts for staff this Christmas season.
The holidays are the perfect time for your staff to rest and put their feet up so they’re ready and restored for the New Year. Since those feet are being put up though, they may as well be snuggled in 100% organic socks.
The simple pleasures are the most authentic and accessible. Little luxuries are about seeking out those creature comforts like socks, candles, bath products and chocolate, but opting for those extra special versions that most people wouldn’t buy for themselves, which is why they make great wellbeing gifts for staff.
Christmas is generally a busy holiday and there’s not always time for much rest, so when we’re able to take time out and relax for a few moments, it helps to do so with some little luxuries that fuel wellbeing.
Check out our Bamboo Socks
Check out our Scented Candles
Gifts will inevitably be associated with the giver, so selecting gifts that promote positivity can lead your employees to associate the workplace with that feel-
good factor. Staff wellbeing gifts that boost positivity are especially good for the festive period, which can be more challenging for some, and for January when we often experience a dip in mood. Unfortunately, it’s probably not appropriate to gift each of your employees an adorable puppy to bring forth the joy, but never fear - we have some great positivity-boosting wellbeing gifts for staff, including:
As uplifting as these gifts can be, nurturing longer-lasting techniques to encourage a more positive mindset is an even better reward, which is why a one-month subscription to a mindfulness or meditation app might be a great way to inspire your staff and help them form new healthy habits. This may even have a positive effect on productivity since happy employees tend to be more motivated.
At Out Of The Box though, we love a collection of gifts - especially those that are eco-friendly and promote positivity. So we created the Corporate Wellness Gift Box complete with bamboo socks, mood cards for work, Christmas pudding brownie bites, seed balls, The Happy News and Teapigs’ Happy Tea Bags. This is an uplifting, eco-friendly, gender-neutral Christmas gift box that is ideal for boosting positivity in your workplace.
Yes, Christmas is about family and gratitude and sharing and love but mostly, it’s about chocolate, right? Well, chocolate and other festive treats. This is why foodie Christmas gifts are always popular and why we relish selecting festive treats for our sustainable gift boxes.
Hampers are traditional, but for something more modern and eco-friendly, our Corporate Christmas Snack Boxes contain a number of inspired vegan-friendly festive treats and are a bit more unique too.
]]>Yet, there can be a lot of different needs to consider and it’s essential to make these events inclusive. A few years ago, planning a Christmas work party meant ordering a ton of beer and prosecco and hoping the resulting chaos would provide office stories to share well into January. Yet, work culture has been through a much-welcome shift in the last few years with far more focus on wellbeing.
]]>Yet, there can be a lot of different needs to consider and it’s essential to make these events inclusive. A few years ago, planning a Christmas work party meant ordering a ton of beer and prosecco and hoping the resulting chaos would provide office stories to share well into January. Yet, work culture has been through a much-welcome shift in the last few years with far more focus on wellbeing.
Whether you’re planning a team Christmas celebration or a whole-company Christmas party, we have pulled together some of the more unique staff Christmas party ideas. Take advantage of our ‘out of the box’ thinking and consider making your corporate Christmas event more memorable with one of these more unusual staff Christmas party ideas:
Escape rooms can be great experiences for teams, as they usually specify fewer than 10 people at a time. However, if you want to make it work for the whole company you could arrange it so that employees are split into teams and take on the challenge in staggered groups. This could add a competitive element to the experience.
Of course, some company cultures relish anything with a competitive angle and there are others for whom this would be intimidating. Sales-driven companies quite often embrace competition but other teams may find this off-putting, so it’s important to ensure you’re considering the needs of different personality types in your organisation when booking team activities.
If you’re looking for an escape room experience you may be lucky enough to have one locally which may feel more social. Otherwise, there are plenty of venues that cater more specifically to corporate parties and you can even take part in a virtual escape room. If your team are remote, an Escape Room in an envelope is ideal, create teams to add a competitive edge! Our puzzle gift box contains an escape room in an envelope along with a few traits for a great virtual Christmas party!
If you have a smaller company then a murder mystery party could make an ideal Christmas party. Employees can dress up, embrace the characters they are given and act through a murder mystery experience, solving clues together and perhaps enjoying a little glamour too, depending on the theme.
Murder Mystery games can be purchased but this will likely require someone from the company to play hostess and you will want to decorate the office so it provides the right setting for your theme. Alternatively, many venues host murder mystery parties and often provide drinks and dinner too. A murder mystery party does provide a full experience with a whole evening of entertainment. However, the costume planning, reading up on your character and getting ready provide excitement in the leading up to the actual event also. You may even be able to find a murder mystery game with a Christmas theme.
Ok, so it’s not a party but if you’re a business focused on giving back to the community, you may want to consider whether volunteering at Christmas would be a better alternative to a costly Christmas party. The real question is, what would most of your employees rather, because it is, after all, their reward?
If you do decide that volunteering for a charity or organisation that aligns with your values is better suited to your company, then The Social Society may be able to help arrange a suitable project for your team.
Corporate gameshows and quizzes can work in various settings, from in-office parties to more elaborate functions in larger venues. Companies can create their own quizzes, perhaps sourcing pub quiz questions online, and host them in the office. This can be a great ice-breaker for Christmas office parties and you can choose whether to keep work teams together or to mix them up. The latter may allow employees to socialise with those they wouldn’t usually work with.
If you have a larger company or are hiring a venue for your Christmas party then you might find it’s better to hire an events entertainment company that can provide a gameshow experience for the whole company. This may prove to be more interactive, involving individual and group challenges rather than just the classic pub-quiz style question and answers. Companies such as Eventurous can provide such experiences, with some even based on popular TV gameshows.
Your employees have worked hard all year and, let’s be honest, it’s not been the easier couple of years for many. What most of us could do with is a good laugh. Why not book yourself a big table at your local comedy club, or hire a stand-up comedian or troupe for your corporate Christmas party?
Comedy is a brilliant way to break the ice and there's arguably nothing better to bring people together than sharing in laughter. You may want to do a bit of research first to ensure the general tone of the comedy is going to suit your employees. Booking a table at a comedy club, perhaps after dining together, can be a great way to ensure a fun and lively atmosphere for your Christmas celebration.
If you’re having a Christmas party then what about giving employees something extra special to start the Christmas holiday period with? A party bag that includes thoughtful gifts promoting wellbeing will be welcomed by your staff, who will appreciate the reminder to take care of themselves over the festive period. You might include a candle, food items, herbal teas, etc. We have some great options for staff Christmas gifts or you can contact us and we can put something bespoke together for you to hand out to your employees as a seasonal thank-you gift at your Christmas party.
The right time for chocolate is anytime but Christmas is especially fitting. So why not take your team to a chocolate-making workshop where they can learn how to produce their own luxury chocolates?
Chocolate making is one of our favourite staff Christmas party ideas as it’s a wonderfully seasonal experience. Plus, you’ll all have something to take home with you (if you have the willpower not to scoff your creations all at once). Learning together is also a great bonding experience but what’s important here is that for most companies this will be a learning experience that has nothing to do with work. This is important because employees don’t feel especially valued or rewarded when staff events attempt to incorporate work-based learning.
Are you planning a classic big corporate Christmas party? These can be great opportunities for employees across all departments and even offices to socialise together. A grand event is a great way to end the year and celebrate all you’ve achieved together. However, as mentioned in the introduction, some of these parties have traditionally been centred around drinking alcohol and may carry a somewhat crass reputation you don’t necessarily want for your company. To avoid the kind of corporate Christmas party that keeps HR departments busy for weeks after, lay on some proper entertainment to fill the evening and give everybody something to see. Staff Christmas party ideas for entertainment might include:
Doing something extra special doesn’t only set the tone but it differentiates you and can even be a reflection on, or help to build, company culture.
Whether you’re doing something big or going for a more intimate Christmas celebration, make sure it's inclusive and, especially if you’re including an activity, ensure it works to bring colleagues together over the festive period.
]]>To be successful employee reward and recognition schemes should:
Schemes should avoid:
Events
Company events are highly effective for teams especially because everyone works towards the same goals and they get to celebrate together which further bonds your workforce. Events as a form of reward also recognise everyone in
the team equally. We’re not suggesting that you pin your annual Christmas party on whether the company meets their sales targets - repackaging regular events as dependent on performance will likely have the opposite effect on motivating employees. However, extra events can work well as a recognition scheme. A little like the rewards given to the winning team each week on the BBC’s The Apprentice.
Avoid - team-building days that directly benefit the company and often get a mixed reception from staff.
Years Of Service
Years of service are important to mark as it lets employees know you recognise and value the time they have given to you. Gifts are the most traditional way of rewarding employees for their 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of service (or more). Naturally, the more time served, the bigger the gift. We particularly love the idea of combining a gift with a day off. In this case, you’ll want the gift to be something they can use for this such as tickets for a show or event or a wellbeing gift set with items they can use to enjoy a well-deserved day of rest.
Whilst gifts to mark work anniversaries are traditional, another common theme is the employee reflecting on their past achievements and their future at the company. Therefore, work anniversaries are a good time for a check-in. Be aware of your employees' goals, ambitions and expectations for their careers and ensure you have a plan put together for how they can work towards this in the business.
Avoid - anything that’s not personal. The point is that you value their contribution so the reward should be tailored to the individual.
Shoutouts - Internal and external
You can’t present a gift, put on an event or give a bonus out every time an employee goes above and beyond. Besides, sometimes it’s as much about recognising commitment and consistency as it is about the big achievements. Especially since some employees’ job description simply doesn’t call for making a big impact as much as it does for daily efficiency. For example, your payroll assistant or your receptionist may do exemplary jobs that go unnoticed because they aren't working to targets or bringing in new clients.
Shoutouts give everyone the opportunity for recognition and although they can spark some healthy competition they can also help employees across departments recognise and take time to appreciate the efforts of others. You can even opt for a peer-to-peer scheme when it is fellow employees who nominate one another for recognition.
Recognition can be platformed through ‘Employee Of The Week’ or ‘Employee Of The Month’ schemes. Winners can be profiled on the company's Intranet and through social media (with their permission). They may also receive a voucher or corporate gift box.
Avoid - giving shoutouts to those whose impact is more easily tracked. For instance sales team members and upper management who tend to know and get rewarded when they’re doing well. Use shoutouts to shine light upon the unsung heroes.
Recognition is important but how you reward employees can have a real impact on your company culture and whether employees feel truly valued. Everybody loves being thanked for their hard work but employment is a transaction and rewards, therefore, should reflect the effort that’s been put into achieving them. Here are a few ideas for rewards companies can offer employees:
Bonuses
Financial incentives are always well received. If you are in a position to do so, most employees will value financial incentives above most else. Putting a proportion of your profits back into incentivising employees benefits your business long-term and helps retain employees who have been a part of your success in the past, so that they may continue to be part of your future success.
Of course, it is easier to offer bonuses to employees with targets, which means sales teams and management often reap the majority of financial rewards in such schemes. However, with a bit of creativity, it is possible to offer bonuses to those who keep the day-to-day essential parts of your business running smoothly. If you can find a way to do this, this can help you retain talent across your business and recognise the value employees across the business bring.
Avoid - Allowing bonuses to become a source of stress. An employee’s salary should be fair to begin with so that bonuses can be something uplifting, not something employees rely on.
Days Off
Pepsi once ran a campaign called the Pepsi Challenge. It claimed that 7 out of 10 tasters preferred the taste of Pepsi over its biggest rival, Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola immediately announced they were changing its formula. Pepsi gave all its employees the day off. This true story demonstrates the simplest principle of management - when your staff succeed, give them a break.
Time is our most precious commodity and giving an employee the day off may not make seem like a massive gesture but it's a fair reward. If they’ve gone the extra mile, give them some time back. Giving an employee or team the day off is especially effective because too often our experience is that the harder we work the more that’s expected. A fairer approach would be, the harder we work, the more time we should have to enjoy the other parts of our lives.
Avoid - Announcing a day off on the day or even the day before as it will likely be wasted. Give the employee or employees some notice so they can make the most of it, perhaps enjoying it with family or friends.
Shares
Company share schemes can be a great way of rewarding employees by giving them shares in the company. Not only does this help make employees feel valued but it can be highly motivating as it further binds their career success with the company's success. Share schemes can relieve pressures on companies when they’re not in a position to offer financial incentives because they’re focusing on scaling up the business. Furthermore, giving shares to employees can align them more with the interests of the shareholders, giving them a more holistic view of the company beyond their particular role.
Avoid - Giving share scheme options to employees until they have worked with the company for a while. This is a scheme where loyalty and ongoing commitment should be rewarded over short-term successes.
Contrary to widespread belief, the need to feel valued is not about ego. It’s actually about survival and it goes back to cave-person times. From the very early days of civilisation, human beings undertook roles in society so that groups could work cohesively for the good of the tribe as a whole. Rather than leave the sick or injured behind, we began to take care of one another, understanding that there was safety in numbers. We separated roles with some hunting, some gathering and later, some farming. By sharing the workload and each finding ways to contribute we became stronger, together. Having value didn’t just feel good, it meant we had a role to play. Which meant we would be protected and looked after by the rest of the tribe. Bringing value meant we were safer and this instinct has never left us.
Now we’re not hunting, we’re working. The resources we have access to are dependent on how much value we are perceived to be bringing through our employment. Therefore, our wellbeing is still tied to our sense of value.
So, if feeling valued makes us feel safer and more secure, then it translates that not feeling valued will make us feel the opposite way. If employees are feeling undervalued and therefore potentially anxious and insecure, not only can this harm productivity but it can make employees more likely to leave the business. After all, if they’re not feeling they bring value, then that will affect their sense of belonging.
Thoughtful reward and recognition schemes can help to make employees feel valued. Furthermore, they can:
Motivate employees
Not all employees can work from home, not all will choose to do so and some may choose to split their time between the office and remote working. There is a sense that both employers and employees are still very much finding their feet.
As of 2022, 30% of the UK workforce were working remotely at least one day a week, according to ONS. More than 50% of employees also claim to be happier when working from home and so the consensus is that working from home culture is improving wellbeing in employees.
However, there are also certain risks and potential threats to employees' wellbeing when they’re working remotely. The biggest, of course, is that without regular face-to-face contact, a drop in the wellbeing of a colleague or employee may go unnoticed.
A negative impact on the wellbeing of a colleague may be caused by remote working or may be unconnected. The difficulty with remote working is that it becomes more difficult for an individual to reach out and for employers to notice any changes in behaviour or demeanour.
The health and safety of all employees is the responsibility of the employer regardless of where an employee is working from from home or on site. The mental and physical health of remote workers, including their wellbeing, should be monitored and supported by their employers.
This doesn’t mean you have to force feed your staff their 5-a-day, provide weekly therapy sessions or ask invasive questions. Still, since it can be more difficult to build relationships with those who aren’t in the office, how can employers be looking after the wellbeing of remote employees?
Here are a few ways that you, as an employer, can support the wellbeing of remote employees:
In this article, we’re going to focus more on mental health and remote working. However, it is important to note that health and safety are a part of this. It also absolutely still falls in the remit of the employer to ensure that an employee’s workplace is safe and appropriate, even when it is in their home.
Ok, so you can’t turn up with a tape measure and an Ikea flat-pack home office kit, but you should be familiar with your employee’s workstation. Some of your employees are going to be less able to create a comfortable work area in their homes than others but there are ways you can support this.
It is essential that workplace assessments still take place for remote employees. This could be done via a questionnaire form or even via video conferencing. You can use this assessment to ensure that employees who work at a desk are protecting their posture and that everyone has the equipment they need. There is a chance that workplace assessments may highlight employees who cannot be expected to work from home. This may be due to not having a private and secure space within their home or it may be that working from home is proving to be impeding their wellbeing. It’s important that such issues are flagged early so that other options can be explored.
Please do not start turning up unannounced at the homes of your employees! What we mean by checking in on remote workers is semi-regular, scheduled, catch-up sessions. These can be in the office or via call or video conferencing.
Much like Keeping-In-Touch Days for those on maternity leave, this ensures a regular meeting during which you can check your employees are being kept up-to-date with any company news and being given access to the same benefits and opportunities as those who are office based. It should give them the chance to discuss any work issues, challenges, and successes. Hopefully, this will also be considered a time during which a remote worker can share any personal circumstances which may impact their wellbeing. If they do so, it’s important to see this as an opportunity to support them in the professional space as well.
Many employees who formerly groaned at the mention of team-building sessions, may find that since working remotely, they serve a far larger purpose and have become more necessary. Our wellbeing is impacted greatly by the
relationships we have with one another. When colleagues are communicating mostly through email, it is more difficult to build a connection. Therefore, arranging days during which colleagues can meet face-to-face and spend more time getting to know one another can be highly beneficial.
Not only does having friendships at work improve productivity but it also has a positive effect on wellbeing. Moreover, it increases the likelihood that an employee who in need of support will feel comfortable reaching out.
The flexibility of home working can be both liberating and confusing. Some remote workers will need to adhere to set hours, due to customer availability and other factors. However, some may be able to take advantage of the opportunity to set their own working hours. Either way, your employees need to maintain a balance between work and home. Therefore, ensure you’re aware of your remote workers' general working hours and try not to contact them outside of these.
Just as it would not be acceptable to contact a 9-5pm employee at 8pm, it would not be acceptable to contact a 6am-2pm employee at 5pm. Except for emergencies obviously. Not adhering to boundaries can result in remote workers working unscheduled hours on top of their set hours. This can mean their workload becomes heavier than their colleagues and may even lead to stress and fatigue.
Even those who love their jobs and derive much of their purpose from work, need to ensure they have regular time off the clock to protect their wellbeing. Ensuring that all employees are doing so is the responsibility of the employer. So, whilst a principal concern of work-from-home culture has been that employees may be less productive, in the same way that we can monitor that enough work is being produced, we can also be on alert for those whose output has increased in a way that suggests they are regularly working outside of contracted hours.
When this occurs, a conversation to remind employees of the need to preserve their work-life balance can help. You should also check that they are getting the support needed to do this. In an office environment when you’re going home at 6pm and you notice your marketing team still heads down anxiously typing away most nights per week, it might occur to you that they’re understaffed. Of course, you’re not seeing this when your employees are working from home so it’s important to look for signs of it now and then.
Not only is overworking damaging to the wellbeing of your employees, but it’s not good for business either. Overworked employees can not consistently produce the quality of work that is needed and there is a higher risk of them becoming run-down and unwell, which can lead to sick leave.
This might seem like a senseless question. However, taking care of your staff does require a significant and purposeful effort from employers. Especially when those workers are off-site. Therefore, it’s important to be reminded that promoting and supporting wellbeing is more than something we talk about on LinkedIn and at annual reviews. It needs to be part of daily practice.
Wellbeing in your employees is not a benefit but a necessity, especially if your business is going to succeed and do so without a high staff turnover. The fact is that no one running on empty should be entrusted to pour their energy into something important to you, including your business. For your company vision to be realised and maintained, you need people behind you who don’t just share your will to make that happen, but who have the talents and abilities needed. Talent and ability though, are massively affected by our energy, health and motivation. Athletes, for instance, do not spend whole days running, cycling and swimming to train for triathlons. They have regular rest, ensure they are eating well and they look after their mental health as well as their physical.
A great boss is more of a coach than a director. They bring out the best in their teams by ensuring that they are being given all they need to perform as best as they can when they are on the clock. When they are less able to do so, they look at a variety of factors that may be impeding their performance that goes beyond talent and ability and instead looks at what is fuelling or draining this.
Looking after the wellbeing of remote employees is not just the right thing to do from a CSR perspective, it’s also essential for your business.
]]>The employer-employee relationship has received a lot of attention in the media recently. The pandemic forced many companies to adapt to working from home and many debates have risen concerning the pros and cons of this. Despite some resistance, mainly from businesses, it does seem likely that many will have to adjust to employees working from home or requesting more flexibility and this has drawn attention to the employer-employee dynamic.
Obviously, buying employee Christmas gifts is not going to solve any real problems with HR. However, the gifts you give staff can say a lot about how much value you place on their contribution. So it's worth some thought.
Unsurprisingly, protests against home and flexible working are loudest from those who may have reason to believe their employees are not loyal enough to work as hard if given these privileges. It is usually businesses that view their company as a collaboration of creativity and ideas, as opposed to a more parent-child relationship between them and their employees, who are far keener to adapt to unconventional working practices. In short, respect, trust and genuine care go a long way to building loyal employee-employer relationships. So, how can you reflect this in your gift-giving?
A luxury gift once per year will not make up for a salary that does not honour talent or tackle a toxic work environment. However, the right Christmas gift box for an employee can help to draw attention to your appreciation of them and nurture the relationship.
Why Give Employees Gifts At Christmas?
Employers often gift employees at certain milestones, such as employment anniversaries or after periods of hard work or success. Christmas falls at a particularly good time to reward hard work and loyalty. To be clear, we’re not promoting gifting in any way as a bribe. Aside from being unethical, it is also not effective.
January though is a popular time for finding a new job. Many hiring managers would have received new budgets and reshuffles often take place in the New Year. In addition, January is one of the most popular months for us to review our life choices and make all kinds of resolutions. So it's an important date in the calendar to remind employees why they chose to work for you.
Employee Christmas gifts therefore should not be given with reluctance. They should be measurable against the size and profit of the company and they should be somewhat personal. A business that gifts its employees with company-branded paperweights is not demonstrating a sense that they view their staff as whole people with lives outside of the office. We recommend using the Christmas gifting tradition to connect with those who keep your business going.
Why Employee Christmas Gifts Should Reflect Your Values
Younger generations are becoming increasingly determined that their work reflects their values. Choosing companies who do good, operate sustainably and are ethical is important in choosing where to work and if they choose to stay in their roles. Often, as companies grow and become answerable to investors, it can be easy to drift away from values. Yet, they must be present in all that you do, especially if they have ever attracted clients or talent. Employee gifts, therefore, should reflect your values.
If you operate sustainably, this must extend to the gifts you give at Christmas. Out Of The Box specialise in sustainable corporate gifts with a focus on self-care and ethical luxury .
However, even if sustainability is not relevant to what you do, it is worth ensuring your gifts are eco-friendly, in case these are values members of your staff hold. Check out our Reusable Coffee Cup, made out of single-use coffee cups.
Other values might include supporting small businesses or buying local, in which case, you will want to incorporate this into your gifting choices. Or, perhaps you support a charity from whom you can purchase gifts so that profits made are pumped back into causes you and your employees care about.
How Do You Make Employee Christmas Gifts Personal?
It’s not always easy to make gifts personal. Especially with fixed budgets and an honourable resolve to be financially fair. Yet, let’s not mistake personalised for personal.
Personal gifts lift our mood. They are nurturing and make us feel valued. They are, basically, a gift for the person. Desk calendars, branded merchandise and vouchers do not, therefore, make the grade.
Instead, focus on something to gift your employees with that does not have anything directly to do with the workplace or their job. Recognise that your employees have a life outside of the office and that the holidays are a time for them to enjoy this. If your gift can assist them in doing this then it’s not only going to make them feel appreciated, it’s going to help them return refreshed after the holidays.
Uplifting gifts that promote self-care are a wise choice. These gift types include candles , chocolate or wellbeing gifts such as our Positivity Planner . They feel personal and yet are gratefully received by everyone.
Can’t choose just one gift? We offer bespoke wellbeing gift boxes that are eco-friendly and ethically sourced. There is no minimum order, we can incorporate your branding and we will even plant a tree for every purchase made. Get in touch today to talk about the gifts that will make your employees feel truly valued.
]]>I grew up under the mantra ‘if you’re going to do something, do it properly.’ When considering corporate Christmas gifts for clients, I urge you to do the same. Too much money is wasted on corporate gifts that end up at the bottom of desk draws.
Corporate gifts don’t have to be dull. Your clients probably have everything they need for their desks and aren’t really going to appreciate another paperweight, letter opener or desk calendar, even if it does have your logo on it. In fact, especially if it has your logo on it.
If your client is important enough to buy a corporate Christmas gift for, then that gift should be thoughtful and memorable. Here are a few things to consider when choosing corporate Christmas gifts for clients:
Who do you buy for and how much do you spend?
Corporate Christmas gifts for clients may be given to long-term loyal clients as well as new or even prospective clients. In general, my rule is quality over quantity. I also believe in building on trust and gratitude for loyalty over winning new clients with gestures, at least when it is an either-or. Although I’m going to criticize forgettable gifts a fair amount in the advice that follows, it would be a mistake to assume that a client who received a Christmas gift in their first year being a client, will not notice if they stop receiving them now they’ve become a steady client. Of course, whether or not a client receives a gift should not have an impact on their decision to work with you or not. However, the power of the unconscious cannot be underestimated. So, it is important to be consistent.
This is one of the many reasons why corporate gifting should not be an afterthought. Rather you should have a proper plan in place and keep a record of what you give to whom each year, so as to avoid offending anyone.
In terms of spend, there is absolutely no point in buying tat that isn’t going to be used. Better by far to make thoughtful, well-considered decisions about what gifts are appropriate. Ultimately, big gestures should be avoided for compliance reasons as well as for budgetary reasons. I recommend simple products with a hint of luxury. Meaning, if you are gifting a notebook, then better a high-quality, sustainable notebook with excellent craftsmanship than a supermarket brand diary that is somewhat unremarkable.
It doesn’t have to be work related
Just because you know someone in a professional capacity doesn’t mean they only exist in the workplace. Corporate gifts don’t have to be workplace-related, especially at Christmas. Why not get something your client can enjoy over the Christmas break, like festive hot chocolate mixes, candles or a hamper?
You don’t have to know someone very well to make gifts more personal. Feel-good gifts that boost mood are a really good way to thank clients for their support.
Do they reflect your values?
If you’re a company grounded in your values then your gifts should be inline with that.
For example, if you work in sustainability then your gift must be environmentally friendly. This goes the other way too. If your client works in sustainability they’re not going to want to receive gifts that don't reflect those values.
If you’re a value-driven business working with another value-driven business, perhaps it may be wiser to make a donation in their name rather than give a physical gift? Or choose from our range of eco-friendly ethical corporate gift boxes
They should have some connection to your business (when possible)
Ok, so this isn’t effective for every business. There’s no point in giving away something a client already buys from you. Yet, corporate gifts should be memorable and so it really helps if there is some connection between the gift and your business. For example, if you are a travel company, then a coffee table book of the ‘Top Wonders Of The World’ would be unique but also links back to your expertise.
Gifts that reflect your business also demonstrate a real passion for what you do - a trait most corporations treasure in a supplier. So consider your brand when you are selecting gifts because a luxury goods business should not be gifting foam mouse mats and ethical companies should not be giving plastic water bottles.
Corporate gifting can be an afterthought at a very busy period of the year. Yet, it’s important to ask yourself, am I proud of the gift I am giving? Else, what’s the point?
Is it compliant?
There are compliance laws in place that prevent corporate gifting that may be construed as a bribe in any way.
Gifts that are too expensive or very regular gifting can fall into this category. There are also some professions that are unable to accept gifts, such as government officials. So if you have any doubts check the compliance guidelines .
Are you the best person to choose the gifts?
Corporate gifting is often left to assistants or marketing departments who may not necessarily know the clients personally. If you’re in this position don’t be afraid to brainstorm with client-facing colleagues who might have a better idea of their clients' likes or values. This way you don’t end up giving personalised golf ball sets to clients who don’t play golf.
How do you want your client to feel?
Corporate gifts generally have a reputation for being unimaginative. I love stationery but for some reason corporate gifted stationery is usually the dullest least inspiring kind. If you are going to go to the effort and expense of corporate gifting, then why not get something special?
Unthoughtful gifts, especially those that are typically branded with your logo such as mugs and desk calendars are forgettable and bland. When considering corporate Christmas gifts for clients, think about which gifts make you feel good. Comforting gifts such as baked goods, pampering gifts or care packages like our Take A Break gift box are always well received.
Uplifting and thoughtful gifts are memorable and create an association of your business with that feel-good factor.
Gifts that keep on giving
A good box of chocolates may not last long but it will be treasured. Chocolates though, are the exception. The rule with choosing corporate gifts for clients is generally to try to select something that lasts, so that they will be reminded of your brand whenever they use it. Candles can be a scented reminder (check out our lavender and geranium scented candles) and gifts such as Thought Of The Day cards or our Mood Cards may be used daily.
These days it’s all about the experience and showing the team that they are valued, particularly after the turmoil that the 2020’s has brought us so far.
We create employee wellbeing gifts that can be tailored just for your team. We create a gift box that is perfect for your employees and fits within the theme of your wellbeing event, we wrap each gift box individually and can send them direct to your employee’s homes or to your office. We’ll also add your branding to the gift tag with your personal message.
We have a multitude of items already available as part of build your own box but if there’s anything you’d like to see that we don’t stock, we can source items to suit your theme / brand and create the perfect gift box for you.
All of our gifts are eco and vegan friendly, meaning that they suit most dietary requirements and also don’t have a detrimental effect on our planet. Unlike the good old branded stress ball!
Please get in touch to see how we can help with your team wellbeing gifts on 07580 061 227 or hello@outoftheboxgifts.co.uk
]]>We have been lucky enough to team up with EF Training to send their course participants a wellness care package soon after they complete their training.
EF Training deliver Compasion Fatigue training, teaching emotional resilience to those working in caring roles, so a self care package landing on their doorstep soon after their training course is the perfect reminder to stay on track.
It was great working with the team to create a package that was just right for the course participants. Without ruining any surprises by revealing the contents, I provided some suggestions and between us we chose some gifts that fit with some of the themes from the training. It was also important that the gifts physically fit in a letterbox friendly gift box. With many course participants working shifts we wanted to ensure nobody had to head out to collect a missed parcel from the sorting office during their time off. .
To ensure we comply with GDPR rules, a link is sent out to each participant for them to provide their contact details so that their gift can be sent directly to them without the need for unnecessary handling of data. We then wrap the gifts, add a personal message with EF Training’s branding onto the gift tag and send directly to the delegate. Data is then removed from our database.
We have received some lovely feedback on the gift boxes, such as this review:
"Thank you so much for the lovely gift I received in the post. It really made my day and was so thoughtful. I really enjoyed the training and it was an extra bonus receiving the little care package "
If you are searching for wellness gifts for delegates , employees or trainees, we can create something that works just for you. Get in touch via email at hello@outoftheboxgifts.co.uk or by calling 07580 061 227.
If you or someone you know could benefit from compassion fatigue training, please send them over to www.eftraining.co.uk where they will be very well looked after!
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