Employee Care Packages: Recognition, Retention and Appreciation for the Long-Term

Looking to show employee recognition and appreciation? Send a care package to let them know you support and appreciate them.

Excelling at employee recognition and employee appreciation is not just a nice thing to do, it is a fundamental business strategy that affects your bottom line. Happier, healthier employees are more satisfied, productive, engaged, connected and less likely to leave.

When companies get it right, successful employee recognition leads to employees who are:

• 5x as likely to see a path to grow in the organization
• 44% more likely to be “thriving” in their life overall
• 73% less likely to “always” or “very often” feel burned out
• 4x as likely to be actively engaged at work
• 5x as likely to feel connected to their workplace culture

But how do you achieve “successful employee recognition”? Especially now that workplace culture must adjust for remote or hybrid offices? A recent Gallup survey found that 8 in 10 people are working hybrid or remote, while only 2 in 10 are fully on-site.

As a corporate gifting company, we get that question a lot from our clients. In 2023, we asked employees how they wanted to be recognized and appreciated to get the answers. The Packed with Purpose 2023 Employee Recognition Report told us: 

• The top 3 ways employees want to be recognized are: A monetary reward (1), an employee care package (2) and a simple “thank you” (3).
• Employees want to be recognized by senior leadership (47%) rather than their immediate manager (27%) and their peers (21%).

Our clients are explicitly looking for gifts that are high quality, stand out, and demonstrate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) or commitment to sound environmental practices. Below are the most impactful occasions for employee care packages and a few suggestions to help you effectively show appreciation, recognition, showcase company values and build a company culture in spite of location.

1. Employee Welcome Care Packages

   Employee onboarding is much more difficult in our new remote/hybrid era, but the four c’s of onboarding (clarification, compliance, connection and culture) remain the same. According to SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), “human resource professionals need to pay particular attention to connection and culture, which are most at risk in a virtual environment.” 

    An employee welcome care package can set the perfect tone for onboarding and provide a chance for connection while showing off your company values, culture and mission. Our Work from Anywhere care package is an eco-friendly collection that includes a versatile, insulated tumbler, classic notebooks, a compact screen cleansing towelette, and a brandable Bonsai grow kit to brighten up their home office and make them feel welcome. The branding welcomes them to the team and the whole gift exemplifies your company values by supporting clean water initiatives, tree-education, and women-owned businesses.

   Our You Got This employee care package brings in some tasty treats while still providing the opportunity to include a branded item. Featuring an assortment of sweet and salty snacks paired with smooth organic, dark roast coffee for a pick me up, and a brandable stress ball, this employee gift sends a message of inspiration while supporting employment for adults on the autism spectrum, fair trade practices, Certified B Corps and Woman-Owned businesses.

2. Employee Gifts that Honor Important Milestones

   So you’ve successfully onboarded new employees – but now it’s time to retain them (and all your longer-tenured staff). Personal or professional milestones are ideal for occasion-based appreciation and show staff that their work is valued.

   Work anniversaries make a great reason to send an employee care package – especially the very important first year anniversary. There’s a reason A Sweet Thanks is always one of our corporate gift best-sellers – it’s an everyone-pleasing show of gratitude. A collection of yummy cookies, wholesome dried fruit and snack bar, tasty southern-style toffee, and delectable popcorn mix surprise and delight with every bite while showcasing that your company supports ovarian cancer research, providing jobs to adults on the autism spectrum, reducing food waste and more.

   But personal milestones are also a chance to show appreciation. Our Happy Birthday to You care package is birthday-themed joy in a box. The party begins with a rich birthday cake batter chocolate truffle bar dotted with confetti pieces and continues with make-them-smile colorful gummies and crunchy and allergy-free birthday cake cookies that empower and employ individuals with intellectual disabilities, improve food access and education for families living with food insecurity and invests in girls’ empowerment.

3. Supportive care packages during challenging times

   Something often overlooked in employee recognition and appreciation strategies is showing up when it matters most – when an employee is going through a difficult time. It doesn’t have to be an enormously challenging time – a loss of a parent, becoming a parent yourself, dealing with familial illness – it can be anytime when an employees’ mental and emotional well-being is suffering. That’s when a “care package” really shines.

   The Relax and Unwind Care Package fits the bill. This gift set includes sweet bites of organic chocolate, delicate key lime cookies, and fragrant peach tea to enjoy from an insulated mug and a hand-poured relaxing candle. All of these items say, “Take a breath and take care of yourself.” But these aren’t just treats – these are treats that make a difference like supporting employment for teen moms, sustainability efforts, and more. You can recognize the need for support and stay true to your company values in this one box.

   The best employee care packages help staff feel recognized, appreciated, and supported during difficult times, life or work milestones, or just because. A welcome care package can set the tone when a new employee starts and help them feel connected to their new role even in remote-first work environments. The next time you want to recognize, appreciate and retain talent, send a care package and support employees, company culture and company success for the long-term.

About Packed with Purpose: Packed with Purpose is a Certified Woman-Owned business that embeds social and environmental impact into the everyday act of gift giving. These distinctly curated gift boxes source products from over 140+ purpose-driven organizations that transform more than 750,000 lives, resulting in a unique gifting experience that is as inspiring as it is impressive. Strengthen relationships with clients, employees, or friends with gifts for every budget or occasion through seamless ordering, branding and customization. Discover why the nation’s leading brands choose to send gifts that are Packed with Purpose.

Amplify your impact today.