12 Ways to Celebrate Remote Employees

When congratulating someone in-person is not an option, consider these creative ways to boost worker motivation and retention.

During these strange and challenging times, it's more important than ever for organizations to celebrate their workers' accomplishments, to keep them motivated and ensure employee retention. But celebrating a far-flung team’s successes and milestones during the pandemic requires unique solutions. We’ve rounded up 12 gifts and tips that will make your digital employee event a piece of cake.

WFH Delights

Sometimes it’s just fun to get a box full of gifts. Inside this one is a notepad by Wit & Delight, a personalized metal tumbler from Vinylize It and a bath bomb from Musee Bath. Cost: $40. 

A Toast!

Send along this box of cheers from OneHope Wine to celebrate a recipient’s work anniversary or a job done well. Choose the bubbly of your choice to accompany the pair of champagne flutes. Cost: $50-$85. 

Enjoy a Group Meal

Send lunch to those working from home through the corporate arm of the GrubHub food-delivery service. Employees can order whatever they’re craving, courtesy of the higher-ups. Cost: Contact GrubHub. 

For Now and Later

To thank workers for their current efforts and to recognize the promise of greatness to come, this sunny gift from Baudv!lle comes with a sweet treat (pineapple gummies) and a plant cube for growing a sunflower. Cost: $19.49 each for 20; $18.99 each for 40. 

Take Pride

Show recipients how management feels about their hard work with this Proud of You gift box from Etsy, filled with relaxing soaking salts, a candle and calming organic tea. Cost: $37.

Snack Break

Popcorn lovers on your team will flip over Sugarwish’s many options. Employees get to choose from 50 flavors to fill their containers. Cost: Three-pick box, $39; seven-pick box, $72. 

Pizza Night

Little Caesars offers just what recipients need to make a party out of a pizza. The Celebration Kit comes with five Pizza Crusts, cheese, sauce and pepperoni, plus cookie dough, frosting and chopped M&M's. Cost: $25. 

Icing on the Cake

Easy to eat and easy to store, these delicious bite-size confections from Caroline’s Cakes come in a variety of flavors, such as lemon raspberry, salted caramel and, to mark an employee’s big day, birthday cake. Cost: $25 for a box of 12. 

Office Bagels (at Home)

bagels-recognition

For those missing the occasional breakfast offerings at work, send out a dozen H&H bagels so team members can nosh during their virtual staff meetings. Cost: $49 per dozen; toppings are extra. 

Scoop to Success

ECreamery’s “You Did It” collection of ice creams is a perfectly cool way to thank your group for going above and beyond. Included flavors are chocolate cake with fudge swirls and brownie bites; vanilla with toffee crunch; mint cookie crunch with fudge swirls; and s’mores. Cost: $60. 

Party in a Tin

Send team members the fixings for a group Zoom celebration with this kit from Kikkerland. The tin contains confetti, a book of toasts and two party horns. Cost: $7.95 each.