An individual gift for an employee on a jubilee or farewell should be an expression of genuine appreciation, not just a formality. We suggest how to choose a gift that provides real rest and how to efficiently account for it in company expenses.
A holiday package for the whole team and a gift for one person on the occasion of their jubilee are two completely different matters. The first gift is mass-produced and economically designed as it goes to everyone in the same form. The second is meant formally to appreciate a specific person, therefore requiring an individual approach and greater involvement. That’s why on a round work anniversary, retirement, or farewell after many years, it’s worth setting aside template solutions. It’s better to ask yourself: what will truly bring this person joy and preserve good memories of the company?
When is an individual gift given to an employee?
Most occasions for buying a gift for a single team member share a common denominator. At such moments, the personal nature of the gesture is crucial, as well as ensuring the recipient feels noticed as a person, not just as a link in the company structure.
Individual gifts are most often given on the occasion of a round jubilee, for example after working 10-25 years in the company. A similar practice is used when bidding farewell to a long-standing team member, their retirement, changing the workplace, or when being promoted or taking on a new, responsible role.
At each of these moments, the gift serves a function more important than mere formality. It can be one of the last gestures the employee remembers from their entire employment period, so it’s worth considering its thoughtful form.
What kind of gift makes sense, and what should be avoided?
Another mug with a logo, pen with engraving, or a set of company gadgets usually ends up in a drawer and doesn’t evoke strong emotions in the recipient. For an important professional event, such a gift might be perceived as a lack of commitment from superiors.
Much better solutions are gifts that allow for rest or pursuing hobbies outside the office environment. This might be, for example, a ticket to a favorite band’s concert or a weekend stay at a spa hotel. For a jubilee or retirement, such a form of gratitude clearly shows that the company recognizes the person's private interests, not just the achievement of sales goals.
This step does not require devoting huge funds. The key to success is matching the surprise to the individual lifestyle of a particular employee.
Ideas by occasion
Gift for a work jubilee
On a round anniversary, the gift should express respect for the length of service, so it’s worth giving it an appropriate rank. Items that the recipient rarely allows themselves in everyday life work well. A good choice would be high-class photographic equipment for an amateur photographer, a weekend at a hotel with a spa, or a multi-course tasting dinner.
Gift for a retiree
Retirement ends the previous professional activity and opens a time that was previously lacking, so the gift should facilitate entering this new phase. Trips for relaxation are very popular, such as a three-day stay at a hotel with a spa area, where the future retiree can spend time without hurry or rigid time frames. At this stage, it’s best to avoid items that are directly associated with office work, as this moment symbolizes its closure.
Farewell gift when changing jobs
When moving to another company, the farewell atmosphere is usually more relaxed. The employee changes environment, so the gift is an expression of sympathy, not a summary of their entire career. A gift from the nearest team works well, prepared without unnecessary pathos, like a gift card to a bookstore or cinema ticket, which the recipient can use during free time before starting new duties.
A gift for an employee providing rest – stay or day at the spa
Choosing a recreational stay or a day at the spa combines the elegance of the gift with care for the recipient’s wellbeing. Such a gift provides time for recharging, the possibility of going as a couple, and lasting, pleasant memories instead of just another unnecessary item.
Santa Natura Resort & Spa is located near Warsaw, surrounded by Bolimowski Landscape Park, allowing easy access and quick escape from city noise. The facility combines modern comfort with closeness to nature, offering guests relaxation amidst greenery, a pool area, Estonian sauna, and a natural pool. The intimate atmosphere and lack of big-city rush create a space that employees need most at key moments of their professional careers.
The voucher can be given to a person retiring, on the occasion of a work jubilee, or farewell, and the recipient chooses a convenient date for their visit. In practice, this gift can take two forms. A cash voucher provides complete freedom since the employee decides whether to use it for a professional relaxing massage or a weekend stay in a comfortable room with full board based on local products.
Alternatively, a voucher for a specific treatment package or a dedicated Day SPA program is a ready solution if the company prefers to present a predefined surprise. Regardless of the chosen option, the physical voucher is packed in an elegant, minimalist box, making it ready to be presented during an official team meeting. In both cases, it is a universal thank you for the commitment put into the company’s development.
How much to spend on a gift for an employee?
There is no single correct amount because the budget depends on the occasion, length of service, and the company’s organizational culture. However, it is worth planning expenses within certain ranges. For a farewell when changing jobs, a small gift usually worth around 300 PLN is sufficient. For a round jubilee or retirement after many years of work, it is natural to present a gift of higher value, ranging between 2000-5000 PLN.
When determining the budget, it’s advisable to verify tax regulations in advance. Material benefits financed from the Company Social Benefits Fund are exempt from PIT income tax up to 1000 PLN per year. If the company does not have such a fund and finances the gift from operating funds, a voluntary congratulatory gift can be classified as a donation, which is exempt from tax up to 5733 PLN. Knowing these limits allows selecting the surprise’s value in a fully informed manner.
Summary
A gift on the occasion of a jubilee, retirement, or farewell does not have to generate huge costs to fulfill its purpose. The key is tailoring the gift to the specific person and the circumstances in which it is given. If you are looking for a solution that instead of another office gadget offers regeneration and rest, check the details of the Santa Natura Resort & Spa offer. Such a gesture allows giving employees free time, which in everyday professional rush has the greatest value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gift should be chosen for an employee retiring? Gifts that facilitate entering a new phase of life and allow free time management work best. A good idea is a recreational stay, a weekend getaway for two, or a cash spa voucher that the recipient can use at their convenience. At this stage, avoid items associated with professional duties, such as organizers, briefcases, or electronic equipment.
What to buy an employee for a work jubilee? A jubilee gift should express respect for the length of service and have a personalized character. Instead of standard company gadgets, choose equipment related to the employee’s private interests or an invitation to a tasting dinner or multi-day stay at a recreational center.
Is a stay voucher an appropriate farewell gift for an employee? Yes, because this form of gratitude combines elegance with practical benefit. The voucher provides the recipient with full freedom to choose a convenient travel date and does not become another unused item on the shelf. The employee gets the opportunity to rest before taking on new challenges, which has real value for them.