Work can sometimes be very tedious and stressful, especially in the corporate world. This is why many employers decide to "reward" their workers every now and then. What they do is give incentive gifts. These are simple tokens given to employees, as a gesture of appreciation. They are often given when an employee has done an excellent job in the workplace. Incentive gifts can be given either to just one person or a whole team, when they meet business goals appropriately. Sometimes, incentive gifts are also given for everyone, especially if the company is under a congratulatory mood. For example, successful projects, such as exceeding quotas, extending contracts and winning bid or new accounts, are celebrated. When people from top management celebrate their birthdays, gifts are also given out.



Examples of incentive gifts include gift certificates and loot bags given to employees during important company celebrations like Christmas, Thanksgiving, a company anniversary or other important milestones.

Employees don't have to pay anything when they get their incentive gifts. The budget for these items is often included in the company costs and its yearly projection. If the company has a partner company, the partner usually sponsors the incentive gifts. It's a way of showing that they're reaching out to the other company and is supportive of its projects. The partner company also uses this opportunity to advertise themselves.

There are also some businesses that specialize in providing and creating incentive gifts. They are very helpful for companies who require a large selection of gifts to choose from. If they want their company's logo and name on the gift, these business would also take care of it.

Incentive gifts are commonly designed to suit the need and personality of the one giving it (company) and the one to whom it is being given (employee, team or department). Incentive gifts for a specific individual should suit the receiver's personality, preferences and even gender (no company would like to give its top male account manager a gift certificate for a woman's beauty center or an all-you-can-eat ticket to a pork lover's restaurant when the receiver is known to be vegan). If this happens, the incentive gift becomes more of an instrument of insult and not of commendation and congratulation.