Retirement Gift Ideas For Employees

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As many employees age into retirement age, companies will see some of their employees withdraw from the workplace entirely. The traditional retirement age is 65, but this number has shifted in recent years. Employers who are made aware of an employee looking to retire may choose to give them a retirement gift to show their appreciation.

Finding an ideal retirement gift for an employee doesn’t need to be difficult, even if you don’t know them that well. It’s important to provide a gift that is meaningful or useful in some way, as well as something that aligns well with their personality. Know that your employee will greatly appreciate the gesture and continue speaking positively about the business in retirement.

Key Takeaways:

• According to a Pew Research Center survey, in 2021, 50.3% of U.S. adults 55 and older identified themselves as being retired

• Employee retirement gifts show that you care about your employees, not only to the employee on the receiving end but to others around them.

Why Give Retirement Gifts?

According to a Pew Research Center survey, in 2021, 50.3% of U.S. adults 55 and older identified themselves as being retired. As the Baby Boomer generation climbs in age, the number of retirees will increase significantly, so chances are you will have an employee, if not multiple employees, retire under your management.

Employee retirement gifts are incredibly important as a part of employee appreciation. It shows that you care about your employees, not only to the employee on the receiving end but to others around them. It also allows the employee to retire on good terms with a positive impression of your management and the company as a whole.

Similar to when an employee leaves your company on good terms, you want to make sure your employees retire on good terms, too. You never know if they have a family member or a friend to whom they may recommend your company. They may have a wide-reaching network, and how they retire can have an impact on your company as a whole.

10 Retirement Gift Ideas for Employees

If you’re struggling to come up with ideas for employee retirement gifts, below we’ve consolidated a list of gifts that may be perfect for your employee or spark an idea of what you may want to get them. Remember to choose something that you feel resonates with your personality.

1. Retirement flower box. Flowers are a great option for retirement and an excellent way to appreciate your employee. Consider writing a personal message or including a quote that speaks to how appreciative you are of their contributions to the company. A flowerbox can create a beautiful display or centerpiece for a table setting.

2. Personalized travel bag. Does your retiring employee plan on traveling during their retirement? If so, consider an embroidered travel bag with their initials on it. This is a great professional gift and something practical and useful they can use once they are officially retired.

3. Spa gift box. If there’s one thing for sure, your retiring employee will be looking forward to many days of relaxation. Consider gifting a relaxation gift box with bath bombs, socks, robes, lotions, candles, or a gift card for a massage, manicure, or pedicure. You can often find some pre-assembled to make it easier.

4. Wine or beer. If your employee enjoys alcohol, consider gifting them a monthly wine subscription or new beer mugs they can enjoy during their retirement. There is a wide variety of wine or beer-related gifts you can consider, including openers, glasses, subscriptions, or just a nice bottle or case of beer.

5. Books. If you have an employee who is an avid reader consider a gift card to their favorite book retailer or, if you know them well, some newly released books they can enjoy during their retirement. You can even include things like bookmarks, reading lights, or candles to enhance your reading experience.

6. An experience. When an employee enters retirement, they may be looking for things to fill their time. Gifting an experience is a great way to get them started on new adventures. There are many different experiences to gift, so select one that matches your personality.

7. Education. Similarly, an educational experience is a great option. Consider something like a cooking class, craft class, or something like a Masterclass subscription where the individual can select the classes they’re most interested in taking.

8. Coffee. Though it may seem somewhat cliche, we all become oddly familiar with each other’s coffee habits in an office. Consider getting your coffee addict employee a brand new thermos, a fancy coffee machine, or a sentimental mug they can keep in their cupboard.

9. Gardening. Another common hobby for retirees is gardening. Consider a subscription service that caters locally to your area, or put together your own gift box for them with seed packs, tools, gloves, and more.

10. Gift cards. When in doubt, consider a gift card to a local business or a place you know your employee enjoys shopping at. Gift cards are available for all kinds of activities, including food, spa, adventures, and more. If your employee is relocating after retiring, consider gift cards for their new location.

When an employee is retiring, it’s often best to practice throwing them a party as well. Consider putting together a slide show of your employee at events over the year and bring in some food and cake to celebrate this exciting milestone in their life. Not only will your retiring employee appreciate it, but your other employees will too.

Retirement Gifts FAQ

1. Are retirement gifts necessary?

   The short answer is no, but it’s often frowned upon not to celebrate an employee’s retirement milestone. The polite thing to do for your employee is to gift them with something meaningful and a card signed by their colleagues. Though it’s not necessary, a retirement party is also recommended.

2. What is an appropriate retirement gift from an employer?

   Depending on your relationship with your employee, this answer may differ. However, things like experiences, gift boxes, or even just a party and a card are appropriate retirement gifts from an employee. If the employer has a deeper relationship with the employee, they may choose to get them something more personal.

3. How much should you spend on a retirement gift for an employee?

   This answer typically depends on if you are choosing to contribute to a group gift or if you are spending money on the gift yourself. For contributing gifts, it’s often recommended to ask for between $5.00-$20.00 from each employee. For individual gifts, this should increase to $30.00-$50.00.

Employees who are retiring are reaching an exciting milestone in their lives, and it serves you well to celebrate them for it. Recognize your employees for their work, commitment, and loyalty. This improves overall employee morale and can foster a deeper sense of loyalty among all of your employees.

References

1. Pew Research Center – Amid the pandemic, a rising share of older U.S. adults are now retired

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia where she has written 140+ articles that have reached over 1 mil viewers as of June 2023. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research.