Employee retirement gifts, for beginners, are meant to not only honor your employees on their way out but also to let other workers know how much you value those that are tried and true. If the gift giving process is handled properly, it can motivate them to want to stick around for the long term.

To give a gift from boss to retiring employee that can accomplish this feat, put some thought into its purchase. Some things to think about are:

1. How much you would like to spend on the gift?

2. What can you do to cater the retirement gift to the employee?

3. Do you want to go the traditional route or choose something unique?

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Find employee retirement gifts in different price ranges for comparison

It can be hard to determine a budget for employee retirement gifts when you're not sure what kinds of gifts are out there. Look at your options and then determine the exact amount you would like to spend. It's expected to get a more extravagant gift for an employee that has been around longer. So don't think the budget has to be the same for the 30-year employee and the three-year employee.

I recommend: Visit Gifts for Professionals. This site has a huge variety of elegant retirement gifts to choose from, ranging from desk clocks to pens to golf accessories. Then go to the Retirement Gift Shop's site. It has less expensive, but more personalized, items, such as t-shirts and filled baskets. It also has a good selection of retirement gag gifts, which are always the hit of the retirement party.

Choose ideas for retirement gifts that fit each employee individually

Once you've determined your retirement gift budget, don't let it limit your creativity. If you have a large budget, don't choose the titanium plaque just because it costs a lot. You still want to cater each gift to the employee to show that you treasure him or her as an individual. It helps to relate it in some way to the job title, the years of service or the person's personality.

I recommend: Read StreetDirectory's article on choosing the right retirement gift to get yourself started in the right direction. Then head to FindGift for some additional insight. Remember, you don't have to get everyone the same type of retirement gift. In fact, it will seem all the more special if you don't.

Consider unusual retirement gifts

Employee retirement gift providers tend to stick to the basics when deciding what type of items to sell. That means that you, as the boss, will have to actively seek out more creative options if they best fit your retiring employee. However, it will be worth it to see the smile on the retiree's face and to boost overall morale.

I recommend: Go to Trusted-retirement-planningtips and read the article on giving gifts that are unforgettable. Then visit ILoveIndia for even more insight on how to go for the unexpected. Remember that "different" does not mean "useless." Purchasing a gift card for salsa dancing lessons is interesting and fun, but purchasing a pair of customized maracas will be less likely to leave a good impression.

Whether you choose to recognize your retiring employees with fancy employee retirement gifts, certificates suitable for framing or fun and funny retirement gag gifts, make recognizing and thanking your retiring employees for years of dedicated service a priority.

Evaluate the size of your business before you begin to make choices regarding ideas for retirement gifts. Consider the number of employees you have retiring annually and how many are approaching retirement age. Keep these numbers in mind when you talk to employee retirement gift providers, or set out to find employee retirement gifts, so you can stay within your budget.

1. Take advantage of employee retirement gift providers.

2. Shop for employee retirement gifts via catalogs.

3. Have fun with retirement gag gifts.

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Depend upon a employee retirement gift provider

Rely on the expertise of employee retirement gift providers can offer to your business. Providers can help you assess the best types and styles of retirement gifts that are best suited to meet your professional needs.

I recommend: Steuben Glass has become synonymous with quality and prestige, so it's a popular retirement gift. Art Glass Planet has an array of elegant retirement gifts that can be personalized and come in a variety of price points.

Utilize catalogs to find employee retirement gifts

Shop in the comfort of your office by using catalogs. You can select from a variety of retirement gifts in any budget and suitable for every employee you need to recognize and thank for their service. Catalogs also allow you the opportunity to develop a program by which each employee is given a monetary value dependent upon their years of service which can then be redeemed through orders placed to the catalog company.

I recommend: Select Your Gift allows you to present your retiring employee with a catalog of gifts in a price range of your choice. Baudville provides a catalog of all of their products from which you can make the appropriate selection of employee retirement gifts.

Have a blast with retirement gag gift ideas

Take advantage of the fun you can generate with gag retirement gifts. Gag gifts are often a valuable way to honor the service of retiring employees in large businesses as it allows you to give the recognition deserved while keeping the expense well in hand.

I recommend: Planning A Retirement has a variety of retirement gag gift ideas for your retirees. RetirementGiftShop.com offers a retirement package with lots of gag gifts to celebrate the retirement of your employees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure the employee retirement gift that you select is appropriate for the number of years that employee has worked for you. An expensive and elegant retirement gift for an employee whose only worked for you for a year or two sets up high expectations for employees who've been there for decades.

A nice way to improve morale within your company is to provide retiring employees with retirement gifts. Ideas for retirement gifts may include timepieces, jewelry, tailored clothing or plaques. The goal is to find employee retirement gifts that will remind the person of the company long after their final days as a team member.

A major reason for getting employee retirement gifts pricing and costs is for setting a budget. Although you may want to personalize each gift for a retiring employee, all presents should fall within the same standard budget in order to avoid offending anyone.

1. Set your retirement gift budget. Decide on how much money your company can afford to put out for employee retirement gifts.

2. Find employee retirement gift providers. Get a range of costs on their different gift selections.

3. Look for lower cost alternatives. Gag gifts and personalized items can cut costs on retirement gifts.

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Price out timepieces for a retirement gift

Clocks as well as watches are popular items that you will find from employee retirement gift providers. Along with the standard price for the timepiece, you will want to factor in the cost to engrave the timepiece. With personalized retirement gifts, you typically pay per letter for the message that you want printed on the clock or watch or one flat rate.

I recommend: Gifts for Professionals retails retirement clocks that start under $50 and as expensive as $175 for clocks manufactured from silver, gold or brass materials. Personalization will cost $15 per message. For elegant retirement gifts, choose a Bulova watch from All American Watches. Standard timepieces can be purchased for under $100 while 14k gold versions will cost a thousand dollars. Personalization is done for $0.65 per letter.

Get costs of retirement gag gift ideas

If you are a company with a much smaller budget for retirement gift, you may want to consider a gag gift for the employee retiring. Popular funny retirement gift ideas are humorous t-shirts, plaques and cuff links.

I recommend: Gifts.com has multiple types of funny retirement gag gifts. The selections are very inexpensive and will not likely cost you more than $50. Although Find Gift has higher end choices for retirement gifts, you can also find cheaper gag gifts as well. For instance, a retirement cartoon can be purchased for $14 while a retirement caricature can be ordered for $50.

Determine the price of unique retirement gifts

If you rather not give a timepiece or gag gift, you can find plenty of other online providers with different options for elegant retirement gifts. To save money on retirement gifts, look for lower cost options that appeal to your employees' personal tastes. For instance, if he loves golf, you can find many affordable gifts for golfers.

I recommend: E-Corporate Gifts allows you to shop for retirement gifts by price: under $10, under $25, under $50, under $100 and over $100. Unique retirement gifts include crystal globes, wine decanters and digital frames. Gift baskets are the perfect type of retirement gift that you can personalize. Harry & David has a selection that starts under $50 to over $200 depending on the type of food items that you decide to place in the basket.

Creative, unique and inspirational define the approach HR professionals are taking towards employee retirement gifts. There is a conspicuous effort to depart from the days when all retiring employees were handed a mug or a watch. Retirement gifts today are geared to certain professions, particularly to teachers and military personnel. And these gifts increase in value when they adequately convey your understanding of the transitory period retirees are embarking upon. Become familiar with terms describing employee retirement memorabilia so you can offer the most thoughtful gifts.

Action Steps
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Retirement gift ideas

If you're new to the practice of employee gift-giving, you'll need to explore sites offering a variety of retirement gift ideas.

I recommend: With Site Build It and I Love India, you’ll find out what kinds of retirement gift ideas are floating around and which ones fit best into your rewards program. Both sites offer plenty of suggestions for choosing unique retirement gifts.

Retirement gift baskets

Being creative with employee gifts doesn't mean you can't give traditional items like retirement gift baskets.

I recommend: Check out the choices at Retirement Gift Shop. Find out what are the standard items in baskets that are customized for men or women.

Teacher retirement poem

A teacher retirement poem has become one of the more popular employee retirement gifts.

I recommend: Poem and Poems explains that these inspirational writings can be personalized and illustrated. You can get the poems mounted on oak frames. Note that the poem can express appreciation for all that the teacher has done.

Retirement quotes for boss

Retirement quotes for boss are personalized gifts given by either senior level management or by the boss's support staff.

I recommend: Go to The Boss Day to view samples of these retirement quotes that are usually personalized to express gratitude for exceptional work and dedication. Read quotes identifying specific behavior and skills the boss became known for.

Personalized retirement gifts

Personalized retirement gifts highlight an employee's unique character and individual accomplishments.

I recommend: Learn more about these unique items at sites like Personalization Mall. You’ll view pages filled with ideas for personalized retirement gifts, such as frames, platters, fortune cookies, cigar case, golf balls, pocket watches and watch boxes.

Military retirement

Special gifts are given for a military retirement.

I recommend: Essortment discusses the reasons for military retirement gift ideas. Find out how these gifts are usually presented and the special messages they’re intended to convey. Note the recommendation that you enlist the help of the retiree’s friends or relatives who can provide details about the individual’s military career.