How Valentine’s Gifts Can Boost Workplace Morale
Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14th of February every year, in honor of St. Valentine. Valentine’s are a celebration (and in some cases, a declaration) of love. Couples and spouses surprise their loved ones with date nights and romantic getaways.
While the same overtures wouldn’t be work-appropriate, Valentine’s for coworkers can include a gift of value and beauty. Showing appreciation for colleagues through small tokens of gratitude can contribute to a positive and supportive work environment.
15 Best Valentine’s Gifts for Work
1. Out to Lunch Tote
The out to lunch tote bag is one of six essential handbags from the Kate Spade series. It is coated with linen and has an insulated interior to keep food fresh and warm. While this tote comes in a neutral shade, the save room for dessert tote is multi-colored. Both cost $30 and can be added to a gift registry too. This Valentine’s gift for coworkers is the perfect choice for those who bring their lunch to work.
2. Productivity Planner
A great Valentine’s gift for work would be a productivity planner. It helps professionals keep track of their To-do lists and document their ideas. The productivity planner we liked best was the PlanTomorrow daily planner, featuring a weekly accomplishment. Your colleague or manager can assess their achievements and assign a score to track their productivity over 90 days.
3. Mint To Be Desk
The Mint-to-be desk is a great Valentine’s gift for work, especially if the recipient is certifiably OCD about their desk’s neatness! It contains multiple compartments to store notepads, stationery, keychains and paperweights, which can be organized by fit and shape. The organizer costs $39.
4. Geometric Paperweights
Collectors will find Geometric paperweights an interesting addition to their home or office decor, making them perfect Valentine’s gifts for work. The shapes are varied and some can even double up as a doorstop for those times you need to dash out of your cubicle. I liked the Iron Jack Retro paperweight which is made of cast iron and is a deep brown color. It costs about $15.
5. My Nutella Spoon
Who (with great taste, at least) hasn’t taken out a big spoonful of Nutella? This two-piece set of My Nutella spoon from Amazon is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for employees with a sweet tooth. Moreover, it can also be used to stir in your morning coffee. The engraving is done using a high-quality laser machine which ensures the etching stays strong for long. It comes in a compact black gift box and costs just $14.
6. Stress-Reducing Candle
If your coworker has been undergoing stress due to a missed deadline or target, the perfect office Valentine’s gifts would be stress-reducing candles to restore calm. Out of the selections I looked up on Amazon, I liked the Farm-to-Aromatherapy soy candle jar that is fitted with a wooden lid. It has notes of lavender, chamomile, & bergamot essential oils, which release a soothing and subtle fragrance guaranteed to calm you down. It cost $18.99, while the white sage and lavender candle from Natural Succulents cost $15.
7. Sappy Coffee Mugs
I liked the pink ceramic coffee mug that contains the words, “Sometimes you’ll forget you’re awesome, so here’s a reminder.” It’s a perfect Valentine’s gift for work because your colleague or manager will always get to read this pep talk as they go for a coffee or tea run. It’s $18.99 and is dishwasher safe-talk about a love that lasts a lifetime!
8. Meditation Crystals
Meditation crystals are the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for coworkers who are into the mysticism of the spiritual world. This K9 crystal spreads positive energy on Feng Shui principles and also makes great art home/office decor. It costs $13. The design features two pyramids mounted as one. Help your coworker on their self-healing journey with these crystals’ meditative properties!
9. Fuzzy Slide Slippers
Looking for Valentine’s gift ideas for coworkers who are constantly on their feet? Give them fuzzy slide slippers as a Valentine’s gift for work! Its cozy cushioning is akin to giving your feet a hug. We recommend the more practical water-resistant Scuff slippers from Dearfoam, which cost $41 to $132, depending on the size.
10. Mini Waffle Maker
A mini-waffle maker could be the lifesaver your colleague or boss needs to have something mouthwatering to come home to. They would just need to plug it in and wait for the light to automatically turn off. The surface is a double non-stick, which provides a uniform cooking effect. It can make individual portions for eggs, pancakes ,and even a bit of a stir-fry. Besides being affordable ($21), the best part of this Valentine’s gift for work is that coworkers with children away at university dorms can pass it to them. It’s a practical gift that everybody in the family gets to use!
11. Colorful Scrunchies
Do you have a coworker with long and beautiful tresses? If you’re seeking Valentine’s Day gift ideas for coworkers with hair as long as Rapunzel, they’ll thank you for gifting them a 60-scrunchies pack. At just $9.99, these colorful scrunchies are packed in a cute tote bag. It’s both practical and thoughtful!
12. Air Plants
To add to your Valentine’s gift ideas for employees, air plants are a great pick for nature enthusiasts. Air plants purify the space and are incredibly low-maintenance. They add a bit of green to the place and just require the occasional spritz of water. The terrariums come in a set of 3 bulbs over a wooden holder, which holds the plants in place.
13. Motivational Wall Art
It doesn’t even have to be sappy and romantic for it to be a Valentine’s gift for work, right? A motivational message hanging on the wall is all the inspiration your colleague or even boss would need to help them get through a tough day in the work week. It costs $16.99
14. Valentine’s Day-Themed Fresh Flowers
If your colleague isn’t allergic, you can always say it with flowers! A Valentine’s Day-themed bouquet of preserved roses is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for work.
15. “Happy Valentine’s Day to My Work Wife” Journal
Although I’m not in favor of referring to anyone as a work spouse, I simply couldn’t resist this Valentine’s Day journal! It has 110 pages with an exterior, matte-finished cover giving it a professional look.
Virtual Valentine’s Gift Experiences for Work
Who says Valentine’s gifts for coworkers have to be limited to tangible gifts? This year, consider giving the gift of a virtual experience—a shared activity that brings your team together that will leave lasting memories.
16. Virtual Cookie Decorating Class
If you’re looking for Valentine’s Day gift ideas for employees with a sweet touch, don’t miss out on Hooray Teams’ Virtual Cookie Decorating Class. An expert baker will guide your team to use professional techniques for piping, icing, and flooding sugar cookies. Also, all the cookie decorating essentials will be shipped to participants ahead of the event.
17. Virtual Chocolate Tasting
Valentine’s gifts for employees don’t just have to be a generic box of assorted chocolates. Treat your team to a delicious bonding experience with Hooray Teams’ Virtual Chocolate Tasting Class. A professional chocolatier will give you fascinating insights into the chocolate-making process and teach you how to appreciate the depth and complexity of each bite. A tasting kit will be shipped out to all participants prior to the event.
18. Virtual Wine Tasting
When it comes to Valentine’s for coworkers, gifting a bottle of wine is a great option but learning to discern its taste is even better. With Hooray Teams’ Virtual Wine Tasting Class, teams can learn about the distinct qualities to look for when you taste different wines. Each team member will receive a wine tasting kit delivered directly to their doorsteps. The kit includes 3–5 mini wine aromas, tasting guides, cards, and an instruction booklet.
19. Virtual Trivia
Love is in the air… and so is the competition! Valentine’s for coworkers doesn’t just have to be about exchanging gifts. Test your team’s smarts about the holiday with Hooray Teams’ Valentine’s Day Trivia. A love-ly host will take you through 4-5 rounds that cover the history and traditions, love in literature, rom-com movies, and popular love songs. Compete with your team to see who will win over hearts with the right answers!
20. Virtual Candle Making
Add some light to your team’s Valentine’s Day celebrations with Hooray Teams’ hands-on Virtual Candle Making Class. An expert will guide your team step-by-step to melt wax, pour it in molds and add finishing touches to your candles. Each participant will receive a kit prior to the event with everything needed to craft three scented candles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are some affordable Valentine’s Day ideas for coworkers?
Valentine’s Day ideas for coworkers don’t need to be grand with over-the-top gifts, a small gesture showing them appreciation is good enough. You can give them a journal, candles, chocolates or flowers. A simple note to wish them is also a gesture that won’t go unnoticed.
2. What do you give your boss for Valentine’s Day?
Give your boss a mini-waffle maker, aromatic stress-relieving candles or meditation crystals. These are practical and beneficial to their wellness.
3. What are some appropriate Valentine’s Day gifts for coworkers?
While Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a romantic occasion, you can also turn it around to show appreciation to your team. Host a simple celebration with budget gifting options or provide experiential gifts like a team lunch or a hosted team building activity.
4. What are some Valentine’s gifts for work for remote teams?
For remote teams, the best Valentine’s gifts for work is to give them a virtual experience. Professional team building companies like Hooray Teams host virtual events for distributed teams to enjoy a shared experience. Be it a game of trivia or a thrilling escape room, they have experiences for teams of all sizes and preferences.
