15 Creative Virtual Gifts for Employees for Every Occasion

The days of coffee mugs, keychains, and useless gadgets are dead. If you want to make an impact on your onsite or remote teams, virtual gifts are a more desirable alternative.

The most challenging part is finding a gift that matches your recipient’s tastes and personality. But with a little forethought, you can show appreciation that resonates with your team members. Use this list of creative and thoughtful online gifts for employees that will leave a lasting impression.

What Are Virtual Gifts and Why the Digital Angle Makes the Perfect Gift

Virtual gifts are digital items sent online via email or a link that the recipient can use without the need for physical delivery. It’s a simple idea, but one that can have positive effects if done right. From a business perspective, it’s convenient and scalable, allowing you to send digital birthday gifts, milestone gifts, or just-because gifts with ease. Employees make your business run at full capacity, but let’s not forget - at the end of the day, they’re people who want to feel appreciated and like they’re part of something bigger. The same goes for vendors, suppliers, and clients.

Without their partnership, your business falters. Gifts are the most direct way to cultivate these relationships and send a personalized message of appreciation. A thoughtful virtual gift can foster future business deals, maintain employee loyalty, and boost morale simultaneously. However, a fully distributed staff and even an in-person staff creates a bit of a gift conundrum. Digital gifts overcome this hurdle by overcoming logistical hurdles, as well as eliminating perceived favoritism in the office. When you send virtual gifts, you create a unique experience a client or employee will remember for a long time to come.

15 Creative Virtual Gifts for Every Occasion

Now is the time to say goodbye to random swag, water bottles, or a few extra dollars in your employee’s pay packet. Instead, treat them to one of these interesting, personalized, and more exciting digital gifts. You can find something for every occasion, whether you need a birthday gift, a Christmas gift, or a thank-you gift for a remote employee who’s turned a complex project into a success.

1. Hoppier Virtual Gift Card

E-gift cards were once considered a quick “last-minute” gift, but they’re now one of the best virtual gifts to say thank you or celebrate together, especially if you use Hoppier. Personalize your card, set a balance, and send it with a handwritten email when the time to celebrate comes around. One of the best things about sending the gift of a Hoppier virtual card is the amount of flexibility. Your giftee can spend their digital gift card balance on a language learning subscription, a gift basket, the latest Apple technology, or a new Fender guitar. If you send digital gifts regularly or have many employees, virtual bulk gift cards for employees can take the hassle out of purchasing individual cards. In the online gifts space, Hoppier is your best friend. Let's look at how Hoppier makes digital gifts and virtual gifts simple. Create an Employee Gifting Program Set up a specific employee gifting program so you can send out virtual cards and keep track of spending. Take your gifts one step further by adding your company logo and colors, effectively reinforcing your brand and recognition programs. Set a Spending Limit Like most gift cards, Hoppier allows you to select the denomination or any custom amount you choose.

If $35 is your budget per employee, you can select that exact amount. Next, set a start and end date to create a timeframe for when employees can spend their funds or leave the card without an expiration date. A unique feature of Hoppier is that it refunds any money your employees don't use. You eliminate waste and can funnel any leftover cash back into other perks or future employee appreciation gifts, saving you time and money. Choose Your Vendors Hoppier doesn't require you to select specific vendors for your gift card, but if you want to encourage spending to match your initiatives, more power to you. For example, if your company is on a health initiative, selecting healthy food stores and wellness companies is an obvious choice compared to McDonald's or Dunkin'. No matter what your needs Hoppier gives you the power to choose from thousands of vendors for the best online gifts. Send Invitations Scale your programs as you need by uploading a CSV file with all your employees’ emails. Hoppier even has email templates you can send out to let employees and clients learn how to use their funds. With this feature, sending gift cards is entirely hassle-free.

2. Entertainment Service Subscriptions

After a focused workday, relaxing and unwinding is ideal. To play off that angle, send your team members a virtual subscription or gift card to a streaming service of their choice and take the hassle out of the subscription problem. You can easily buy a subscription to most streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV, or Disney+.

These are great for people who want to catch the latest shows or rewatch a nostalgic movie from their childhood. If your gift recipient is more of an audiophile, a Spotify or Apple Music subscription is a thoughtful alternative. While an entertainment service subscription may seem like a sunken cost, remember that a relaxed and rested staff translates to improved performance.

3. Online Classes

One remarkable aspect of the internet is that learning a new skill is only a few clicks away. With a gift voucher for a live or recorded online course, your employees can improve their personal or professional skills on their own time. Sign up for a membership to an online class website like Skillshare, MasterClass, or Uncommon Goods Uncommon Experiences. Or handpick a specific you know your recipient will love.

The beauty of this gift is that you can tailor it perfectly to your recipient’s tastes. Whether your giftee would appreciate an online cooking class or a masterclass in watercolor painting, you can match them with the perfect digital or online gifts for employees. The interesting part of these classes is that they can translate into real-world scenarios, both personal and professional. As an employer, you can reap the benefits.

4. Online Fitness Class Membership

Getting to the gym when you work from home isn’t always possible, especially if there isn’t a gym nearby. Exacerbating the issue, home fitness equipment isn’t always feasible, either due to monetary or space constraints. Nevertheless, you can improve employee health and wellness by giving them a virtual fitness class membership. Surprisingly, gift subscriptions to fitness classes or virtual gyms are painless for beginners to access.

You don’t need a lot of complex, expensive equipment at home, and you can fit classes into your schedule whenever it works best. It’s a simple yet thoughtful way to help your team members stay fit and focused, wherever they are. Some options for these digital gifts might include ClassPass, Crush Fitness, or Nike Training Club. No matter what you choose, a healthy employee is a better employee. Plus, it’s an affordable way to jump-start employee wellness programs, which can have a profound effect on employee performance, physical health, and mental health.

5. Digital Tickets to a Concert or Performance

If you’re wondering, what makes the perfect virtual gift, you aren’t the only one. But not every online gift has to be mundane. Experiential gifts are becoming more popular, and 92% of employees would rather receive an experience than a traditional online gift. If a big show is coming up or your employee’s favorite team is playing in town, buy a couple of tickets online and email them as a gift.

Websites such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, and Ticketmaster also have a secondary market for sold-out concerts or events, which can come as a pleasant surprise for all your employees’ hard work. Concerts and performance tickets are a thoughtful way to celebrate what your team members enjoy, and it doesn’t have to be expensive, either. If you want to make the gift even more impactful, arrange for your employee to have a VIP experience at the venue, or have some tour merch sent to their home address. This is also a fun virtual team party experience if the band plays a live-streamed show, and it works great as fodder for a next-day virtual team lunch and employee engagement.

6. Gift Voucher for a Travel Company

For many people, taking time off to relax isn’t always a top priority. The reasons vary: missing out on promotions, work obligations, and more make PTO and time off feel like a chore. However, employees who take this time can battle burnout, quell monotony, and build work-life balance - all aspects beneficial to both employer and employee.

A travel voucher as a virtual gift for employees is more of an investment than others, but it’s a lovely idea for a milestone anniversary or to reward a successful year. Make this virtual gift feel even more personal by including a bestseller book in the travel niche or a few travel podcast suggestions. You could also feature a list of your favorite destinations, including things to see and personal recommendations based on your experiences and what you know about your giftee, whether they’re going to New York or Vietnam. For a final coup de grace, throw in an Airbnb gift card or another card for a night or two of accommodation on the house.

7. Beauty or Wellness Subscription Membership

Just like vacations, sometimes those smaller moments of self-care can elude your employees. To allow your team members to relax, unwind, and hit pause, sign them up for a beauty or wellness subscription box service.

You can find plenty of great gift boxes and apps out there, ranging from meditation-based ones like Headspace to an eco-friendly cosmetics of the month club, such as BeautyBio. Look for a beauty or wellness box that matches their needs and is filled with luxurious treats or miniatures that mimic a wellness retreat, cozy weekend, or spa day gift.

8. Digital Tickets to a Sporting Event

Sending sports tickets as virtual gifts for employees is a timeless tradition and something that’s as painless as ever now that you can order them online. Find out what your employee’s favorite sport is, then give them the gift of digital tickets to the next game.

These virtual gift ideas are entertaining, but they’re also a fun way to build relationships. If you’re close by, have a conversation before you buy the tickets and see if it’s something you can do together. Make this digital gift even more special by sending enough tickets for their loved ones to join them for the game and maybe dinner afterward.

9. Charitable Donation

Your employee might be someone who has everything and doesn’t need a gift to feel like they’re valued. If so, the best digital gift is the opportunity to donate on their behalf instead.

Ask them which charity or cause they’re most passionate about, then donate to one or more organizations in their honor instead of a holiday or anniversary gift. This is a lovely way to help make a difference and one of the most thoughtful virtual gifts for employees.

10. Virtual Coffee or Tea Subscription

Remote and hybrid workers spend lots of time at their desks; It’s inevitable. If you have a sizable team of remote workers, they often rely on their kitchen gadgets to enjoy a good cup of tea or coffee.

Help make that coffee break feel more indulgent or relaxing by sending them a membership to a high-quality tea or coffee subscription service. These tea and coffee delivery services are a wonderful way to discover new flavors and brands or to keep their favorite blends topped up. If you want to combine this with a physical gift, mail them a gift package with a mug, coaster, and some delicious local cookies.

11. Audiobook Subscription

The average American spends around nine days each year commuting. That’s a ton of idle time, often spent doom-scrolling, listening to talk radio, or twiddling thumbs. Help your employees put their time to good use with an audiobook subscription service.

Services like Amazon’s Audible provide endless entertainment through fiction, non-fiction, or even the most popular HR books. Even after work, the functionality of audiobooks persists, offering information or fun while walking the dog or exercising. It’s one of the virtual gifts for employees that keeps giving, especially if your team doesn’t strike you as bookworms. A huge bonus is that your team can learn new skills to and from the office, which can translate into productivity and better performance.

12. Virtual Styling Appointment

We all know someone who adores interior design and loves to get their home or office space styled just the way they like it. If you have employees like this, a virtual stylist appointment to help them create something amazing for their space is one of the best virtual gifts for employees that money can buy. This is the perfect corporate gifting idea for an employee you know well.

You can surprise them when they’re considering renovations or investing in a new home office setup. It’s a hands-on way for them to get a fresh perspective and new ideas, and for you to be a part of that experience. With a freshly designed workspace, employees will feel their stress melt away and their urge to work increase.

13. Virtual Wine-Tasting Experience

If you want virtual gifts for employees that work well for a team, a virtual wine-tasting experience is ideal. You can book your entire team for a virtual session as a corporate holiday gift or other special occasion.

Offering both remote and in-person elements, this is one of the rare digital gifts that creates a hybrid experience. You’re spoiled for choice on a virtual wine-tasting experience with dozens of options that iron out finer details, such as wine shipping and live demos. All you need to do is find the perfect partner and make the booking.

14. Virtual Currency and Downloadable Content for Video Games

Video games are a rewarding hobby, and with gamers continuing to play well into their 30s, 40s, and beyond, extra downloadable content is always appreciated. Video games are a stress-free way to relax after work, but they can also help users build strategy, awareness, curiosity, and persistence skills. If you have a gamer or two on your team or promote video games to improve remote work camaraderie, show interest in their hobby by investing in some in-game content or virtual currency for their favorite game. This is a great gift idea if you know your giftee well, and you’re sure that you know which game they play the most.

That way, you can send them a gift they’ll actually want. Find a way to send them some premium in-game currency with a thoughtful note or buy the latest expansion pack for their favorite game so they can continue the adventure. Alternatively, a digital gift card for retailers like GameStop, Walmart, or Best Buy will allow your employee to purchase in-game content or an unlimited access annual subscription, such as PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online, or Xbox Game Pass. A bonus is that video games are an engaging, competitive virtual team-building activity. With these digital gifts, you help employees socialize while giving everyone something to discuss at the virtual water cooler.

15. Virtual Meal Card

Virtual meal cards are a godsend in the remote work world. When employees are practicing deep work or in the zone, the last thing they need is to be burdened by leaving the office or home office to grab some grub.

With a virtual meal card to DoorDash, Uber Eats, or a restaurant, cardholders can get lunch delivered right to their desk with minimal interruption. They’re fueled for the afternoon and ready to dominate the next project.

Send Virtual Gifts for Employees the Easy Way With Hoppier

When you’re busy running a team or a business, you need a way to give virtual gifts for employees with a personal touch - without all the hassle. Hoppier lets you quickly and easily send thoughtful virtual gifts for employees. With our digital cards, you can give the gift of choice and make the whole experience fun, colorful, and engaging.

Set up a program in just minutes, and then you’re ready to get started. Once you’ve created a program, you can customize your card to your liking. Choose the following to create one of the best digital gifts with a touch of personality:

• Colors and a logo
• Spending balance per card
• Expiration date or open-ended
• Vendor limits (which is great if you send a gift card themed around wellness, entertainment, food and drink, or just treating yourself)

Hoppier is a great way to give gifts throughout the holiday season, for anniversaries, birthdays, and any occasion where you want to thank or reward someone. It’s an eco-friendly alternative to mailing out gifts across distances and lets your giftees choose precisely what they want.

Express Your Gratitude With These Inventive Virtual Gifts for Employees

Virtual gifts for employees used to feel less remarkable than their in-person counterparts, but interesting and engaging ideas have leveled the playing field. Take inspiration from this list and put together a master list of terrific digital gifts, or make the switch to Hoppier and streamline the whole process.

No matter who you’re gifting, turn the mundane and time-consuming process into something quick, easy, and fun. And that’s just what Hoppier is - virtual gifts made simple.