• Motivate your employees with a special gift.business colleagues preparing for business meeting image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com
  
  If you are trying to motivate and encourage your workforce, consider giving your employees a special gift. Avoid any gift that is too corporate, looks inexpensive or is not useful. For example, a pen set laser-engraved with your company logo is an acceptable gift, while a logo-bearing can holder is not. You want to give your employees a gift that communicates your appreciation--and helps them believe you are grateful for their continued work ethic.
  
  

Gift Cards

• Gift cards or certificates are an excellent motivational gift. They are especially helpful if they are for a grocery store or a nice restaurant. If you purchase a gift card, then you should buy it in an increment that will pay for an entire meal for two (between $30 and $50), or at least a small trip to a grocery store (consider $25). The larger the amount, the more motivational the gift card can be. Keep this in mind when making your gift budget.
  
  

Engraved Pen Set

• Purchase a laser-engraved pen set for each employee in your business. The pen set can bear the company logo or message. This is a traditional and useful gift that also communicates your gratitude--especially when it is presented in a fabric-lined pen case. If you are buying for a large number of employees, then you may be able to purchase your pen sets at a wholesale price.
  
  

Cruise Giveaway

• If you have a budget large enough to purchase an all-expenses-paid vacation, then consider this as a motivational business gift. You can hold a contest in your office that will award the top 10 salespeople or other employees in your office who meet a certain criteria to join you on an all-expenses-paid cruise for a weekend or week, depending on where you live in the United States. This is a very motivational gift because employees will be encouraged to work hard for the cruise. They also can turn this gift prize into a family vacation. If they win, then they can pay to have their spouse or family join them on the cruise.