With holiday season right around the corner, it’s never too early to start thinking about gift ideas for the important people in your life. While you may already have some ideas of what to buy for family members and close friends, you might not be as sure what to get your nanny, housekeeper, or other domestic staff.
At Household Staffing International, we work with a wide range of domestic professionals every day and know what makes a great gift. Here are some gift ideas to inspire you this holiday season and to show your appreciation for dedicated household employees.
Holiday Bonuses
Nothing says “happy holidays” quite like a big bonus check in your hand. The most common and easiest way to give a holiday gift to your domestic staff members is to offer a holiday bonus in the form of check, cash, or online method of payment. For nannies, the accepted standard for a bonus is a week’s salary, or perhaps two weeks’ salary if the nanny has been with you for a long time. For other employees, such as housekeepers, the standard is to double the payment for a typical service before the holidays.
Gift Cards to Favorite Retailers
Another easy way to show your household staff members how much you appreciate them this holiday season is to provide gift cards to favorite retail stores. If your staff member loves a particular store, then you can give a gift card for that store. If you’re not sure where your employee likes to shop, provide a gift card to a store that is located nearby, easily accessible, and that offers a broad range of items. Gift cards are also great options for gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores.
Homemade Gifts from Kids
If your household staff members interact with your kids on a regular basis, then consider getting creative with your little ones to create gifts together. Depending on how much time you have and how crafty you are, you can make personalized gifts as simple or elaborate as you like. Examples of craft ideas include homemade greeting cards, photo coasters, decorated photo frames, and hand-print art.
Rejuvenating Spa Treatments
Your domestic staff members work hard, so perhaps a spa gift is just what they need to rejuvenate themselves and feel energized on the job. Domestic employees enjoy spa treatment vouchers or gift cards to a local spa that can be used for a massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, or other body treatment. Choose a spa that is easily accessible for your staff member, and check the spa’s treatment prices so that you give an amount that will cover the treatments offered.
Tickets to a Show or Event
Tickets to concerts, festivals, and other events can be pricey, so you can treat your staff members with tickets to a local show or performance in your area. This could be tickets to a sporting event, musical concert, theatrical play, or even movie tickets to use at the local theater. This is a good idea if you have a good sense of your employees’ schedules and feel confident they will be able to attend an event on a scheduled day. Alternatively, you can give more versatile, venue-specific tickets that can be used on any give date.
An Extra Paid Day Off
Extra days off can be hard to come by for staff who work in a busy household, so another gift idea that is always appreciated is a surprise day off. You can present this gift to your staff member in the form of a homemade coupon that can redeemed at a later date so that you have a tangible item to give for the holidays.