In Dubai’s competitive expatriate talent market pouring talent from all over the world, Talent attraction and retention is a serious challenge faced by corporations today. This is where the role of HR becomes crucial. It is the HR department’s responsibility to supervise the organization and take necessary steps to address this issue. One effective approach is the strategic use of corporate gifting. Human workforce is the most crucial component for any organization, and to cater to them is necessary. As Richard Branson said,

“Take care of your employees, and they’ll take care of your business.”

So, HR’s role is to take all those necessary steps to boost the morale of the employee — one of which is employee gifts, which is a non-monetary way to recognize effort and helps nurture culture and keep the workforce energized. This is demonstrated by a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) study, which reveals that 79% of employees favor non-cash rewards over extra pay — Read the full SHRM Report. When employees feel valued, Gallup data links recognition to a 31% surge in productivity, which increases efficiency and effectiveness — a much-needed impetus for the growth of the organization. — Read the Gallup Statistic.

Rethinking Rewards: The HR Case for Recognition Over Cash

An employee feels truly delighted when their work is recognized. This is demonstrated by McKinsey’s research, which shows that non-monetary recognition is the top driver of employee engagement and retention — often more influential than pay or promotions.

Money can’t buy your employees’ loyalty – McKinsey & Company

We all can relate to this. Please think of the gifts we’ve received in our lives. We can take here an example of a trophy that we were given on a special occasion — the “Employee of the Quarter” award — which we proudly display in our living room. We attach emotions and memories to physical symbols of recognition, and become nostalgic when we see them. However, this is rare in the case of cash rewards, as money is often spent and forgotten, making it neither memorable nor distinctive.

In contrast, meaningful gifts create a lasting emotional impact that lasts a lifetime. For this reason it is HR’s crucial responsibility to recognize the value of gifting and to spend considerable time researching the right fit for the employee. A thoughtful and well-researched gift can leave a far deeper impression, thereby making the recognition more impactful and meaningful and hereby truly hitting the right emotional chord.

Timing Is Everything: Building Culture Through Well-Timed Employee Gifting

Timing is very important, and HR must do all that is necessary to strive at the right time to make a meaningful impact on the organization. If HR lags here, then the magic of the gift will not be sensed.

It can be understood by a quote:

“The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing.” — Joshua Harris, American author and former pastor known for his work on relationships and personal development.

Timing can be grouped in three categories:

1. Individual Employee Milestones & Recognition
   
2. Organizational & Team Milestones
   
3. Festive & Appreciation Occasions

1. Individual Employee Milestones & Recognition

These gifts are a token of acknowledgement of an employee’s personal journey and contribution.

• Onboarding/Welcome : On a new employee’s very first day.
• Work Anniversaries : On the anniversary of an employee’s start date (e.g., 1st, 3rd, 5th, 10th year).
• Birthdays : On an employee’s birthday.
• Performance Recognition : On completion of a particularly landmark projects.
• Personal Major Events : It includes wedding or the birth of a child.

2. Landmark achievement

These occasions celebrate the collective achievements of a team.

• Successful Funding Rounds :  Immediately after announcement of a successful round like series A, Series B etc.
• Major Project Completion :  Upon the successful completion or launch of a  product.
• Company Anniversaries :  On the anniversary of the organization’s founding.

3. Festive Occasions

These are important events and organisation must cater to celebrate these as in a country like UAE where people from all over the world arrive with their own culture so it’s HR responsibility to make them feel integrated and not isolated.

The Art of Thoughtful Gifting: Personalized & Curated Excellence

Thoughtfulness in gifting leads to the impact being maximum, and here it does not mean to give expensive gifting. It tells rather that you have given them a personalized gift and you know them personally. It denotes the bonding.

Few examples:

• Wireless Earbuds
• High-Quality Backpacks
• Insulated Water Bottles
• Aromatherapy Diffusers – very famous in Dubai
• Desk Plants – getting popular and eco-friendly
• Gourmet Coffee/Tea Sets – needed
• Ergonomic Accessories – like keyboard, mouse, etc.
• Calligraphy Enscripted Pen

At Al Hadiya Advertising LLC in Dubai, we are here to help. Our professional team will consult and suggest gifts tailored to your needs from a wide range of options—and ensure they are delivered on time.

Energizing Workplaces: The Hidden Chemistry Behind Morale, HR, and Organizational Growth

Employees are the paramount asset of an organization since they are the active factors of production, while the rest of the factors like land, capital, etc., are passive in nature. Due to this nature, we have to cater to their needs and ensure an appropriate satisfaction level. They are the ones who make the organization work.

Another way to look at this is by the words of Zig Ziglar:

“You don’t build a business, you build people, and then people build the business.”

It means that you build good relationships with the employee since these are the pillars on which the organization will be standing. By making a gift to them, it makes them feel that “we see you and we value your work,” hereby binding the employee to the organization and creating a healthy environment for sustainable and long term growth.

This can also be articulated by Dale Carnegie, American author and lecturer, famous for “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and his courses on self-improvement and public speaking:

“People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards.”

which emphasizes the importance of recognition for an employee — something that cannot be ignored by the organization.

Where human resource is valued and the culture of the organization is nurtured, this helps in developing a long-term organizational culture. It also helps in building a long-term relationship with employees, thereby retaining them and attracting talent from all over the world.

This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Bob Nelson, renowned specialist in workforce recognition:

“People might take a job for more money, but they often leave it for more recognition.”

This culture of recognition will increase their efficiency resulting in higher productivity and greater level of customer satisfaction here-by ensuring overall organizational success.

Conclusion

Lastly, this blog speaks about the relation of an employee, morale, and the HR from the perspective of corporate gifting to help you leverage this to strive in this competitive market.

Are you looking for best Corporate Gifts in Dubai? We at Al Hadiya Advertising LLC in Dubai in Dubai are here to help. Our professional team will be consulting and suggesting you to deliver the gift from a bunch of gifts and deliver on time.

Ask yourself — how is your HR team leveraging corporate gifting to boost morale and drive organizational growth?