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Gifts for team members

11 replies

FasciolaHepatica · 16/03/2026 15:49

I manage a team of eight amazing, brilliant professional women, across 4 different time zones, 5 different nationalities, so we do not meet face to face very regularly although we have many, many Teams calls. I honestly could not ask for a better team and I was legally allowed, I would never recruit a man and screw up our dynamics I genuinely do appreciate them.

We are having an in person meeting next month, requiring some of us to travel to the US, others are based there. I want to take them all a small gift from the UK as a thank you for their hard work and dedication and support they give each other (and me). They're are all between mid 30s to late 50s. It needs to be small/light for transport. I was looking at around £25/head out of my own pocket. I advocate for them to get promoted, above inflation payrises etc, look after them in the business sense, so this is more of a personal thing, as I plan to retire next year and this may be the last time I see some of them in person (they do not know this bit, I am only 53).

ChatGPT has come up with fancy tea bags, Liberty notebooks/pens or individual charm bracelets. MNers are usually brilliant at finding things that would never occur to me though. What would you want from your team supervisor under these circumstances? I can afford to stretch my budget a bit, but don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable to receive a present either.

Thank you!

OP posts:
didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 16/03/2026 15:53

What about a puppy each? It doesn't need to be an expensive breed. As long as you sorted the paperwork it would be a lovely surprise gift.

FeliciaFancybottom · 16/03/2026 16:07

Honestly, I wouldn't want anything. I'm not a fan of work gifts, it feels a bit patronising.
The puppy idea is genius though.

FasciolaHepatica · 16/03/2026 16:19

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 16/03/2026 15:53

What about a puppy each? It doesn't need to be an expensive breed. As long as you sorted the paperwork it would be a lovely surprise gift.

This would be perfect as we are definitely all animal lovers! Sadly, one has a husband who is allergic, another lives in a 3rd floor apartment, the rest of us already have at least one dog, cat, or multiples thereof. So, in the interests of equality, I probably have to think again.

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dizzydizzydizzy · 16/03/2026 16:59

I once bought a bone china London tube mug in Heathrow for an American friend. She was very pleased with it.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 16/03/2026 18:01

Fortnum/Betty’s/Harrods biscuits is a reusable tin.

GoldenishFish · 17/03/2026 07:22

I wouldn't go with the puppy idea, even to dog lovers a surprise puppy could appear a nightmare since they weren't ready and it wasn't their dicision originally!
Much more generic idea would be personalized desk calendars, these would be small and light and you can add custom elements like birthdays, photos and maybe some inside jokes you've had over the time you've been working together.
Jewelry could be a bit tricky unless you're 100% sure you find something each of them likes. The notebook and pen gift sets are almost always nice. If possible, you can add custom designs on them as well, check out if your local photo or printing stores do that.

reluctantbrit · 17/03/2026 08:00

A UK mug. Something funny or just a kind of generic one. Mugs are normally used in offices a lot and I got one for my colleagues in New York at one point and I still use it and it always gives me a smile because I remember the time I spent with them.
Add some biscuits and you will be fine.

Depending on your work pens, notebooks, stationary can be difficult. I use hardly any paper and pens anymore, everything is electronics so while there are beautiful notebooks out there I personally just wouldn't know what to do with it.

But I would love to see you travelling with eight puppies.

Farkinhell · 17/03/2026 08:03

A personalised mug each? Maybe Emma Bridgewater, I don't have one but they look sturdy and presumably come in boxes for easy transport. A British brand too.

Davros · 17/03/2026 08:13

Actually, you could get a variety of British artists - Elton, The Stones, Freddie etc. as long as they don’t fight over the Bowie, I would

NewYearNewMee · 17/03/2026 08:43

My American friends love UK treats! Cadburys is a big one (especially mini eggs!), fortnums biscuits in the tins, bettys tea bags (or any fancy brand), UK sweets (Percy pigs / pick and mix) etc. I’ve taken Emma bridgewater too for a birthday and they loved it (thought it was very “quaint”.

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