Cheer Up Gifts for a Colleague

Cheer up gifts for a colleague

The trick with a colleague is scale. Too big and it's uncomfortable; nothing at all and the team looks cold.

£5–£10, funny, and desk-shaped. Certificates, coasters, desk pieces and badges all read as a joke from the team rather than a personal gesture.

One card everyone signs does more than five separate messages on Teams.

Office-appropriate ideas

What to avoid at work

What to spend

  • £5–£10 is plenty. Cheer-up gifts work on timing, not on price. Shop this card
  • Two small things a fortnight apart beat one big parcel. Shop this card
  • Anything over £30 starts to feel like an obligation to reply. Shop this card
  • A card on its own is a real gift, not a cop-out. Shop this card
  • Group chipping in? £3–£5 a head and one card everybody signs. Shop this card
  • Spend the effort on the message, not the object. Shop this card

Funny candles

Hand-poured in the UK, with a line on the label that does the talking.

Coasters and desk pieces

Small, funny, and in front of them every day.

Prints for the wall

Something cheerful for the kitchen, the hallway or the desk.

Pin badges

A pound or two, posted in an envelope, and worn for years.

Cards to send with it

Add the card and it all arrives in one UK parcel.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What is an appropriate gift for a colleague going through a hard time?

Something small, funny and desk-shaped at £5–£10 — a certificate, coasters, a badge — with one card the team signs.

Should the gift come from the team or one person?

From the team. It's warmer, cheaper per head and avoids putting one person's name on a personal gesture.

How much should a work whip-round be?

£3–£5 a head is the UK norm, and it buys something noticeably better than individual presents.