Best Ways to Keep Employees Happy: Employee Swag Kits, Corporate Gifts, Branded Merch Store

Hey there! Do you ever feel like your employees are just going through the motions at work? Do they seem bored, unmotivated, or even frustrated? As a manager or business leader, keeping your employees engaged, satisfied, and, yes – happy – should be a top priority. Why? Because when employees are happy at work, they’re more invested in their roles, more productive, and more likely to stick around for longer.

In this lighthearted blog, we’ll explore some ridiculously simple yet highly effective ways to foster positivity and boost happiness levels across your workforce. From encouraging open communication and providing positive feedback to promoting work-life balance and flexibility, we’ve got plenty of actionable tips for creating a fun, supportive work environment where employees genuinely enjoy coming to work each day. Consider this your handbook for spreading good vibes and making your team not only successful, but smiley too!

Unique Ideas to Keep Employees Happy & Joyful

Who knows – incorporating some laughs and levity into everyday operations at the workplace could be the key ingredient your office culture needs to keep your employees happily engaged as they tackle even the most challenging tasks. So, let’s have fun learning how to maintain high employee retention and strong company morale with a few easy, breezy adjustments. Keep reading for ideas on ways to keep employees happy and smiling day after day!

Employee Swag Kits

Employee swag kits have become a go-to strategy for boosting morale and creating memorable moments, especially for new hires and remote teams. Instead of generic company merch, today’s best swag kits are curated experiences—think branded apparel, high-quality drinkware, tech gadgets, and creative extras, all wrapped in eye-catching packaging.

By personalizing each kit with handwritten notes or items tailored to the recipient, companies show they truly care. Swag kits turn onboarding, milestones, or random days into unboxing events that spark excitement and help employees feel instantly connected to your culture, no matter where they work.

Corporate Gifts for In-Office & Remote Teams

Corporate gifting is more than a tradition—it’s a powerful tool for showing appreciation and making employees feel valued as individuals. The most impactful gifts are thoughtful and personal, ranging from custom-engraved desk accessories to wellness kits, premium snacks, or tech gadgets that actually get used. Sending gifts for anniversaries, big wins, or simply to say “thank you” creates positive emotional touchpoints throughout the employee journey.

When employees receive a corporate gift that feels chosen just for them, it strengthens loyalty and builds a deeper sense of belonging within the company.

Company Branded Merchandise Stores

A branded merchandise store gives employees the freedom to choose swag that fits their lifestyle—anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s a stylish hoodie, eco-friendly tote, or gear for their home office, having an on-demand store makes company-branded merch feel less like a handout and more like a perk. Modern platforms handle everything from inventory to shipping, making it easy for HR or People Ops to keep engagement high without the logistics headaches.

Plus, limited-edition drops and reward points keep things exciting. Ultimately, a merch store transforms employees into enthusiastic brand ambassadors and turns everyday moments into opportunities for team pride.

Flexible Working Schedule

Allowing flexible working schedules is one of the best ways to keep employees happy at work and increase employee happiness outside of work. Making small adjustments to start and end times or allowing remote work options can also help employees manage personal responsibilities while improving morale. Supporting work-life balance through schedule flexibility keeps employees smiling.

Help employees feel valued

Managers should encourage employee engagement through small acts that make employees happy, appreciated, and valued. Even simple verbal acknowledgments help improve employee well-being by showing staff their contributions matter. Keeping employees happy at work starts with making sure employees know they are cared about.

Encourage Breaks

Encouraging short breaks helps productivity and also increases happiness by allowing employees time to recharge. Whether morning coffee breaks or walking meetings, these small respites help improve workplace morale. The short mental health boosts can make employees happier and more focused.

Employee Wellness

Keeping employees happy means supporting full well-being inside and outside work. Company programs promoting health, fitness, mindfulness, or mental health show workers that management cares. Investing in professional development around work-life balance and stress management also helps decrease unhappy employees.

Growth Opportunities

Employees stay happier when they feel challenged and supported in personal growth. Leaders should encourage skill-building projects, special assignments, mentorships, and internal promotions that stimulate advancement. Investing in professional development keeps employees engaged, motivated, and happy long-term.

Open Communication

Fostering open communication at all levels allows employees to voice concerns before they become unhappy. Maintaining open-door policies, regular check-ins, anonymous surveys, suggestion boxes, and team huddles shows that management welcomes input for improving the workplace. Employees want their voices heard.

Celebrate Success

Taking time to celebrate individual, team, and company wins helps foster positivity and improves employee morale. Sharing success stories publicly and making a point to recognize contributions during meetings gives employees encouragement and makes them feel valued. Praise and small rewards reinforce workplace happiness.

Improving the Workplace Environment

The physical surroundings also impact happiness. Ensuring comfortable, inspiring spaces with natural light, access to nature, and areas for relaxation demonstrates a commitment to employee wellbeing. Adjusting small details like temperature, scent, artwork, and music can completely change the workplace environment’s emotional effect on employees.

Employee Engagement and Team Building

Group activities help break down barriers between leadership and staff while building supportive peer relationships that boost workplace positivity. Engagement initiatives like Company clubs, lunches, volunteering events, and offsite outings enable employees to see each other’s talents and personalities up close – strengthening interpersonal bonds that encourage happiness.

Show Appreciation with Reward & Recognition Programs

Implementing formal reward and recognition programs provides positive reinforcement for top talent. Publicly praising contributions makes individuals feel encouraged and inspires greater morale company-wide. Rewards like ‘Employee of the Month’ designations, peer-to-peer shoutouts, and spot bonuses reinforce good work – keeping employees happier.

Read more about Giving Tuesday ideas and Fun at Work ideas!

Why Does Employee Happiness Matter?

Employee happiness matters – a lot! Far too often, companies overlook the importance of nurturing positive workforce morale, not realizing the immense benefits happy and engaged employees can bring. When you prioritize employee happiness through supportive policies, a healthy work culture, open communication, and demonstrating you value your people, impressive advantages follow.

Higher Productivity

Numerous studies reveal clear correlations between happiness and productivity in the workplace. Employees find their work more meaningful, are more energized to take on challenges and exert more effort into high-quality outputs when they feel satisfied and content. Give your employees reasons to smile, and their improved focus pays off!

Enhanced Loyalty

Employees need to feel like their company cares about them on a human level by supporting personal well-being at and outside of work. Initiatives promoting flexibility, health, engagement, and positive company culture make workforce talent want to stick around longer term. Happiness signals to employees that their choice to join your organization was a rewarding one.

Attract New Talent

In the recruiting process, candidates are drawn to companies that boast impressive benefit packages, cool perks, work from home flexibility, training opportunities, mentorship programs, and clear paths to career development. What ties all these appeals together? They demonstrate a workplace catering to employee happiness through daily experience, growth, and work-life balance.

Boost Creativity

Happiness has profound effects on human brain function, making people more receptive to new ideas and outside-the-box thinking. When your team feels upbeat, relaxed, and collaborative instead of stressed, their creative juices can flow more freely! Positive emotions expand possibilities while enhancing problem-solving.

Stronger Relationships

Happiness has a fantastic ripple effect. Employees with high job satisfaction and positive team relationships pass on good vibes that impact customer and client interactions, too. From higher scores on support surveys to warmer tones in sales meetings, delighted employees spread cheer company-wide!

SwagMagic: Your Partner in Building Happier Workplaces

Ready to make employee happiness part of your everyday culture? SwagMagic takes the guesswork out of employee appreciation with custom swag kits, branded merch stores, and easy corporate gifting—delivered anywhere in the world.

Whether you’re welcoming new hires with unforgettable employee onboarding kits, sending surprise gifts to remote teams, or launching a company-wide branded merchandise shop, SwagMagic handles everything from creative curation to global shipping. It’s never been easier to build excitement, boost retention, and keep your team happy at work—one personalized unboxing at a time. Ready to get started? Explore the magic here.