According to Skooba Design founder and CEO Michael Hess, employees want these four things for the holidays: money, time off, gifts, and parties (listed in order of most importance). I would say he’s right on.

If there’s no extra money to go around because of the economy and no possible way to give employees one day or an afternoon off during this hectic time, then you’re left with two options: gifts and parties.

Parties can be fun and enjoyable for employees and their families, but, as Michael points out, corporate holiday parties run the risk of being events that employees feel forced to attend. There’s also the chance of inappropriate party behavior and the issue of drinking to address.

Because of these issues, we’re going to focus on the gifts route today. Times are tough but there are still plenty of gift options for small business owners. First, we’ll start with tips to help you stay under budget. Then, we’ll offer gift ideas. [Read more…]