Toilet cleaner, pantyhose and a $2 scratch-off lottery ticket top the list of worst holiday gifts employees have received from their employers, according to a new survey from Custom Ink.
The 2025 Custom Ink Employee Holiday Gift Survey asked 1,051 U.S. workers to share their most disappointing employer gifts. Other notable entries include a bag of chips, a plastic cup, chapstick, a company calendar, a dead plant and an expired gift card.
The survey also found 41 per cent of employees worry they may not receive a gift from their employer this year. Last year, 98 per cent of respondents said they received a holiday gift from their employer.
The gift gap
Employers are missing the mark on what their workers actually want, according to the survey conducted in October 2025.
The least popular gift categories include stationery, office products (38 per cent ranked this among their least desired gifts) and plants or greenery. Despite this, many employers continue to purchase these items as holiday gifts.
“There’s a real disconnect happening in workplace gifting,” said David Doctorow, CEO of Custom Ink. “Employers often gravitate toward practical office items or generic branded swag, but our survey shows employees actually want something they can enjoy both in and out of the office.”
What workers want
Employees prefer gifts from popular consumer brands that they can use outside the workplace. The most popular holiday gift categories for 2025 were gift cards, tech and electronics, food and drink, apparel, and outerwear.
Three-quarters of employees said they would value a gift more if it came from a trusted or premium brand. Top brands on employees’ wish lists include Nike (61 per cent), Sony (48 per cent), North Face (47 per cent), Bose (43 per cent) and JBL (40 per cent).
Personalization matters too. The survey found 82 per cent of employees would value a gift more if it was personalized, and 52 per cent would prefer choosing between several gift options.
Impact on morale
Getting gifts right affects employee retention. More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of employees who received a gift they wanted said it would make them more likely to stay with their company. Two-thirds (68 per cent) said it would make them feel more positive about their employer.
“For employers navigating a tight labor market, a well-selected gift can pay huge dividends in reduced turnover and increased employee satisfaction,” said Doctorow.
Custom Ink is an online provider of custom products and apparel for organizations, groups and businesses. The survey was conducted among U.S. adults who work for companies with more than 10 employees.
