Trevor Price

Forsake the Plaques - Contemporary Retirement Awards are the Rave

Gone are the days when long-serving employees look forward to getting their retirement plaques and handshakes, then walking away. Today, people want a retirement gift that's practical, usable and represents their decades of service.

Handing retiring employees a stack of retirement plaques, shaking their hand and waving them out the door is so last century. Today, long-serving employees want retirement gifts that can be used, enjoyed and truly express an employer's appreciation for their years of service. 

So, if you're still handing out retirement plaques, it's time to stop. People don't want a wall ornament that reminds them of work - they want experiences or items they'll actually use. Read on for some fantastic retirement gift ideas.

The Traditional Retirement Watch

While a watch isn't the most original idea for a retirement gift, it's one that will be appreciated and used for years. A high-quality watch tells an employee that you truly appreciate all their years of service and dedication. It's also a practical gift.

Remember, when giving a watch as a retirement gift, it's critical that you don't choose something too inexpensive. Nothing communicates lack of gratitude like a watch that stops ticking after a few weeks.

The "Experience" Gift

These days, retirees are mobile. They're traveling, moving or exploring, and the last thing they want is more "junk." Instead, give the gift of an unforgettable experience.

An Alaskan cruise, a weekend spent learning how to drive a race car, an all-inclusive vacation down south, a week touring the foothills of Italy, a night out at an incredible restaurant, a weekend spa retreat, a series of flight lessons - these are all great retirement gifts for the retiree on the go.

A Golf Club Membership

A one-year membership at a local golf club can be a great gift for the retiree who loves to golf - it gives them a place to play that first year away from work and shows you care about the person's personal interests outside of work.

the Gifts You Should Avoid

A good rule of thumb is to avoid giving anything that's emblazoned with the company logo. A loyal employee may love working for the company and be sad to go, but the last thing anyone wants to do in their retirement is stare at a complete set of placemats branded with the company slogan.

Next, you should avoid giving any gift that's tied to the work environment. That means desk clocks are out, fancy pens are out, pocket protectors are out and really anything related to work at all should be rejected as an idea. You're celebrating this person's next chapter in life, not chaining their memories to their current one.

Last but not least, avoid high cost gifts or discuss them with the employee beforehand. The IRS has restrictions in place that will actually tax certain presents above a certain monetary value, counting them as "bonuses" rather than gifts. And though retirement plaques may be awful, at least they'll never be taxed.

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