Gift ideas the boss didn’t think of

While itís great to get a bonus, turkey or other material gifts from employers at holiday time, there are other special gifts that people would be thrilled to receive -- ones most managers never think about.

Like an hour of the bossís time to discuss a favorite project. Or lunch with the boss to discuss career and future plans. Or an opportunity to be on the hiring team for a new manager. These gifts, and many others like them, cost little or no money and require no shopping. But they can add immeasurably to employee engagement and long-term satisfaction -- thus retention.

Thatís the premise behind a unique coupon book for managers to give to their employees as a holiday gift, developed by Career Systems International (CSI), the nationís foremost talent management company. Coupons offer, as gifts, employee engagement and satisfaction drivers based on the concepts of best sellers LOVE íEM OR LOSE íEM: GETTING GOOD PEOPLE TO STAY and LOVE IT DONíT LEAVE IT: 26 WAYS TO GET WHAT YOU WANT AT WORK. The books are authored by CSI founder and CEO Dr. Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans, published by Berrett-Koehler.

Here are some of the unique employee gift suggestions from the coupon book:

- A company-paid learning opportunity to attend an important professional meeting.

- A subscription to a favorite business magazine sent to their home.

- An opportunity to lead a project -- even one the manager might have wanted to lead.

- A chance to grow professionally by choosing a project, assignment or task that could enrich their work.

- An opportunity for employees to discuss what gives them the most satisfaction at work, how they view success, and what makes a perfect day at work.

- Free time off to attend childrenís school or sports events; phone cards to help people stay in touch with loved ones; or a web site for the family with a one year email subscription, in honor of creating a family friendly environment.

- A limousine to pick up an employee for a full day at a spa, opportunities for tai chi, yoga or golf lessons, all to support wellness.

Download gift ideas from www.KeepEm.com. Copies of the coupon book are $5 and are available by calling Career Systems International, 800.577.6916 or HQ@careersystemsintl.com.