Toss Out the Plaques - Original Retirement Rewards Are in Style

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, get out of the rut of handing out boring, old retirement plaques and serving trays. Instead, choose gifts that will not only be memorable, but also used for years to come. For some great retirement gift ideas, keep reading.

The Classic 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

Instead of loading up potentially mobile retirees with gifts and presents that will only clutter their lives, more and more employers are opting for the "experience gift."

A trip to Europe, a cruise down the Amazon, a weekend spent learning how to skydive, a white water rafting adventure, an incredible night at a beautiful restaurant, an unforgettable spa retreat - these are all great retirement gifts. They also minimize the waste caused by producing, wrapping and shipping hundreds of thousands of plaques that will inevitably wind up in a landfill.

Golf or Country 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

As you search for a retirement present, remember that there are a few gifts that should be avoided at all costs. These include anything and everything that is branded with the company logo. They may love working for you, but staring at a wall clock emblazoned with their former work logo isn't everyone's idea of an ideal retirement present.

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.

Having said that, though, don't do either. Skip the plaques and present a reasonably-priced gift that speaks respectfully of the role this individual has played for years, if not decades.