The Best (Actually Useful) Gift Ideas for Your Hard-Working Assistant

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They keep you on track by reminding you when you have upcoming appointments. They help you complete tasks and make your day more manageable. Sometimes they even bring you coffee, which — let’s face it — is enough to merit a raise, and at the very least, a gift. In fact, you’re not even sure you could make it through the day without them. Sound familiar? If you have an assistant, it should. And it goes without saying they deserve to be spoiled a little (or a lot).

Look beyond the crystal paperweights and desk calendars, though — your hardworking assistant has earned something more creative than those played-out ideas. Why not give them something they’ll actually want to take home?

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Best Gifts for Assistants, at a Glance

A Seat Cushion That Prevents Back Pain: Upper Echelon, Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion for Lower Back Pain Relief, $40
A Personalized Insulated Mug: CVS Photo Insulated Mug, $10
The Coziest Sweater Vest: BumbleBella by Jill Martin Sherpa Shawl Collar Long Vest, $15
A Desk-Sized Snack Maker: Dash Mini Electric Popcorn Maker, $22
A Deliverable Plant: Bloomscape Bromeliad Pineapple, $79
A Candle That Says It All: Coworker Candle, $22
A Sweet or Savory Delivery From Their Favorite Cafe: Goldbelly Gift Card, $25+
A Beautiful Notebook: Rifle Paper Co. Fabric Journal, $15
The TikTok-Famous Water Bottle: Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler with Lid and Straw, $45
A Desk Organizer: Gianotter Paper Letter Tray Organizer with File Holder, $33

If you’re unsure of where to start, let this be the beginning of your journey. The following gifts are sure to please your right-hand person. Just be forewarned: You might want to get a few of these for yourself, too.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Upper Echelon, CVS Photo, and QVC are SheKnows sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion for Lower Back Pain Relief

Even the most ergonomically correct chair can be a real pain in the butt (like, actually), and this seat cushion will keep things comfortable. It’s made with a memory foam material that molds to your body and helps keep your posture upright to prevent back issues. Literally anyone would benefit from this, but especially your hard-working assistant.

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CVS Photo Personalized Insulated Mug

Get your assistant something thoughtful and practical, like a personalized mug — especially if they’re known to run on coffee. Our go-to for all things personalized (and convenient) is CVS Photo, and we love this insulated 10oz mug they can take on the go, or keep at their desk (either way, coffee and tea stays hot for hours). All you need to do upload a photo or image to the website, and order. That’s it. If you order now (date of publication), you’ll receive the mug by December 1 with their Next Day Shipping option. And bonus? A slew of CVS Photo gifts are 60 percent off until November 28 (use the code GIFT60).

BumbleBella by Jill Martin Sherpa Shawl Collar Long Vest

Everyone knows that offices tend to run cold (usually, extremely cold), so why not gift your assistant with a chic office look that will help them stay warm? Anybody would look great in this fuzzy vest that can easily be kept at the office and used when needed. The best part? It feels like a blanket but looks office-appropriate.

Dash Electric Popcorn Maker

Gift your assistant this desk-sized popcorn maker. The compact machine makes a quick and delicious snack in a flash — it can cook up to 16 cups of fresh popcorn at a time, making it perfect for sharing with other teammates. The popcorn machine also comes with non-slip feet to stabilize it. Make it a complete set, and grab a bag of popcorn kernels and flavorful seasoning.

Weekly Priority Dry Erase Whiteboard Calendar

Your assistant is probably organized, and there’s no better way to stay on top of things than with an aesthetically pleasing dry-erase board that doubles as a weekly planner. The board has a simple gold finish that looks great with any decor. There is also a place for notes and high-priority tasks. And it’s under $40!

Birkenstock Boston Shearling

The Boston clog from Birkenstock is having a huge moment this winter — it’s a TikTok favorite and can hardly stay in stock at retailers! This shearling version would be perfect for keeping your favorite co-worker warm in a chilly office and helping them feel relaxed when at home. 

Uncommon Goods Unwind Lavender Gift Set

Being an assistant is hard work, and getting a good night’s rest is essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This cute set from Uncommon Goods will help them decompress after work for a relaxing night of rest.

Bloomscape Bromeliad Pineapple Plant

Help your hard-working assistant make her desk feel a bit homier with this playful pineapple plant that they definitely don’t already have. Plant mom or not, they’re guaranteed to love it.

A Coworker Candle

I mean, the saying on the candle says it all.

A GoldBelly Gift Card

If you’ve seen your assistant eat one too many sad desk lunches over the years, then a GoldBelly gift card could be just what they need. But don’t be surprised if they end up bring leftover pie, cupcakes, or authentic Philly cheesesteak leftovers to the office for lunch in the days following.

Jot Coffee

We all run on coffee but busy assistants don’t always have time to wait for a whole pot to brew or to run to the local coffee spot. Luckily, Jot coffee is a quick and easy way for your assistant to get the caffeine hot they need instantly. This super-concentrated coffee has impeccable flavor and you only need about a tablespoon of it to make your coffee.

Rifle Paper Co. Fabric Journal

Whether it’s to jot down work or personal notes, a journal is always a great gift for every assistant.

Mark & Graham Commute Clutch

Commuting is kind of becoming a thing again so why not give your assistant a little something that allows them to organize all of their commute essentials in a gorgeous little clutch?

Uncommon Goods Spa Tower

Gift them with a luxurious night of relaxation for all of the hard work they do. This spa tower set comes with a candle, bath soak, mask, body scrub, and body butter.

Rifle Paper Co. Clear Garden Party Blue AirPods Pro Case

Dress up your assistant’s AirPods with this spring-ready silicone case, adorned in Rifle Paper Co.’s signature floral print.

Brightland The Mini Essentials

Does your assistant like to cook when they’re not at work? Then they’d surely appreciate these chic and delicious extra virgin olive oils from Brightland. The brand’s must-have 4-piece gift set includes two fruit vinegars made with California grapes, and the brand’s signature Awake and Alive olive oils, made with heirloom California olives. They also sell a kitchen candle with a truly intoxicating aroma.

Gianotter Paper Letter Tray Organizer with File Holder

Dress up your assistant’s desk with this super-chic organizer, which will allow them to all keep loose papers (and basically everything else they need to reach for on an everyday basis) organized in style. It comes in six colors, all of which feel like actual decor—not like what you’d pick up at the office supply store in 1996.

OSORI Coffee Mug Warmer & Mug Set

There are some days when your assistant has so dang much going on, their coffee gets cold before they can drink it. Keep every sip piping hot, all day long, with this coffee mug and warmer set.

Anthropologie Venice Monogram Trinket Dish

Whether your assistant chooses to keep this adorable monogrammed dish on their desk, bedside table, or entry console, they’re guaranteed to use it a lot—and silently thank you every time they find exactly what they’re looking for hidden inside of it.

Jenni Kayne Ribbed Scarf

No matter what season it is, office air is always just slightly too cold (… I could go on a rant about how they’re designed for men’s body temperatures instead of women’s, but I won’t.). This scarf is the perfect pick for your assistant to keep on the back of their desk chair for those chilly moments… or to wear literally everywhere all winter long.

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler with Lid and Straw (40 ounce)

If you want to check everyone—including your assistant—off of your gifting list in one fell swoop, do it with a Stanley Cup. The kids (and full-blown adults) on TikTok are in love with this thing thanks to its ability to keep drinks cold (or hot) for hours upon hours, and the Internet definitely right about this particular trend.

Before you go, check out these Ina Garten-Approved gift ideas:

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