Fun Stress Ball Shapes to Give Out This Labour Day— Our Top Picks

Labour Day is coming up on October 6th, and if you’re planning to give your team or customers a little token of appreciation, please, for the love of morale — skip the boring emails that say, “Thanks for your hard work” and give them something they can actually use... and squish.

Yep, we’re talking stress balls. They’re small. They’re silly. They’re surprisingly therapeutic. And honestly, we’ve never seen anyone get one and not give it at least one satisfying squeeze. Whether you’re organising a staff morning tea, putting together appreciation packs, or just want something fun to leave on desks before the long weekend, stress balls are a winner every time.

But let’s not go for the basic round ones. Go for personality. That’s where the real smiles happen. So, we’ve rounded up our favourite stress ball shapes for different industries and vibes.

Best Stress Ball Shapes for Labour Day Gifts

For Tradies, Mechanics & The “Hands-On” Crew

If your team wears steel caps, high-vis or grease-stained uniforms, go with something that feels like them:

• Hammer stress balls
• Hard hat or safety helmet
• Ute or truck
• Wrench/gear/wheel and other branded transport stress balls

You can even print something cheeky like “For when the paperwork is more stressful than the worksite”.

For Office Staff & Work-From-Homers

Let’s face it — most desk workers are permanently emotionally supported by a keyboard and caffeine. Ideal shapes:

• Mini laptop
• Coffee cup
• Thumbs-up emoji
• Keyboard or phone

Perfect for tossing during Zoom meetings. (We didn’t tell you that.)

For Teams Who Deserve a Little Love

If you want something wholesome instead of corporate, try:

• Heart-shaped stress balls
• Smiley faces
• Stars (“You’re a star!” always lands well)
• Brain-shaped ones (great for mental health messaging)

Pair it with a note that says, “For all the times people get on your nerves — may this absorb their energy.”

For Schools, Councils or Eco-Friendly Brands

Got a sustainability angle? Or just want something thoughtful?

• Globe stress ball
• Leaf/tree shape
• Light bulb (symbolising bright ideas!)

Bonus points if you add a line like “We appreciate you — globally.”

For Foodies, Hospital Staff or Hospitality

Look — custom food-shaped stress balls are chaos, but in the best way.

• Hamburger
• Avocado
• Watermelon
• Coffee cup (yes, it deserves to be mentioned twice)

We guarantee that at least three people will pretend to take a bite.

How to Hand Them Out

You could just plonk them on desks. But if you want to make it fun, try:

• Hide them on desks before people arrive — like an adult Easter hunt.
• Pop one in every staff pack along with snacks or coupons.
• Pair it with a handwritten note — seriously, even one sentence makes it feel personal.
• Run a social challenge — “Show us where your stress ball lives!”

Final Thoughts 

At the end of the day, Labour Day is about acknowledging effort. You don’t have to spend big — sometimes the smallest, silliest gift leaves the biggest smile. If you need help selecting a shape or branding idea, please don't hesitate to send us a message. We’ve seen every stress ball known to man — from pineapples to racing cars to anatomical hearts (yes, really),