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The do’s and don’ts of office gift giving

Office gift-giving
[Nice teapot, Pam]

It’s that festive time of year again. If you work in an office you may have already picked a co-workers name out of a red hat for the annual Secret Santa or White Elephant Exchange gifting giving fiasco. Here are some tips and tricks to keep you on track.

Must DO’s:

  • Receive your gift gracefully and with a smile, even if it’s the last thing on earth you would ever want (you always give it to your Aunt Edna).

  • Respect the budget guidelines so you all spend roughly the same amount.

  • Try to find out what your co-worker may actually like.

  • Wrap it up nicely and add a personal card.

  • Include a gift receipt if possible, so they can exchange it if need be.

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Definitely DON’T:

  • Under no circumstances should you give “creepy” type gifts, and for the love of all that is holy, do not give anything intimate or “bedroom” related.

  • Nothing religious based, it’s quite possible your co-workers celebrate Hanukkah, Ramadan, Diwali, or Kwanzaa, and don’t want a statue of a smiling Jesus or a Santa t-shirt, no matter how adorable you think it is.

  • These days with so many diet preferences and serious food allergies it’s best to stay away from food gifts altogether.

  • You may also want to avoid giving anything with a strong fragrance.

  • Some gift ideas for your office colleagues: agenda planner, candles (not peach, of course!), notebook and pen sets, desktop organizers, books, kitchen gadgets, picture frames, hot drink travel mugs, and of course, the much loved gift cards.

Should you give a gift to your boss?

The general consensus is that giving a gift to your supervisor, manager, or boss is considered a “no-no”. The reasoning is that you don’t want to appear like you are requesting special treatment or starting a competition with your coworkers. But a handwritten note in a pretty holiday card goes a long way. Alternatively, you can round up your team and facilitate a group gift by having your colleagues contribute and all sign the card – this keeps everyone on equal footing.

What if you are the boss?

A manager giving gifts to their team members is always welcomed and well received. So if you’re the boss, this is your opportunity to show your employees you are grateful for a year of hard work. The best thing to do when giving your employees holiday gifts is to keep everything equal and then everyone is happy.