For many, handling the holidays at work can be a tricky task. Even the most confident employee may find themselves in a dilemma when trying to decide what to give their boss as a gift, or which co-workers they should spend their money on.
With a few tips and suggestions, the toughest part of this holiday season may only be what sweater to wear to the office party.
1. Should You Gift Your Boss? According to office etiquette rules – gifts in the workplace should flow downward, not upward. This simply means that bosses may purchase gifts for their employees, but employees do not need to feel obligated to give gifts to those above them.
If you decide that you want to buy a present for your boss, the proper way to approach this idea is to ask colleagues if they would all like to go in on something together. This makes it so that you don’t seem to be ‘brown nosing’, and involve everyone.
Some possible gift ideas for your boss could be –
~ Gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or local golf shop.
~ Rechargable cell power pack for their cell phone. This is perfect for busy days and can be used with most any type of phone.
~ Wireless Bluetooth headphones.
~ Desk top stress reliever. These can be the sand containers with small rakes, or the steel balls on wires that tap back and forth. Just something that you boss can watch to help them relax on busy, stressful days.
~ Adult doodle or color book, with fancy colored pencils and sharpener. It’s a known fact that doodling can help reduce stress and clear the mind, so gifting your boss a detailed doodle book will be something that they will appreciate.
~ Personalized electronics case. If your boss does presentations using his or her laptop, iPad or Macbook, the gift of a personalized case is a great idea. This is something that will help them keep their electronics clean, while looking classy.
~ Leather attache. Everyone loves getting a new work bag and your boss will be no different. If colleagues pool money together, purchasing a new leather attache will be greatly appreciated for any boss.
~ gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or to a local golf shop. If you know your bosses favorite beverage, a bottle of nice bourbon or a wine basket can make thoughtful gifts.
2. Should You Gift Your Co-Workers? If you work in a large office setting, purchasing a present for all co-workers can be next to impossible and expensive. Before the gift giving season arrives, suggest to the office to participate in either a Secret Santa type exchange or simply have everyone draw a name – eliminating the need to purchase more than one present each.
If you don’t know the gift recipient very well, some gift suggestions for colleagues are-
~ Desk calendar and new note pads and pens
~ Gift card to a local coffee shop
~ Personalized file folders or note paper
~ Humorous coffee mug, filled with single serving flavored coffees
~ Small cubicle space heater or fan, for the colleagues that’s either always too cold or warm
~ Picture frame or top-of-desk organizer
~ Custom made business card holder
3. Should You Gift Your Employees? Although there is no written rule stating that bosses must purchase holiday gifts for their employees, most feel that it is a good idea to do so, and is also an excellent way to keep spirits up during the holiday season.
It may be nearly impossible to pick out a personal gift for each individual employee in the office, so there are a few suggestions that will help ease the tension and make the decision easier.
~ Everyone likes gift cards. It’s a safe choice to purchase everyone something that can be either spent or used up. Examples are – gift bags filled with gourmet teas or coffees, or gift cards to local coffee shops, movie theaters or restaurants.
~ Charitable gifts. Both you and your employees will feel good if you make a donation to a charitable cause in their name. There are thousands of great charitable options to choose from and can be searched online.
~ A night out. Another option, instead of giving everyone an individual gift, is to treat your employees to a night out at a nice restaurant. Try booking a private room where everyone can mingle and enjoy an all-expenses-paid evening and meal together.
The holidays are stressful enough without worrying about what and who to gift at the office. Shop easy and smart this year and try to enjoy the season, both at work and with family.
