Holiday Gift Giving at Work…
Gift giving at work can be tricky, so it is important to find out whether there is a gift-giving policy. The larger the company, the more likely it is that there will be a specific written guideline.
If the gift-giving policy is not a rigid one, find out what the tradition has been and try to follow it. Making the wrong move can cause hurt feelings and cause problems in the future.
Here are some other guidelines for gifting at work:
•Find out what people usually spend on gifts and stay within that price range. Spending more than others can make you look like you are trying to show people up or that you are not a team player.
•Do participate in the joint gift for your boss or supervisor. Giving a separate gift can make you look like a brown-noser.
•Choose gifts that reflect the interests of the people you are gifting. This is a time to show appreciation and to let recipients know you have put some thought into their gift.
•Stay within your budget when buying gifts. It isn’t about the cost, it’s about the thought. Be resourceful and clever when shopping. And be sure to wrap your gifts — that wrapping can make a usual gift look special.
•Avoid joke gifts; everyone doesn’t have the same sense of humor. Stay away from inappropriate gifts or gifts that are too extravagant, personal or sexy.
•Be a good sport and keep your sense of humor and play by the rules if your co-workers participate in the Yankee Swap (white elephant) or Secret Santa games.
•Give gifts privately to co-workers if you don’t have something for everyone.
Happy Holidays!
