The do's and don'ts of giving holiday gifts to your co-workers
The do's and don'ts of giving holiday gifts to your
co-workers
Shopping
for co-workers can easily mean a plethora of candles and desk toys that they'll
likely be re-gifting after they leave the office.
There's
no need for a mediocre gift, however, with all of the fantastic choices
available.
Of
course you're not required to give a present to your co-workers, but it's a
nice thing to do, and it keeps your comrades happy. And creating goodwill in
the office can mean more accommodation the next time you're a bit behind on a
project and need to reschedule a meeting with your teammates.
There are a few guidelines
to follow with gifts for your co-workers, just as when giving a present to your
boss.
Do's
Do decide who is on your
list
You
definitely don't have to give a gift to everyone in your company, but giving a
small gift to co-workers in your department, or those people you interact with
on a daily basis, is appropriate.
Sharon Schweitzer,
etiquette expert and founder of Access to Culture, said, "Research the
office policy on gift giving. Are there any policies limiting gifts to a
division? If you are a fairly new hire, inquire with a trusted colleague about
the organizational culture around gift giving for co-workers and support staff.
Is it wide open, or are there unwritten rules in place? For example, do
colleagues exchange best-selling books and wine? Provide gift cards to support
staff? Don't be the office Grinch by forgetting."
Do stick to a budget
Keep
it reasonable when deciding how much to spend on a gift for a co-worker.
Gift exchanging events
around the office often have set price limits. For instance, there may be a
rule set that gifts should not exceed $30. If there's no hard and fast rule in
place, try to spend a similar amount to what your coworkers will generally be
spending. If you have no idea because you're a newer employee, ask a colleague
what the norm is for your office, said Peter Yang, co-founder of Resume Go.
And less works, too.
Justin Lavelle, chief communicators officer at People Looker, said, "Aim to spend
about $10-$20 on a co-worker's gift. It's almost impossible to find a thoughtful
gift for $5, but a $10 Starbucks or iTunes gift card is always appreciated and
doesn't look cheap."
Do choose a thoughtful
gift
Food
gifts are often welcome, but keep in mind any dietary restrictions or food
allergies. Gifts of alcohol and wine are also appreciated by many, but don't
give it to someone who doesn't drink, or whose religion prevents them from
consuming liquor. Other options are fun items for their desk, or a gift
certificate to a favorite lunch spot or coffeehouse.
"If
your office is participating in a secret Santa gift exchange, rely on your
coworkers' personalities, hobbies, interests, and favorite colors. One
co-worker may enjoy canvas painting, so a new brush set may be appropriate.
Another colleague may listen to Michael Buble, so a DVD will be perfect.
Incorporate the personal insights they share about their interests as a guide
in choosing a thoughtful gift," Schweitzer said.
For
the most part, gifts that you wear on your body are not appropriate gifts for
co-workers; this includes perfume, lotion, clothing, and jewelry. Even flowers
can be taken the wrong way. A rule of thumb is that if you'd buy it for
Valentine's Day for someone you're dating, you shouldn't purchase it for your
co-worker.
"The gift should be something
appropriate to show in the workplace, not something risqué. A present that can
be used in the office is an ideal gift, but it's also okay to buy a gift of a
more personal nature as long as you use your judgment to gauge what is
appropriate," said Nate Masterson, HR manager of Maple Holistic.
If
you work in a small work team, individual gifts are nice, and it's okay to get
the same thing for each person, such as an ornament or a box of chocolates.
Toni Purvis, etiquette
consultant and owner of Paradigm One Consulting, said, "If you are
buying a gift for a co-worker, think of practical yet thoughtful things they
can use and would appreciate. For example, you may have a co-worker who buys a
salted caramel mocha frappe at 9:30 am every day from the downstairs cafe, so a
modest gift card to that specific cafe, or even a re-usable mug from the cafe,
would be a great gift to share. Consider their habits and hobbies when deciding
upon a gift."
Do remember the support
staff
Schweitzer
said, "The support staff makes any office hum smoothly and efficiently. In
every office I've worked in, they are the lifeblood and the first on my list, along
with the boss. Skipping the support staff would be professional suicide.
Include all support staff, mailroom employees, runners, messengers,
receptionists, administrative assistants, secretaries, and all other
professional staff I failed to list."
Don'ts
Don't exchange gifts in
front of others who didn't make your list
If
you give gifts to just a few co-workers, do it after hours or when no one is
around. Another option is to take them to a private lunch and hand out the
gifts at that time. Think back to elementary school and how the teachers always
insisted that you needed to share with everyone. Same mind-set, only now you're
an adult. And thoughtful, kind adults don't let others feel left out.
"If
by tradition, buying a gift for one co-worker means you must also buy a gift
for everyone else, then it's usually best to either go all in or not at all. Of
course, things also depend on how confident you are in keeping your gifting
festivities a secret. If a close co-worker or two really want to exchange gifts
with just you and no one else, be sure at the very least to get the point
across that this should be something done on the down low. If other coworkers
find out they were not a part of your gifting inner circle, this can create
tension and jealousy that ultimately hurt work relationships," Yang said.
Don't be negligent of
other people's beliefs
Even
though you're in the holiday spirit and want to spread a bit of cheer, it
doesn't mean that everyone else has the same beliefs as you.
A
particular religious connotation can only be included on the gift if you are
employed by a religious or spiritual organization. Or if you are 100% certain
that a religious gift will be welcomed by the recipient.
"It
is wise to exercise caution and be certain your gift will be well received.
Depending on the relationship with your co-workers, or your knowledge of them
practicing a certain religion, you may wish to select a group gift with others
from the office that honors this practice. There is no obligation to do so, and
many employees may be uncomfortable giving anything other than a secular
gift," Schweitzer said.
Don't feel pressured to
exchange gifts
Remember,
you are under no obligation to give a gift to a co-worker. Even if everyone
else exchanges gifts, it's still okay to skip the holiday gift-giving routine.
If you are given a gift, and are not reciprocating, simply smile and say thank
you and be sure and follow-up with a thank you card.
Lavelle
said, "You should never feel obligated to buy your co-workers a gift or contribute
to a group gift, especially if you're not in a good financial position to do
it. Office gifts should never be mandatory or expected. When asked about
contributing to a group gift or if you'll be exchanging gifts, simply say, 'I'm
going to have to pass.' Do not go into long explanations or feel guilted into
it."
Don't forget your common
sense
The
overriding rule that supersedes any of the previous rules is to use common
sense. If you think a gag gift might be over the top, don't do it. If you think
a slogan on a coffee mug might be pushing the boundaries, don't do it.
Follow
your innate sense of what is right and wrong. If you are unsure of whether to
give a particular gift, play it safe and skip it.
https://payhip.com/theuniquegiftspot
https://www.facebook.com/theuniquegiftspot/
https://www.instagram.com/theuniquegiftspotsg/
Please click the link if wish to place an order via our whatsapp line :
- https://bit.ly/2SgjEaY
- +6581160925
Please click the link if wish to place an order via our telegram username :
- theuniquegiftspot
Hashtags
Unique giftspot photoboxsg gifts
dreamcatcher woodart musicbox homedecor valentine love smile shop magician
store birthday cards personalised handmade custommade kids children memories
fairy lights celebrate wallartsg mandalashop poster wall cushions frames
christmas special loved ones heart singapore valentine magic love gift
justforhim anniversary graduation
#Unique #uniquegiftspot #photoboxsg
#gifts #dreamcatcher #woodart #musicbox #homedecor #valentine #love #smile
#shop #magicianshop #birthday #cards #personalised #handmade #custommade #kids
#children #memories #fairy #lights #celebrate #wallartsg #mandalashop #poster
#wall #cushions #frames #christmas #special #loved #ones #heart #singapore
#valentine
Comments
Post a Comment