Office Etiquette: Gifting Guidelines to Simplify the Season

No matter what you’re celebrating this season, the exchange of gifts is likely part of the festivities. And most of us have a pretty good handle on what kinds of things our friends and families enjoy receiving. But when it comes to procuring presents for your office mates, it can be difficult to know if you’re being suitably celebratory or stepping on a cultural landmine. And even if the gift exchanges are opt-in with guidelines for price or what type of items to give, there is still the issue of how to handle a celebration that may take place outside of an organized event. So, whether you embrace personalized holiday shopping with abandon or find yourself buying generic gift cards in bulk, there are several things to consider when you’re navigating the gifting gauntlet:

Cost Control: If you’re participating in an office gift exchange that includes a price limit ($25 maximum, etc.), even if it’s tempting, don’t exceed the set amount. If you show up with a pricey e-reader or cashmere gloves and your co-workers are exchanging socks and humorous coffee mugs, you’re likely to make others feel uncomfortable. And be careful with gag gifts. If everyone else is offering presents they sincerely hope people will enjoy, you may leave someone feeling slighted if they receive something that is meant as a joke (albeit a good humored one).

Chain of Command: There are always exceptions to the rule, but at work, gifts should generally flow from the top down. That is, your boss can give you a gift, but employees shouldn’t give gifts to their managers. Depending upon your department dynamics, it can either upset the power balance to where people feel pressured to gift the higher ups or give the impression that they’re trying to buy their way into a promotion or favored status. But if you do opt to give your boss a present, the safest way to go is a group effort with the cost distributed evenly.

Exchange exceptions: There may be co-workers that you have closer ties to, and with whom you share certain preferences as to how to commemorate the holidays. To avoid any awkwardness or hurt feelings, consider exchanging gifts and good wishes at a coffee, lunch or dinner outside of the office.

Food and drink: Homemade treats are a signature of the season, and cookies, cakes and candies are generally not only expected, but greatly enjoyed. But while wine and liquor are often appreciated (and can be easily regifted it they aren’t to the recipient’s taste), they can also be risky as gifts. Unless you are absolutely sure what a co-worker’s comfort level is with alcoholic beverages, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

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