How to Follow Gift-Giving Etiquette at Work

Most people love to give and receive gifts. As you grow closer to the people that you work with, you may be considering giving them a gift either for the holidays or their birthday. However, before you hit the mall, you need to follow proper gift-giving etiquette at work.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find out if there has been a precedent set regarding gift giving. Your office is likely to have a policy about gift giving. Ask about the policy and see what others usually do in the office.

2. Pick professionally themed gifts. Gifts within the office should be professional in nature. Think stationery, frames or a desk set.

3. Give a general holiday gift. Many workers observe different traditions, so it is important not to assign a certain holiday, like Christmas, to a present.

4. Stay within the set spending limits. If gifts are allowed but must be under a certain dollar amount, make sure that you stick to this limit.

5. Ask advice from your coworkers. Find out how much they typically spend on each other and whether or not they buy for the boss. Some coworkers may feel that boss gifts are just a way to suck up.

6. Purchase for the group instead. If you are unsure, bring in a food tray for the entire office. This can be a way to celebrate without singling out anybody in particular.

Tips & Warnings

• To ease holiday gift tension, many offices decide to do a Secret Santa gift exchange. You pick a name out of a hat and purchase a gift for that person.
• If you don't plan to buy for everyone, give your gift to the recipient in a private setting. You do not want to create discord in the office.