How do you want to be remembered at work? Do you want every day to be the same, boring routine that has no meaning whatsoever? Or do you want your coworkers to remember how much they appreciate your friendship and how hard of a worker you are by giving gifts to your work colleagues?
You can’t go wrong with any gift! We’ve compiled this guide to giving gifts at work.
Rules of Gift Giving at Work
It can difficult to know what gifts are appropriate for your friends and co-workers at the office. Here are few simple guidelines to keep you out of trouble.
- When in doubt, ask the person what they want
- Keep it small and simple
- Make sure it is appropriate for the workplace setting
- No food or drink gifts
- Avoid anything that could be construed as sexual harassment
Here are some tried and true favorites for gifts you can give any colleague.
- A gift card to their favorite restaurant or store
- A nice pen or pencil set
- Tickets to a show or sporting event
- A spa day package
- Customized coffee mug with a photo and message engraved on it
- A basket filled with their favorite snacks
- An Amazon Kindle Fire tablet
- A new piece of jewelry Something handmade from your own crafty hands
- Framed art print of their favorite landscape or cityscape
- An ice cream maker for the summer months ahead
Special Occasions and Gift Giving
There are a few special occasions throughout the year when gift giving is appropriate in the workplace. Here’s a quick guide to what you should give your friends and colleagues during these times.
Birthdays
A birthday is a great opportunity to give your friend or co-worker something special. You can either go with a gift card or an item that is personalized just for them.
If you’re looking for birthday gifts for male coworkers, there are a lot of good options.
Similarly, you can find a lot of great birthday gifts for female coworkers if you’re willing to put a little thought into it.
Holiday Parties and Gift Giving
If you work in a large office, there will probably be some type of company holiday party. These parties can be intimidating to attend if you don’t know much about the other people who are going besides your own coworkers. If someone is throwing their first holiday gathering, it’s good to check with them before bringing any gifts.
Most people do not exchange gifts at office holiday parties, but it is always a nice gesture to bring something small for the host or hostess. If you are feeling generous, you could also buy a gift for the entire office staff.
Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day, many people like to show their love for one another by exchanging small tokens of appreciation. This is also a popular day for office romances.
If you are in a relationship with someone at work, it’s typically best to avoid giving them anything too intimate or personal. A nice card or flowers will usually do the trick.
Boss’s Day
Bosses’ Day is a day to celebrate the hard work and dedication that our bosses put in every day. It’s also a day to show them how much we appreciate them.
A nice gift for your boss could be something like a gift card to their favorite restaurant or store. If you are feeling really creative, you could make them a custom mug with a photo and message engraved on it.
Secretary’s Day
Secretary’s Day is a day to celebrate the hard work and dedication that our secretaries put in every day. It’s also a day to show them how much we appreciate them.
A nice gift for your secretary could be something like a gift card to their favorite restaurant or store. If you are feeling really creative, you could make them a custom mug with a photo and message engraved on it.
Employee Appreciation Day
Employee Appreciation Day is a day to celebrate the hard work and dedication that all of our employees put in every day. It’s also a day to show them how much we appreciate them.
My Take on Giving Gifts at Work
Giving gifts at work can be a tricky thing to navigate. You want to give something that shows you care, but it shouldn’t go too far and make people uncomfortable.
If I were going to pick out a gift for any one of my co-workers at work, I would probably buy them an item from their favorite store or restaurant as long as the price didn’t go overboard. If I wanted to give something a little more personal, I would probably make them some kind of art or photo print with their favorite place/thing highlighted on it.
Remember, when you give someone a gift, you want them to feel appreciated and loved. So, when in doubt, go with a gift that is thoughtful and not too personal. You want to maintain the boundaries of your professional relationship even though you are giving them something special from the heart.