Business Class

I just love the holidays. Getting (and giving) gifts can be such a pleasure—and a lot of laughs, too. One of my favorite office-party memories goes back to my days at South Seas Plantation with our office party “white elephant” gift exchange. Each item was limited to $10. One year, I wrapped up a “Plastic Hors d’oeuvre Tree.” The packaging pictured olives, pickles, cheese and more hanging from the plastic tree. It was a big hit, not because it was a great gift, but because it was so unusual. (I found it in my parents’ garage, unused and still in the original packaging.) While I wouldn’t suggest this for a typical gift exchange, I think the idea of finding something unique is a great idea for a fun exchange.

Gift giving is a great way to show a colleague, boss or employee that the business relationship is important to you. However, giving the wrong gift or giving a gift to one employee and not another can send a message that can damage a relationship. Also, giving the boss a present can be viewed negatively by co-workers if you’re not careful.

Gifts should be appropriate, fairly generic and within the company’s guidelines for price range. The white elephant or gift exchange is a good idea for a large office. For a boss, it’s best to go in with other employees to get a mutual gift. A present for a co-worker should be given in private so others’ feelings aren’t hurt.

If you have an assistant, it’s nice to acknowledge him or her with a special gift. The rule of thumb is if they have worked with you for five years or less, $25 is a sufficient amount to spend. You’ll want to take many things into consideration but remember to keep the gift fairly impersonal—a book, a fruit basket, a picture frame, a gift certificate. The longer the tenure, the more the dollar amount should increase.

One of my favorite gifts to give a boss, friend or assistant is personalized stationery. You can choose from a variety of styles to create a personalized gift—and something unique that the recipient will remember long after the holiday has passed.