Many bosses say that the office is like a family, but thinking about that metaphor too much can make workplace etiquette confusing. Especially around the holidays.
One difficult issue is workplace gift-giving. Should you give your peers gifts? What about your boss? Newsweek asked human resources and workplace etiquette experts. Here's what they had to say:
Should You Give Your Coworkers Holiday Gifts?
There is no obligation to give gifts to your coworkers. And in some workplaces, it might push the boundaries of your employee guidelines.
"Giving a gift to your co-workers is a nice thing to do, but I don't think you should feel guilty if you decide not to," Kim Colbert, Global Head of Employee Relations at Ceridian, told Newsweek. "It's important to remember that not everyone celebrates in the same way, or at all."
Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer at Checkr, pointed out to Newsweek that gifts are not supposed to be transactional. "You should never feel obligated to give a gift to coworkers or bosses—the entire point of gifting is that it's an unnecessary gesture of kindness."
"Most offices have guidelines on gift giving. If you are not familiar with these guidelines, now is the time to investigate," Jodi Smith, president and owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, told Newsweek. "The first place to check is the employee handbook. If there is nothing listed, ask a fellow employee what happened last year."
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Should You Give Your Boss a Holiday Gift?
Gift-giving gets more complicated when a supervisor gets involved. Even if you're friendly with them, exchanging gifts with your boss can violate workplace norms that don't apply to peers.
"Some people will say that you can't give gifts to a boss because they're in a position of power, but that's not entirely true," Kaskel said. "Many of us develop real friendships with our managers, and it's okay to acknowledge that with a modest gift of appreciation."
You shouldn't feel any pressure to give your boss a gift this holiday season. "Over the decades that I've led teams, I've never expected my team to give me gifts or held it against anyone for not getting me a gift," Colbert said.
Typically, there's no obligation for supervisors and their staff to swap gifts during the holidays. However, Smith points to one case where the usual rules don't apply.
"The only exception to this rule is between a boss and their executive secretary," she said. "These are two individuals who have a special relationship as well as a symbiotic career path."
As a rule, however, you should only give your boss a gift if you can do it as a friend, and not as an employee.
How to Choose Office Christmas Gifts
Giving gifts to your coworkers is a good way to show your appreciation, but you want to be careful not to overstep workplace boundaries. To avoid violating unwritten norms, follow these recommendations from our experts:
Stay within budget. Colbert reminds us that "it's the thought that counts." She says staying under $25 per coworker is a good rule of thumb.
Consider non-traditional gifts. Kaskel says that sometimes a thoughtful holiday card is all you need. You can also donate to a charity in your coworker's name to show your appreciation.
Think about optics. Colbert points out that if you're on a team with four people, and you get gifts for just three of them, it sends a message about who you value. Consider how your gifting choices will affect your professional reputation.
Proceed with caution on gag gifts. They may be funny to you, but you don't know how your coworkers will react. Smith recommends saving these for social occasions. Even then, you should be respectful and thoughtful.
Don't get too personal. "A gift card for lunch or for your coworker's favorite cookies is thoughtful," Colbert said. "But trying to guess their size to buy them a shirt could make some coworkers uncomfortable."
This year, many Americans are skipping Christmas gifts, so no one will hold it against you if you don't buy presents for your office.
However, if you do want to show your appreciation with a gift, shop for small, inexpensive items that everyone will love. Popular Christmas presents like gift cards and treats are great low budget choices.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer at Checkr, pointed out to Newsweek that gifts are not supposed to be transactional. "You should never feel obligated to give a gift to coworkers or bosses—the entire point of gifting is that it's an unnecessary gesture of kindness."
Ultimately, do not feel pressured to get a gift for anyone at work, White says. It's a corporate tradition some people embrace, but it's certainly not a must. If you're undecided, or a newer employee, ask a co-worker what people at the company have done in previous years.
Thus, a boss or manager may give presents to direct reports, and employees can laterally exchange gifts with each other. But employees shouldn't give gifts to supervisors. This rule protects employees from feeling pressure to purchase gifts for the people who sign their paychecks.
We recommend gifts that cost no less than $50 and do not exceed $100. A gift under $50 may not relay your appreciation. However, gifts over $100 each could guilt an employee rather than show appreciation and may seem too flashy. Recognizing personal milestones is a great way to help a team feel connected.
The etiquette for giving gifts at work is that they can flow downward (meaning a boss can give their employees gifts) but not upward (so employees should not give gifts to their managers).
A: Family, believe it or not, will survive without a few presents from us. They can continue to shop and give presents, but you can simply tell them that you don't want to participate this year.
Somewhere between $50-$100 will satisfy most (67%) employees. People in operations or production, IT, finance, and senior management roles tend to have higher expectations for holiday gifts.
What about gifts to the boss? With a few exceptions, the general rule is that you cannot give, make a donation to, or ask for contributions for a gift to your official superior. An official superior includes your immediate boss and anyone above your boss in the chain of command in the Department.
Gifts are permissible if:There is a personal relationship between you and the other employee that would justify the gift and there is no subordinate-official superior relationship.
The short answer is yes, but it's not what you think. Recognition and appreciation are the key, and a physical gift is just one possible form of recognition. Showing appreciation for your employees is critical, and there are many ways you can do this.
For co-workers, casual friends and your children's teachers, stay in the $10 to $20 range. Gift cards for close friends and family members can range from $25 to $100. When you're selecting a gift card for a spouse, parent or someone else who's very special, choose a card worth $75 or more.
For employee recognition and appreciation gifts, a budget of $10 to $50 is suitable, with ideas like personalized thank-you notes, company-branded merchandise, flowers, or small gift cards for local coffee shops or restaurants.
Generally, 1% of your yearly income is an acceptable maximum for Christmas gifts. According to Bankrate, for your partner, a budget of approximately $100 is acceptable, though this will depend on a range of factors such as your age and income. For individual family members, a budget of $50 is recommended.
Each person should ideally be giving the same amount to the coworker gifts unless otherwise specified. No one should be coerced into giving more or less. A good rule of thumb is that no one should give an amount more than their own hourly wage.
Many companies give gifts to their employees around the holidays and for special occasions like work anniversaries or exceptional achievements to show appreciation.
According to the Accountemps survey, HR managers recommend that employees should spend somewhere in the ballpark of $20 on gifts for bosses. That way, it won't come across like you're giving them a luxury item to score points, but you're still acknowledging them at holiday time.
As a general rule, the IRS considers employee holiday gifts “de minimis benefits,” as long as those gifts aren't too lavish. That means your employees don't have to pay federal income taxes on their gifts, and you can deduct the value of those gifts as non-wage business expenses on your federal taxes.
Sending a holiday card to your colleagues is a kind gesture that's sure to be appreciated. Exactly who you send one to is up to you. If you have a very small team that you work with, send a card to everyone.
A holiday bonus, whether a large check or a couple of extra days off, shows employees that you are thinking about them and consider them valuable to the company. Holiday bonuses can reduce burnout: Bonuses also ensure that employees are rewarded for their hard work, which decreases the possibility of employee burnout.
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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