Giving gifts at work can be complicated. Check company policies and informal guidelines, avoid inappropriate gifts, include everyone, and consider alternatives like cards or donations. Some offices skip holiday gifts and offer special lunches instead.
Giving gifts at work can be a complicated procedure. As each office has its own culture and customs, a new employee may find it difficult to determine what the norm is. You might wonder whether you should give gifts during the holiday season, or whether baby showers and bridal showers are encouraged or frowned upon. There are several criteria to consider when giving gifts at work, including formal company policies and informal practices.
First of all, check your company’s policy on giving gifts at work. Many employee handbooks include guidelines on giving, which should definitely be followed. It’s also common for a company to have informal guidelines about gifts, even if they don’t have written rules about those policies. Ask someone who has been with the company longer than you have, or better yet, ask several people before giving gifts at work.
Regardless of official company policy, never give inappropriate gifts at work. Stay away from anything that could be construed as sexual or offensive, or even overly personal. If you give joke gifts, consult with another person to determine whether the gift will be accepted or considered offensive.
Giving gifts at work can be tricky if you work with a large group of people. It is extremely annoying for a colleague to discover that you have given gifts to some, but not all, of your co-workers. It’s usually better to avoid gifts than to leave one or two people out. Also, remember that not all of your colleagues celebrate the same holidays. Try to reduce the occasions for gift giving on religious holidays less, so as not to leave someone out or offend them in this way.
Many people feel that they spend a considerable amount of money on giving gifts at work and that some of the gifts will never be used. Instead, try to find cards that express good wishes, or make a donation on behalf of a co-worker. When making a donation, it’s best that you find out which cause or charity is important to your co-worker, as this consideration is often highly appreciated.
Now, some offices skip offering holiday gifts and instead offer employees a special lunch. However, bridal and baby showers are still held in the workplace, often in offices with a large number of female employees.
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