Everyone has received at least one gift in his or her life that defies explanation or reason. You can force a grin for grandma when she gives you a bad gift, but it’s not as easy to shrug off an unfortunate or offensive gift from a coworker or boss.
Even worse, you don’t want to be the person giving that unwanted or inappropriate gift, especially because it can land you in some serious hot water at the office.
Many professionals will be exchanging gifts with their colleagues in the coming weeks, and while some of these gifts will be well received, others may create an awkward situation for the recipient.
A recent Accountemps survey provides examples of actual inappropriate gifts exchanged; some of the more colorful ones include:
- A large order of frozen pork;
- An employee who gave a re-gifted gift that the manager had given the year before;
- A wig;
- A $700 gift card; and
- A department head who gave employees a framed picture of himself.
According to the survey, the majority of human resources (HR) managers said it is acceptable for employees and managers to exchange presents in the office. Sixty-three percent of respondents noted it’s appropriate for supervisors to give their staff a holiday gift, and 58% said it’s appropriate for workers to give their boss a gift.
However, Jim Jeffers, metro market manager of Robert Half in Madison, cautions gifting can be a sensitive issue and is a personal decision based on individual professional relationships. If giving a holiday gift, he says, make sure it’s appropriate for the office.
“There’s no need to spend a lot of money,” notes Jeffers. “More than the dollar amount, the thoughtfulness behind the gift is what counts. Personalized gifts that show thought are often better appreciated by colleagues.”
In fact, HR managers surveyed by Accountemps say employees should spend an average of just $20 on their boss, and $24 is a suitable amount for supervisors to spend on staff.
“It’s important to show good judgment when giving gifts,” notes Jeffers. “If anything seems like it might be too extravagant or personal, it’s best to avoid it. The best holiday gifts have some meaning behind them and are memorable. Think about the recipients’ interests when choosing a gift, and focus on items that are G-rated.”
Jennifer Mirus, a partner in the employment law group for Boardman and Clark in Madison, agrees.
“There should be no pressure to give or receive holiday gifts,” Mirus says. “First, our employees come from different places and religious backgrounds, and creating an atmosphere where employees feel compelled to partake in holiday gift giving can create the underpinnings of a hostile work environment. Second, we cannot know each employee’s personal financial situation, and thus any environment where there is pressure to give gifts could build morale problems and resentment.”
As to appropriate gifts, Mirus advises to keep it professional. “Think twice about whether alcohol is appropriate, and certainly steer clear of anything too personal, vulgar, or otherwise in bad taste that could be viewed as harassment. You’d be surprised how many employment-related lawsuits include the ‘joke gift’ that went too far.”
(Continued)
Foregoing the faux pas
So, you’ve gotten the message loud and clear — don’t give bad gifts. But what happens if you’re on the receiving end of an inappropriate office gift this holiday season?
If you receive an inappropriate gift that you would like to decline, Jeffers says, thank the giver for the sentiment, decline it in private, and explain your reasoning. For example, if you receive a gift that violates business policy because of the generous nature of the gift, politely thank the giver, return it, and explain your business guidelines.
“If the gift is inappropriate for other reasons, it’s acceptable to politely tell the giver that gift cannot be accepted with an explanation,” notes Jeffers.
Conversely, if you have given a gift that’s seems to have gotten a negative reaction, simply talk to your coworker or boss about the gift and why you chose it. Being honest and up front may clear up any confusion about the gift — and may help all involved laugh about it in the end, according to Jeffers. The goal is for them to realize your heart was in the right place.
Managers also have a responsibility to set guidelines on holiday gift exchange programs in the office. Before the exchange, managers should set a limit on the amount employees should be spending and mention any items that should be off-limits.
Jeffers adds if an employee approaches you privately about an inappropriate gift received by a colleague, it’s best to contact your company’s human resources department.
Gifting gone … great!
Holiday gift ideas change from year to year, but Jeffers offers some examples of good holiday gifts for this year:
- Technology accessories for the tech enthusiast, such as portable speakers or smartphone camera lenses.
- Office accessories such as business card holders, paperweights, coffee mugs, or stationary can be both practical and thoughtful.
- Other office-appropriate holiday gifts include books, gourmet or holiday-themed edibles, a gift card to a coffee house or movie theater, or classic board games.
Finally, “one idea is instead of giving gifts to one another, run a ‘donation blitz’ where you take anonymous employee donations over a four-hour period, with all donations going to charity,” says Mirus.
Click here to sign up for the free IB ezine – your twice-weekly resource for local business news, analysis, voices, and the names you need to know. If you are not already a subscriber to In Business magazine, be sure to sign up for our monthly print edition here.
