Guide to Corporate Gift Giving

When giving gifts at work, be very careful what you choose. Gifts reflect the taste of intention of the giver. So, how do you make sure your gifts do not unintentionally step on someone's toes or break a moral code?

Gift-Giving Basics
Before giving anything, look into the office gift-giving policies. Some companies enforce a "no gift" policy. Make sure you find out about any such policies in your workplace before you pick gifts out. Otherwise, gift-giving can be embarrassing for you and the recipient.

The Gift-giving Fs
Functionality and fairness are two F words to consider when giving gifts to staff. If you are a boss and you feel your staff's most recent performance deserves a gesture of appreciation, make sure the gifts you give are both functional and equitable. Do not give one employee one gift and all the other employees another. Unless an employee has done something worth singling out, it would be wise to give everyone the same gift. Thus, you should not give Peter from Marketing, for example, a pocket watch while everyone else received pocket watch chains.

What to Give When You're on a Budget
The following are affordable and useful gift items:

- Food trays or baskets for all employees to enjoy, such as different types of cookies
- Basket of teas or imported coffees, with or without mugs (depending on how many recipients)
- Basket of mixed crackers, cookies, hard candy and chocolate

What to Give When You're Not
When you can afford to splurge, do so. After all, occasions for gift-giving seldom arise in the office. If you are giving gifts as a reward for stellar performance or a stunning surge in sales, you may choose gifts that are as memorable as the deed or the occasion.

- Large, gourmet food baskets including cheeses, crackers and sweets

- Gourmet foods in a large, decorative container such as a sleigh at holiday time

- Basket of foods plus keepsake items such as mugs, decorative tins or holiday containers