When it is coming up for Christmas and the end of the year holiday season, you as a manager or owner of a company may begin to be concerned about which gifts you can give to your staff.
This is an understandable concern, as giving gifts in the workplace can be very tricky, and you may be curious about what is the best thing to buy, if the gifts should be personalized for each person, and of course, how much you should spend.
Luckily, the rules around gift giving to your staff are a lot less complicated than you may be thinking! And in this article, there are some do’s and don’ts to follow to make gift giving easier for you and your team.
Keep it Professional
It sounds obvious, but you should always discuss with your other staff members what would be considered a professional gift. You should avoid gifting items such as jewelry or clothing, and you may also need to avoid items that may not be allowed in your workplace, such as alcohol. Luckily, there are many gift-giving companies online that can offer insight into professional gifts that don’t have to contain alcohol and one of the most popular ones is the Basketry. So, feel free to head over there for some ideas.
Be Inclusive
If you are aiming to gift all of your staff with the same present, such as a day out to play paintball, please be inclusive as such a gift may not be welcomed by staff members who may have disabilities or physical movement issues. So, with this kind of gift giving, always aim to consider everyone’s physical needs.
Check The Limit
If you work for a larger company, then it is likely that there is a limit on how much can be spent per gift on your staff. Aim to check this and stick to it and ensure that all of your staff receive a similar gift. If one person receives a gift that is more expensive than the others, that could send the wrong message.
Don’t Pressure Employees
You are the boss, and while it can be tempting to get your team involved in gift giving, do not pressure them to do so. Once again, this may send the wrong message and may make them feel underappreciated.
However, many companies do involve a Secret Santa workplace holiday tradition, and if you wish to start this with your employees, try to make it fun and once again set a limit on the prices and remind them that gifts that are given have to be professional.
Don’t Give Gifts At Odd Times
It’s worth noting that some companies don’t only give gifts to their staff over the holiday season. If your company aims to give presents all year round to its staff, try not to do so at unusual times. For instance, if you are looking to be promoted, do not give your superior a gift in the days leading up to the announcement, as this could be interpreted the wrong way!
