If the present you got your boss was work-related or otherwise not tied to any major event (maybe you just felt generous?) then suddenly you’re in a weird situation. In that case, maybe keep it in your bag and hand it in at the end of the day, or get to work early and present it to them before anyone else arrives.Ī random gift. In this case, you should have no problem walking into your boss’s office to give them their gift at any point in the day - unless you’re the only one in the office who remembered or cared. Here are some examples for different occasions:Ī birthday. You don’t want to make your boss or coworkers uncomfortable with how you give the gift, so make sure you put some thought into how you’re going to present it. This is almost as important as the gift you choose. Just make sure you aren’t the only one in the office not giving your boss a gift. This will convey the message you’re trying to send with your gift without the presence of a bad gift. If you can’t give a good gift, consider just writing them a card. It’ll make it easier on your wallet, it’ll look less weird to give your boss such an expensive gift, and it’ll make everyone else in the office look good too. If you want to get your boss a big expensive gift, even if you can afford it yourself, consider going in on it as a group with a few other employees. Don’t give your boss a Chili’s gift card, for example, unless you know that Chili’s is their favorite restaurant of all time. Gift cards can be good, but it depends on the kind of gift card - after all, gifts are supposed to be personal. If you know your boss plays sports, a new golf club or a team jersey is a great gift. Getting a $20 gift while you’re bringing home $200k a year will make you look like a jerk.Īt the same time, no one expects someone who’s making $25k a year to pitch in more than $10 or so bucks for a group gift or spend more than $20 or so on a personal one.īe personal, but professional. With all gifts, keep in mind how much money you make and how public that knowledge is. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding what kind of gift to get your boss, and how much you should spend: On the other hand, if it’s a “just because” gift, you should probably keep it low-key so it doesn’t look like you’re trying to earn favor with your boss. Why are you buying the gift in the first place? This can have a big impact on the type of gift you give them.įor example, if the gift is for an office Christmas gift exchange, there are probably some set expectations to follow for the price or type of gift so that it’s similar to what everyone else is giving. The occasion is the most important thing here. Whether it’s due to their sense of principle or feelings of anxiety, find out ahead of time whether your boss is the kind of person who likes getting gifts before you grab one for them. Does your boss even like presents? Some people aren’t huge fans of receiving gifts, and sometimes they can be militantly against them. Especially if you’re not getting a gift for anyone else in the office. If you think that giving a gift would get a strange or unpleasant reaction due to your existing relationship with your boss, avoid it. What’s your relationship with your boss like? There are a lot of power dynamics at play sometimes when it comes to gift-giving. What is your company policy on gift-giving? It can be easy enough to overlook, but if your company has an official policy prohibiting or limiting gift-giving for any reason, you definitely want to avoid doing so. Here are some things to consider before buying a present for your boss:Ĭompany policy. The fact of the matter is that every boss is different, and you should be very aware of your relationship with your own boss - as well as their personality - before you put yourself in the position of buying a present for them.

Show More What to consider before selecting a giftīefore selecting a gift for your boss, consider company policy, your boss’s personality, and the occasion.

Christmas gifts for your boss