Is there any special event coming soon and you need to buy gifts for all your colleagues? Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve prepared a buying guide just for that!

Working in an office means that you’ll have to be very careful in your gift buying process because you don’t want to make any enemies among your colleagues. We’re just kidding, of course, but it’s essential to make sure that your presents are not offensive in any way.

Don’t worry! After we spent a certain amount of time on the Internet, we managed to figure out what will be the most inspired gifts for your fellow employees. However, if you are not satisfied with our suggestions, you can also find some pointers that will keep you on the safe path to finding the suitable items.

How to Look for the Right Office Gift

In the following paragraphs, you will see some guidelines that will help you get through the landmine that is the gift-giving which occurs from time to time in an office. While we don’t urge you to stick to what we say, you might find some pieces of advice that could prove useful.

·      Should Your Boss Be Included in This?

If you feel that you MUST offer your boss a gift as well, then you can relax because you certainly don’t have to. There are some people who say that you mustn’t do it at all. That’s because there is an unwritten rule in the office rulebook that states the following: “Thou shall not gift your boss!”. Well, not really but it is part of the office protocol that gifts are given from top to bottom and not vice-versa.

It shouldn’t be too hard to understand why that is if you have grasped by now the intricate workings of the management-employees relationship. If not, then allow us to explain. An employee shouldn’t ever feel like they have to purchase something for the person that decides their fate, work-wise. Also, someone in power shouldn’t take any type of benefit from their employees, other than their working quality.

·      Do Not Play Favorites

Giving presents is a nice gesture and a guarantee in keeping a favorable social status in your working environment. You might not always feel like you want to give one but as long as you spend several hours with someone, you have to do this kind of things in order to keep a nice atmosphere in a group.

Of course, you might not be extremely intimate with everyone in your workplace and only have a few people that are really your friends. However, playing favorites is of poor etiquette in a formal surrounding.

So, don’t give your friend an interesting book while your colleague from that distant cubicle receives a gift certificate to KFC. Look for appropriate gifts that satisfy everyone.

·      Thinking Outside the Box

You have to be careful as to not offer the same gift as others. If you are a part-time potter, use this skill for small gestures. Or if you like to sew, use this instead. It’s not necessary to spend big bucks to make someone happy. A handmade gift may sometimes be more appreciated than something bought from a shopping mall.

Still, if you don’t have enough time on your hands, as you might be busy with your family or friends, look for homemade items made by other people.

·      What Are the Usual Gifts?

While the term “usual” shouldn’t necessarily apply to gifts because the point would be to match them with someone’s personality, the Internet shows us a pattern in terms of giving presents.

We are talking about gift vouchers, food (sweets, in particular) and office-related items.

·      Don’t Overthink It

There are many people that fall prey to their thinking and they might get anxious. Not knowing what to get might lead to sleepless nights for some people as they do not want to give the wrong impression or embarrass themselves. This is fair enough. However, you mustn’t stress too much.

Usually, in this kind of environment, that old saying - “it’s the thought that counts” - is perfectly applicable. Something that is work-related is a sure-thing as a gift. Things that fit well on a desk are also welcome.

Things You Shouldn’t Give

We mentioned a thing or two about finding the right gift. Still, we also want to tell you about the worst possible gifts that you could get for your fellow employees. While we may have exaggerated a little bit when we said “the worst”, we still advise you not to offer these things as gifts in an office:

·      Money – it is often the easiest solution but that is exactly why you shouldn’t do it. Money is something you expect from your grandma, not your colleague. It shows how little thought you put into it and how little holiday spirit you possess. However, if you are adamant as to not drift too much from this, you could try offering gift cards.

·      Gag gifts are out of the question. Their time has passed when you graduated high school and really, nobody finds them funny. You don’t want to be considered obnoxious, do you?

·      Alcohol – usually, you can find it on the same list of other common office gifts. However, if you don’t want to risk offending someone, then you might want to avoid it entirely. If you don’t know everybody’s religion or if someone is on some type of recovery, then forget about it.

Also, try to respect the money limit. Even if your intentions are entirely pure and you want to show how much you care about your fellow employees, a money limit is there for a reason. That reason is to not make others feel bad or embarrassed.

Our Suggestions

If you are completely blank in terms of possible gifts, then take a look below as we have put together a list of things to consider.

·      Lumin Vector Night Driving Glasses

If you and your employees have to come to the office extremely early in the morning or you have to stay up late at night on a regular basis, then this item is an extremely considerate gift. Driving at nighttime can become difficult, especially for tired, hard-working people.

These glasses work by enhancing the contrast and they do a great job in eliminating the glare that results from cars, especially when driving on wet roads. For an increased level of clarity on the road, these glasses come with lenses that filter the extremely bright lights.

These glasses can be used even during daylight as they can work as sunglasses. They are capable of 100% absorbance of UVA and UVB rays and their anti-radiation technology allows your eyes to not become fatigued.

·      Prospek Anti Blue Light Computer Glasses

Another thoughtful gift that will be greatly appreciated by your colleagues is this item. These computer glasses will work great in keeping your co-workers fresh and they will thank you every day for preventing their eyes from getting tired.

Their technology allows for only 50% of the blue light to pass and, this way, your viewing levels will be kept to an optimal degree. Also, don’t worry about color distortions or too much yellow tinting because they are made of high-quality materials.

Moreover, the surface of the glasses is anti-scratch, anti-glare, anti-fog and fingerprint resistant. At the same time, is blocks UV rays.

·      Glacial Stress Relief Desktop Punching Ball/Bag Stress Buster

We all know that working in an office can become extremely stressful. You have lots and lots of tasks to complete and, sometimes, the results might not be satisfying. This might lead to feelings of frustrations and anger. If you have noticed these feelings among your co-workers, then this gift might be a great idea.

It is extremely durable, so it won’t break after a few punches and the fact that it bounces right back after you hit it will lead to many satisfying blows. Punching something is a sure way of calming your nerves so you can’t go wrong by choosing this product.

·      Lumbar Support Memory Foam Pillow

Spending too many hours sitting on a chair can be extremely bad for your back. So, if you want to relieve some of your co-workers back pain, then this kind of pillow could be a great option.

This item comes with an ergonomic design that offers a perfect lumbar support. It works by fitting the back and eliminating pressure points. Thus, by keeping a healthy posture, your colleagues will avoid getting a sore back after each day spent at the office and they will thank you for that.

·      Decodyne Squirrel Tea Infuser

There are few things that can calm your nerves better than a nice cup of tea. Because we know how stressed people can get during working hours, we recommend this item as a gift for your co-workers.

Being a nice addition to any desk, this tea infuser is shaped like a cute squirrel, guaranteeing a smile on everyone’s faces. It is capable of fitting any cup and it will sit along the rim as it allows for a perfect brew to happen.

Just fill it with tea leaves and place it on a cup. That’s all you have to do. Also, you don’t have to worry about it being toxic as it is made from completely safe materials.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we managed to come to your rescue in your quest of finding nice office gift ideas. Don’t forget to not overthink this process and just pay attention to what your co-workers might like.