11 Tips For Gift Giving At Work 

1. Have a price limit for each gift and stick with it; gifting one co-worker with a less costly item as compared to another will be noticed.

2. Avoid giving things that would be considered too personal, such as perfume, clothing, or jewelry. A plant, food items, gift cards or an office-type item are all good choices.

3. Choose a gift based on the recipient's interests and likes. This is not the time to clean out your hall closet.

4. If your office likes to organize a gift exchange, such as a Secret Santa or Steal-A-Gift game, make it opt-in via sign-up sheet rather than an opt-out affair. People choose not to participate for various reasons, all of which are personal and of no concern to anyone else. Help make it less awkward for them.

• Consider setting a low dollar amount so that all who wish to participate may do so.  
• At the same time, consider participating, even if it's not your usual style. It's a good way to bolster camaraderie among your co-workers and show you are part of the team.  

5. Silly or gag gifts are appropriate only when directly specified, such as for a white elephant gift exchange. Not everyone will share your sense of humor.

6. If you are exchanging gifts with a co-worker with whom you have developed a closer friendship, be discreet and avoid doing so in front of others; if possible, do so outside of the office.

7. Never feel pressured into spending beyond your budget; it is perfectly acceptable to say that you will be taking the year off.

8. A plate of cookies, a box of treats or home-made items made available for everyone to enjoy is always a good choice.

9. Gifts from the boss are fine, but employees are not expected to give gifts to the boss (it can appear to be currying favor). The exception might be if a gift is presented from a group, or if the employee has developed a closer friendship with the boss.

10. Do keep in mind that collecting donations for a group gift for the boss can make things awkward for your co-workers. There are those people who resent being asked to give a gift to someone who (presumably) makes more money than they do, as well as those who are concerned that not participating in a group gift could affect their job, even though participation is beyond their budget.

11. What do you do when it comes to giving a gift to those who observe holidays other than Christmas? You do the same as you normally would. There is beautiful, seasonal wrapping paper (no Santas, reindeer or elves), and in the card you may wish the person a Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays, or a Peaceful New Year. Your wish is for that person, and so it should reflect their beliefs, not yours.