Should You Give Your Coworkers Holiday Gifts? Experts Weigh In

Many bosses say that the office is like a family, but thinking about that metaphor too much can make workplace etiquette confusing. Especially around the holidays.

One difficult issue is workplace gift-giving. Should you give your peers gifts? What about your boss? Newsweek asked human resources and workplace etiquette experts. Here's what they had to say:

Should You Give Your Coworkers Holiday Gifts?

There is no obligation to give gifts to your coworkers. And in some workplaces, it might push the boundaries of your employee guidelines.

"Giving a gift to your co-workers is a nice thing to do, but I don't think you should feel guilty if you decide not to," Kim Colbert, Global Head of Employee Relations at Ceridian, told Newsweek. "It's important to remember that not everyone celebrates in the same way, or at all."

Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer at Checkr, pointed out to Newsweek that gifts are not supposed to be transactional. "You should never feel obligated to give a gift to coworkers or bosses—the entire point of gifting is that it's an unnecessary gesture of kindness."

"Most offices have guidelines on gift giving. If you are not familiar with these guidelines, now is the time to investigate," Jodi Smith, president and owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, told Newsweek. "The first place to check is the employee handbook. If there is nothing listed, ask a fellow employee what happened last year."

Should You Give Your Boss a Holiday Gift?

Gift-giving gets more complicated when a supervisor gets involved. Even if you're friendly with them, exchanging gifts with your boss can violate workplace norms that don't apply to peers.

"Some people will say that you can't give gifts to a boss because they're in a position of power, but that's not entirely true," Kaskel said. "Many of us develop real friendships with our managers, and it's okay to acknowledge that with a modest gift of appreciation."

You shouldn't feel any pressure to give your boss a gift this holiday season. "Over the decades that I've led teams, I've never expected my team to give me gifts or held it against anyone for not getting me a gift," Colbert said.

Typically, there's no obligation for supervisors and their staff to swap gifts during the holidays. However, Smith points to one case where the usual rules don't apply.

"The only exception to this rule is between a boss and their executive secretary," she said. "These are two individuals who have a special relationship as well as a symbiotic career path."

As a rule, however, you should only give your boss a gift if you can do it as a friend, and not as an employee.

How to Choose Office Christmas Gifts

Giving gifts to your coworkers is a good way to show your appreciation, but you want to be careful not to overstep workplace boundaries. To avoid violating unwritten norms, follow these recommendations from our experts:

• Stay within budget. Colbert reminds us that "it's the thought that counts." She says staying under $25 per coworker is a good rule of thumb.
• Consider non-traditional gifts. Kaskel says that sometimes a thoughtful holiday card is all you need. You can also donate to a charity in your coworker's name to show your appreciation.
• Think about optics. Colbert points out that if you're on a team with four people, and you get gifts for just three of them, it sends a message about who you value. Consider how your gifting choices will affect your professional reputation.
• Proceed with caution on gag gifts. They may be funny to you, but you don't know how your coworkers will react. Smith recommends saving these for social occasions. Even then, you should be respectful and thoughtful.
• Don't get too personal. "A gift card for lunch or for your coworker's favorite cookies is thoughtful," Colbert said. "But trying to guess their size to buy them a shirt could make some coworkers uncomfortable."

This year, many Americans are skipping Christmas gifts, so no one will hold it against you if you don't buy presents for your office.

However, if you do want to show your appreciation with a gift, shop for small, inexpensive items that everyone will love. Popular Christmas presents like gift cards and treats are great low budget choices.