Tricky Holiday Gift-Giving Situations

By Deborah O’Connor

Business gift giving during the holidays can be a bit tricky, but if you follow some common sense guidelines you can make the process more of a pleasure than a pain.

• There are three groups to consider regarding business gifting: clients, employees and service providers. Build your gift list based on who helps make your company great, from the cleaning person, to the intern in your office, to your best client.
• Whenever you send a gift to someone at another company, check with the company by calling its HR department to find out if there are restrictions on receiving gifts, or limits on the value you can give.  For instance, it’s not uncommon in large corporations and government agencies for employees to be prohibited from accepting a gift over a certain dollar amount or to accept gifts at all.
• It is nice to customize your gifts choosing something specifically for each employee, but if you have many employees, consider giving the same gift to each.  This prevents hard feelings should employees start comparing notes, and one employee becomes aware of what another employee received.
• Be aware of any inferences your gift might suggest, especially if you are in the process of trying to get business from a client or prospect.
• Be sensitive to cultural differences. Be aware that certain religions do not accept holiday-related gifts, and that assuming someone celebrates Christmas as opposed to Hanukkah may create some tension, even if your intent was in the right place.
• Avoid giving a gift that is too expensive. Know what amounts are acceptable. Do your homework before buying gifts to make sure the recipient can receive it.
• Know the recipient’s preferences or habits. Err on the conservative side. The last thing you want your gift to do is make someone uncomfortable, so be certain it will be received gladly. If you aren’t sure if someone drinks alcohol, skip the bottle of whiskey.
• Is re-gifting a mistake? Everyone has an opinion on this subject and each person should make up their own mind. Personally, I am not a fan of re-gifting. It just seems a bit dishonest or under-handed. But if you do it, be sure there is no evidence that the gift is being reused. Also, be sure to keep track of who gave the gift originally. It would be embarrassing to give the same gift back.
• Try not to leave anyone out. If your clients know each other, they may talk about the gifts they got from you. The same advice goes especially for employees. Make a list ahead of time.  No matter how good your memory is it is easy to overlook one person in the holiday hustle and bustle and that person may end up with hurt feelings. At the very least, include all on your Christmas card list.
• Just how much should you spend for each employee?  Many employers don’t want to deal with hurt feelings that may come from giving different employees gifts of different value. They choose to spend the same amount on each. When your budget is low, bulk it up with creativity and a personal touch. It really doesn’t matter if you give a gift or a personal thank-you, just make your employees feel valued and worthwhile. That’s really what it’s all about.

Please feel free to send questions to Deborah at: www.successfulimage.biz.

She will answer them in her weekly column.

Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skills necessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contact at:  [email protected]        www.successfulimage.biz