Gift Guide: For Your Boss

Yesterday one of my friends texted me asking for ideas of a holiday present to get for a boss. Of course, the first thing I thought of was that scene from Christmas Vacation where Clark Griswold drops off the present and it is the exact same as all the other presents the boss is getting. It might seem silly, but there are a few staple presents to give a boss and he/she probably expects to get a couple of duplicates. A good rule of thumb for getting a present for a boss is to get a present that is maybe a step above a hostess gift. Personally, I think that a nice Harry and David box is the easiest way to go. The treats are going to be tasty and nicely packaged. You can also sort of make your own box by combining a bottle of wine and some cookies or nuts in a gift basket. This may seem impersonal, but unless you know your boss well, this is the easiest way to go. Oh, and don't worry, you can absolutely run out and get something on your lunch break today if you haven't already gotten a gift!

Before you get the gift though, run through a couple of questions in your mind so you don't end up giving them something they're going to not be able to use: Do they drink? If you're giving them a bottle of wine or a nice scotch and they don't drink, you just wasted a present. This is especially true if they don't drink on principle. Are they allergic to [insert item here]? If you give them nuts and they're allergic to nuts, it is going to look like you don't know them or even worse, they might have an allergic reaction. Call me crazy, but that might cause you to lose favor with your boss. 

Harry and David Snack Basket

Harry and David Sweet Treat Stack

If you want to get a bit more personal, either because you know your boss better or because you just don't want to buy a prepackaged kit, you can always bake cookies yourself. If you know your boss well, maybe a cute coffee mug and a gift card to their favorite lunch place could replace the gift basket. Again though, this is totally up to you. Remember that the gift is not actually a part of your job description, but it is polite to bring them something for all they do for you.

xx

erin