If you've read any of my articles, you know that I'm a huge advocate of having fun at the office. Heck, I spend most of my nights on stage at the local comedy night so you can be darn sure that I want to be having fun during the days. And that usually means watching funny videos, reading twisted articles and playing pranks on my coworkers. And every single opportunity I get to buy a gag-type gift for someone, I do it. There's so much out there that I'm never running out of ideas.
But there's always a limit, especially when it comes to having fun. You must respect that not everyone has come from the same place you have and many of your fellow employees come to work with a different mindset than you. That doesn't mean they don't want to have fun. But there is always a line when it comes to the workplace. As much as I may want to cross that line in my personal life, I never do at work.
First off, you have to remember why you work in the first place. It's likely to pay your mortgage and buy groceries to eat. It's that simple. Those are pretty good reasons to keep your job. The other thing to remember is that you are with your coworkers every single day. If you upset someone, your work life can quickly become unpleasant. These are good reasons to make sure you don't cross that 'gift' line.
There are no real rules regarding inappropriate gifts. I've worked in offices that were remarkably liberal and not much would be deemed out of line. But the reality is that most offices have decorum to follow regardless of how fun the environment is. So let's look at certain gift ideas that you should avoid altogether.
First, avoid anything sexual. It's hard to determine what crosses the line and what people might find offensive. I remember a fellow coworker giving someone an inflatable doll. This doll, although sexual in nature, was much more humorous than graphic. Everyone laughed in our office and no one thought anything of it. The following morning, my coworker was called in to the manager's office and suspended without pay. Apparently someone didn't appreciate his gift and put in a complaint. This was a shock to many of us but my coworker had violated a harassment rule. The lesson here is simple, avoid these types of gifts. I don't care how innocent they are; it's not worth the risk.
Another inappropriate gift to avoid is alcohol. Many of you probably think that buying a bottle of wine for a coworker is perfectly acceptable. Most people drink wine, it's classy and everyone enjoys getting this as a gift. That's fine and I agree. But don't do it. For one thing, it's lazy and shows little creativity. It really doesn't take much effort to get to a liquor store. But the main reason is that it's alcohol. I remember a coworker receiving a bottle of wine from someone at the office. Everyone knew this guy had an enormous drinking problem. No one said anything but it was obvious that this was not a good gift idea.
My third suggestion to avoid is buying anything expensive. Receiving an expensive gift from someone at work can be awkward and confusing. Do you really want to get a gold watch from the guy that works beside you? The idea may sound good but many questions arise. Does this person have feelings for me? Did I spend enough on my gifts? If you insist on giving an expensive gift for a coworker, do it outside the office rather than in front of everyone.
There you have it. Stay away from the sex and booze and keep your money in your pocket. Gifts for coworkers should be plentiful and fun but they require a little bit of thought.
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