Need Suggestions for a Gift for Boss

The only way I would get a gift for my boss is if it were a very small sample size of cookies or very small wind chime or some other small token that I knew they liked. Otherwise a card is all. At the same time, I would do the same for everyone else in the office so that it is not just a personal gift to the boss.

Get him a large tube of Shea butter hand creme from L'Occitane. It is the best hand creme in the world. Anyone would love it. My husband uses it for his dry hands in the winter. It is about $30. They package it up real nice.

I'm with Meagan. I was always taught that you didn't give gifts to your boss. They can give you gifts, but you don't give gifts to those above you.

If you want to say thank you, do so. Send a note or card. The only way I would give an actual gift is if you are aware of something of particular interest to him that you could obtain inexpensively. He has a favorite author, just as an example, and you were able to secure a signed copy of the latest book. Something like that. Nothing expensive.

Or, if you have a small enough circle at the office, and you wanted to bring in baked items to share with the staff, you would include him (even with dietary restrictions, he could take it home to his family, right?).

However, not knowing the nature of the business also leaves room for speculation as to if that would be acceptable. Some fields are more friendly to such familial fraternization than others.

A sincere Thank you note , hand written, is appropriate.

A heartfelt thank you note and nothing else. Gifts to your superiors are never a good idea.

A nice thank you card

Personally, I wouldn't buy your boss a gift. I've always been taught that it it looks bad not to mention unethical to buy gifts for your superiors. It can make you look like you are asking for favors or special attention if you do so. You always want to maintain a level of professionalism between yourself and your bosses. Buying them a gift is not appropriate.

If you want to do something, a handwritten thank you note would be fine, at the most.

Gifts for bosses are not appropriate, but a card with a handwritten note would be lovely.

Hmmm...I agree with a few other mamas...a gift may not be appropriate. Now if you had a friendship that you wanted to honour then I guess that is okay...but if you are asking what is appropriate, I am guessing you are not friends.

So you get paid to do a job. The best gift you can give your boss is to be the best employee ever. I remember when I was teaching I got a card from one of my students, it said:

Dear Mrs Hemmings,
I think you are a really great teacher. I know you are going to get all kinds of gifts this year and probably even a couple of "worlds' greatest teacher mugs". So I am going to skip that. Instead, here is my gift to you.
1. I will be on time for all my classes.
2. I will do my homework on time and with thought and attention.
3. I will help my classmates do better whenever I can.
4. I will be a great student so you have an easier time being a great teacher.

From,
Karianne,
Grade 10

Maybe that kind of card for your boss would be an appropriate gift...

B.

it's VERY dicey to buy a gift for a boss. the bonus wasn't a gift, it was earned through your hard work and good performance.
i'd thank him by continuing to be a valued and productive employee.
khairete
S.

Etiquette says you gift down at work, not up. So, for example, I get my staff members each a gift card. But I do not expect anything in return. Last year I did have one person get me a Starbucks gift card in return, and I thanked her and also tried to politely make it clear that is wasn't necessary. I'm hoping she didn't start a trend because it would make me uncomfortable.

Since you have only been there a short time, I would ask other employees what the tradition is there. Sometimes people will chip in a buy one group gift for the boss. I think that since he is the owner of the company it might be different than if your boss was middle management. If you look around his office, you might get hints on things that are important to him --like family, sports teams, hobbies, etc. Definitely a thank you note is in order. What about an attractive green plant for his office?

Generally speaking, gifts to the boss aren't a good idea. Other employees may then suddenly feel they too should be giving the boss a gift and you might be looked on as opening a can of worms and making the others feel pressed to do what you did. That's not your intention but at work you have to think about how others will perceive things, and yes, everyone in the office will know that you gave him a gift.

You mention that you only started working with this firm this past year. You may not be aware if they have a company culture of "no gifts to your superiors." I would err on the side of caution and give the boss a very nice thank you card with a handwritten and sincere note inside, talking about how you value and enjoy working with the company.

The absolute most I'd do for a boss would be something like someone else mentioned -- a photo you took at a company party or conference, with not just boss and you but other employees in it. Frame it (simply) and give to the boss. That's it. If you give gifts at work give the same to everyone. My former boss gave every employee a holiday ornament, all in the same style but each slightly different. I have done small food baskets for each person. Food is pretty much always the go-to because folks can eat it or not, give it to others who like it better, and if everyone gets the same it's fine, but since you say you cannot do food (not even a fruit basket you get for the entire office to share, and put out in a kitchen or common area?), do nothing for the boss alone. If you give a small LED flashlight, give one to everyone you work with day to day and include some fun message like "You brightened up my year at work" or something cheesy and friendly like that, but not just one for the boss.

The size of the bonus has nothing at all to do with a gift for the boss. I know you only mean to show appreciation, but would you do the same if there were no bonus at all? I figure you'd still send a great card and note-- right? Giving a gift after receiving a large bonus could be misinterpreted by coworkers. And I would absolutely avoid any gift cards or "useful" gifts. Stick to something very professional like a photo for his office IF you feel you must give something but overall I would say, no gift.

Over the years now that I think about it, I have only gotten gifts for my female bosses and that is because they have given gifts to the entire staff. I have always kept it simple based on their likes or interests.

My current boss enjoys iHop once a month so I got her a gift certificate to there. The dollar amount I spend is usually not over $30.00 for any 1 coworker or boss.

My husband is a boss and he has gotten toys for his desk. He enjoys games like chess, checkers, tic tac toe and brain games. He has a collection in his office so while he is on those conference calls he has something he can do. Another boss of mine enjoy golf so I got her some tees and balls.

Find out the culture at your job and what is permissable then keep your thanks simple.

I would really check the culture of your company before buying a gift for the boss. It can be misconstrued, by the boss or by other employees. If gift-giving is common, then you can go for something neutral and not personal at all. But I'd absolutely ask what is usually done by the other employees.

A bonus is not a "gift" - it's a business expense to reward hard working employees and to help them share in the company profits that they themselves helped to ensure. And of course, it's designed to encourage you to be even more productive next year. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing - most salaried and hourly employees would love to know that their work made money for the company and they are therefore getting a share of those profits.

A nice thank you note - professional but heartfelt, but not mushy - would be wonderful. You might consider a donation in his name to a charity in an area he supports. Be careful in your choices there, though, if you don't know his politics. So many charities are controversial because of what they support or who they don't service (think Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, etc. - some people love them, some despite them). So you don't want to chose something that your boss is completely opposed to. If you've been there less than a year, you aren't likely to know his personal feelings, so this can be a slippery slope and make things worse for you.

Is there a team or university he supports? Does he drink coffee? Does he read or listen to music? Gift cards are great for these types of gifts.

Before anything, I would ask what they do. You could just ask if the team you are on does anything as a group for Christmas. Where I have worked, we always got a group gift for the boss, and then if on a more friendly level, we could also give a personal gift. Gifts are usually pretty small--always have a female boss so we go with candle or lotion and gift card etc. If they say they do not do anything I would just get a card as already mentioned.

My usual Xmas gifts for teachers, bosses, etc is to take a nice picture, then make a 5x7 print and frame it. It's a small modest gift, but everyone seems to like getting a picture of themselves (maybe with co-workers or you in the picture too).

Get him a gift card. If he likes to read, go with Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If he has another hobby, find a store that caters to that.

I don't think I'd ever get my boss anything for Christmas. You could send his family a Christmas card and include a nice thank you note.

Tickets to a Christmas show or play??

A small bright LED flashlight.
It's perfect for every occasion.
Everyone has a use for them.
In the car, in a backpack or briefcase or purse or nightstand or garage or kitchen.
It's small, fairly cheap, extremely utilitarian, no allergies get in the way, no one can say you're kissing up to the boss - it's perfect.
I'm trying to think of a single instance where it wouldn't be appropriate.
Ok - maybe giving one to a blind person would be a bad/tactless thing to do.
But other than that - it's the all around perfect gift.

I have given my boss wine. I get a nice wine bottle bag and generally put it on his desk. I actually put his name and his wife's name.

I have given him tequila before as well. He is from Mexico and loves tequila.