It’s that time of year again! It’s a few days before the holidays and like clock work, folks are still scrambling for the perfect gift. One area of gifting I find interesting, is gifting in the office place. While it’s perfectly fine to exchange gifts with your peers, is it really proper etiquette to give your boss a holiday gift? Is it really necessary to net down your hard-earned money by buying a holiday gift for your boss? I’ve always been taught to buy up, not down. Meaning, if in a leadership role, the expectation of exchanging gifts fall on your boss not the employee. This topic came up the other day when a friend asked – “Do I think it’s was weird, if they gave their boss a holiday gift.” Without skipping a beat, I immediately said yes!

The topic intrigued me so, that I begin asking random people their opinion on the subject. Almost everyone I spoke with gave me the same response. It really depends on the relationship! Personally, I think a handwritten card is appropriate. I believe it to be a positive gesture without anyone getting the wrong idea like potential favoritism. So this holiday season I urge you not to stress yourself out, your totally not obligated to exchange gifts with your boss. A true leader isn’t expecting a gift from you, and would never punish you for not giving them a gift. Let the gifts flow downward, not upward.

Tis the season!