CHRISTMAS might be a time for giving, but many of us will be dreading our office’s Secret Santa.
If you aren’t sure what to buy your boss and want to avoid a HR warning, here are six surprising gifts you can leave at the checkout.
Though Secret Santa is meant to be a bit of light-hearted fun, it can often be a nightmare knowing what to buy your colleagues – especially if you have a tight budget.
It’s seems the annual tradition will turn even the most festive person into a Grinch, with 31 per cent of workers admitting they want to opt out of exchanging gifts – according to Business Leader.
Despite this, Brits spend a staggering £32,400,000 on Secret Santa with most presents being donated or binned after the event.
While buying something for a colleague you never speak to can be difficult, there are gifts you should avoid says journalist David Rice.
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For instance, alcohol might be at the top of many people’s wish lists but even this standard gift could offend your colleagues as the HR expert from People Managing People explained.
“If you plan to give someone alcohol as a gift, consider whether it could cause offence to the recipient if it goes against the practices of their faith,” he advised.
This wasn’t the only Secret Santa go-to that was on the expert’s list though, with the Christmas jumper being another gift you can leave on the shop floor.
In fact, he says it’s best to avoid clothing all together as getting the wrong size may put a strain on your working relationship.
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“Whilst you can of course share a gift receipt, you can’t foresee how some people may react if you get it drastically wrong,” he said.
Even if you are close to your colleague, it’s still best to avoid gift that involves an in-joke as they could potentially breach your company’s HR policy.
While your work bestie might not be offended, any present that could be viewed as bullying or harassment has the potential to land you in hot water.
Political gifts, such as mugs with slogans on, are also a no-go - especially in the modern workplace were things can easy end up on social media.
“Even if it’s part of an inside joke, as soon as any image is shared on social media that can then be linked back to the company, anyone can assume the company also favours this political stance,” the HR expert told press.
Business owners will also be understandably cautious of any gifts with sexual connotations.
“As a rule of thumb, ask yourself if it’s something you’d feel comfortable giving to your grandma for Christmas. If the answer is no, then it’s probably best to avoid gifting it,” David joked.
Though most of us would never dream of giving a risqué gift, he later revealed there had been sexual misconduct grievance raised over one gag gift.
He said: “One female employee gifted a male colleague a Borat thong and it was then suggested that he should wear it.”
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For those that are still unsure what to get, it is always best to check your HR policy first and rely on basic presents – such as a new office mug.
Thankfully, you still have time to get a new present – even if you’ve messed up.
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