Gifts for your boss

The rules for giving up

Gifts to a boss carry more weight than gifts to anyone else at work. Keep the price modest, keep the subject impersonal and, if you can, give as a group. A team gift avoids any hint that you are buying favour and lets everyone spend a little while the boss gets something good.

Check the company policy first. Some workplaces cap gift values or ban gifts to managers. Many bosses also say they want nothing. In that case a charity gift such as the Plan Canada goat is the cleanest option: it respects the request and still marks the occasion.

Skip clothing, perfume, alcohol unless you know their habits well, and anything that comments on their health or looks.

Pick from their working day

The best gifts come from watching how your boss works. A boss who keeps a paper to-do list will use the Ugmonk kit, a Leuchtturm notebook or the Appointed planner. One who works from a laptop and a big monitor will use the Twelve South stand or the Satechi keyboard. One who leaves a half-full mug on every meeting table is the person for the Ember mug.

Coffee and chocolate are the safe fallback. Nearly everyone drinks one or eats the other, and they get used up rather than taking up space. Dandelion and Pump Street are good if your boss likes dark chocolate. Purdys hedgehogs suit a Canadian office. Single O and a KeepCup suit an Australian one.

If your boss travels a lot, the Anker adapter is a small gift that gets used on every trip. If they read long-form journalism, a Delayed Gratification subscription keeps arriving all year.

Budgets that make sense

From one person, stay under about $30. A pen, a notebook, a box of chocolate or a roll-on is enough, and anything bigger can feel awkward for both of you.

From a small team, $50 to $150 is normal. That covers the Ugmonk kit, a keyboard, the Ember mug, a coffee bundle or the Jakeman's basket. For a retirement or a departure, a larger group can go higher: the Fellow grinder, the Robert Welch mills or the Crumpler tote all suit a send-off.

Charity gifts work at any level. Pool the money, choose one gift, and put everyone's name on the card.

Timing, cards and delivery

Hand the gift over in a quiet moment or as a team, not in front of the whole office. A short card signed by everyone matters more than the price, so leave time to collect signatures.

Order early in November for Christmas. Dated planners like the Appointed one ship from mid-October and sell out. Food gifts from smaller shops can take a week or more. For a last-minute gift, a digital option such as Headspace or a RedBalloon card can arrive the same day.

If you work remotely, ship to the office or ask HR for an address rather than asking the boss directly. Include a gift receipt with anything sized or electronic.

Common mistakes

The biggest mistake is spending too much on your own. An expensive personal gift to a manager puts them in an awkward spot, and coworkers notice. If you want to give something bigger, turn it into a team gift.

The second is guessing at tech. A MacBook stand is useless to someone on a Windows laptop, and a full-size keyboard does not fit every desk. Look at their setup during a meeting before you buy anything that plugs in.

The third is strong scents and food restrictions. Peppermint oil, hazelnut chocolate and maple sweets are all fine for most people and wrong for some. If you do not know, choose a notebook, a pen or a charity gift, which suit almost everyone.

Questions people ask

Is it appropriate to give your boss a gift?

It is fine in most workplaces as long as the gift is modest and impersonal. Gifts usually flow down, not up, so a group gift from the team is the safest form. Check if your company has a policy on gift values. If your boss has asked for no presents, a charity gift in their name with a team card is a good compromise.

How much should you spend on a gift for your boss?

From one person, keep it under about $30: a good pen, a notebook or a box of chocolate. From a team, $50 to $150 is normal, which covers a desk organiser, a keyboard or a coffee bundle. For a retirement or farewell, a bigger group can spend more on something lasting like a grinder or a work bag.

What do you get a boss who has everything?

Something consumable or something that helps someone else. Single-origin chocolate, a coffee bundle or a magazine subscription gets used up rather than adding clutter. A charity gift, such as paying for a goat through Plan International Canada, suits a boss who would rather not get more things. A metal desk puzzle also works for someone who likes a quiet challenge.

What is a good group gift for a boss?

Pick one useful item the whole team can afford together. A maple basket, a heated travel mug, a mechanical keyboard or a work tote are all solid choices. For a boss leaving or retiring, a coffee grinder or a set of salt and pepper mills will last. Collect the money early and get everyone to sign one card.