Gift-giving is a part of many, if not most, cultures across the globe. In personal relations, it’s a great way of showing appreciation to another person. But what about the workplace environment?
While it’s perfectly okay to give a colleague a thank-you note or a small token of appreciation, is it okay to give your boss a gift? The answer to this question is a bit complicated and will depend on factors such as the hierarchical/top-down or more horizontal and flat reporting structures.
Although in most cases, giving your boss a gift is not expected, you and your colleagues may wish to put a gift together for them to show thanks or express congratulations. So, what types of personalized gifts for your boss should you consider? Find out below.
When is it appropriate to give gifts to your boss?
Appreciation gifts for your boss will go a long way to showing that you and your team appreciate them and their leadership. However, not all occasions are suitable for this purpose.
Some of the most appropriate holidays (whether national or international) and important personal and professional milestones include the following:
- National Boss’ Day
- Their birthday
- Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa
- New Year’s Day
- Holidays such as the 4th of July or Halloween
- Your boss’ retirement
- Office milestones
- The birth of a child
- A wedding
- A promotion
One caveat here though is to always ensure with your Human Resources department that the gift you’d like to present your boss with is suitable and permitted in terms of company policy.
In addition to this, if you want to avoid any awkward situations, then it’s best to give your boss a gift as a collective or team effort as opposed to doing it as a solo initiative.
The latter can seem like groveling for favors or flattery – and that’s not going to win you any friends at the office.
Which presents are better avoided?
With that being said, you’re now ready to buy your boss a gift. But are there any taboo items which are not suitable? The answer is a resounding “yes”. When it comes to bad gifts ideas for your boss, you should avoid the following:
- Cash (because it may be construed as a bribe)
- Handmade gifts that you made yourself (except food in some cases)
- Gifts that may embarrass your boss (and potentially you)
- Lavish gifts (your boss knows how much you earn)
- Personal items such as colognes and perfumes
- Apparel and undergarments are typically avoided
- Sometimes flowers can be perceived as overly personal.
4 Chocolate gift ideas for your boss that will impress your boss
Given the above list of items which are a no-no, one of the safest options, if you want to get your boss a gift with your co-workers, is a personalized chocolate gift.
So, where do you start? Don’t worry! At Totally Chocolate, we’ve got you covered. Below we present four options that may be ideal for your boss.
1. Chocolate towers
Chocolate towers are just what the name suggests: towers of absolutely divine chocolate. Because chocolate is a much-loved treat, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that your boss will love it. And our chocolate towers deliver!
They contain a range of treats and chocolates and they also come in a variety of flavors. This means that even if you don’t know your boss’ favorite chocolate flavor, the variety of dark and milk chocolate is going to delight them. You simply can’t go wrong with a chocolate tower.
2. Chocolate bars
Our chocolate bars are not what one would expect or imagine. If you’re thinking of a standard-sized chocolate bar that you get off the shelf at the store, think again.
When imagining our chocolate bars, you’ve got to think big! In fact, our bars come in 1 lb and 2 lb sizes and they’re also available in milk and dark chocolate flavors.
3. Chocolate ensembles
The chocolate ensembles also make for a rich and thoughtful gift. Why? Because they’re like a box of chocolates but one which offers so much more.
With an assortment of flavors and different sizes (both a medium-sized chocolate bar and smaller chocolates around it), this is truly the gift that will be appreciated.
4. Luxury tasting boxes
Our last recommendation is to give your boss a fully custom luxury tasting box. Yes, this is perfect for any special occasion and you won’t be crossing any professional lines.
Our luxury boxes are sophisticated and, well, luxurious to say the least. Your boss is highly likely going to indulge in the variety of treats they offer!
And that’s a wrap
Of course, you can always take your ideal boss’ gift of chocolates a step further and personalize it. Giving a customized gift is much more thoughtful than the run-of-the-mill presents that are the equivalent of an impersonal gift card. So, how do you customize your chocolate gift for your boss? It’s simple! Ask us to engrave it with a special message. It’s going to be remembered for years to come and you and your team will be glad you did so.
