Best Holiday Gifts for Your Boss and Coworkers

Company gift-giving is a fun and festive holiday tradition many businesses uphold as a way to come together as a team after another year and connect in a celebratory, personal way. Giving office gifts to your employees, coworkers, and boss is a great way to make the holiday season special and commemorate the year. These individuals are, after all, the people you likely spend most of your time with, so even if you don’t give expensive gifts, the gestures are meaningful in a way that speaks volumes. We’ve collected our favorite ideas on the best holiday gifts to give to your boss and coworkers.

Professional vs. Personal

When gifting to coworkers and bosses, you want to be sure you maintain the balance between personal and professional. Giving a gift that is too professional might come off as stark and meaningless. On the other hand, gifting something too personal could be inappropriate or suggestive. It’s always best to find something in between that is personal enough to make it feel special and professional enough to remind everyone that this is a business, after all.

For example, buying a coworker clothing might be too personal, but gifting them accessories—for example, a nice tie or silk scarf—would be personal while remaining professional. In certain instances, gifting something like an embroidered shirt can be appropriate while still being personal. On the other hand, giving someone a plain notebook can be a little impersonal. This great gift can be made more personal by choosing a high-quality leather-bound book, perhaps even with the coworker’s name embossed on it.

Not Too Cheap, Not Too Pricey

When buying holiday gifts for coworkers and your boss, you should be like Goldilocks: your gift be neither too inexpensive nor too pricey, but right in the middle. Buying a very expensive gift, especially for your boss, can send the wrong message. Expensive gifts can make the recipient feel uncomfortable, especially if it’s your boss, and an expensive gift could feel like you're trying to wiggle into their good graces. The difference between an over-the-top and appropriate gift for your boss would be to gift them some customized company golf balls if they play golf rather than the golf club itself.

Going too cheap can also give the wrong impression. For example, if you are giving a cheap bottle of wine as a gift, it’s probably not even worth giving it to them. The gift should feel familiar, but not too familiar, and could reflect a little of their hobbies outside of work, but not hit too close to home. Striking the balance between personal but professional and quality but not expensive is your key to finding the right gifts for coworkers and bosses alike.

Food and Beverage

Giving the gift of deliciousness is always a safe bet for bosses and coworkers. If the person drinks or like a certain kind of beverage, gifting that person a nice bottle of it for the holidays is a simple and meaningful way to acknowledge the holiday season. Similarly, if your coworker or boss is a big tea or coffee drinker, giving the gift of caffeine is always a good idea. Many different tea and coffee companies will even offer holiday-themed gift packages that offer a sampling of their top picks in teas and coffees. Who knows, maybe your work buddy will find a new favorite brew. Add an extra dimension to your gift by including a couple of pieces of nice glassware or some brand-inspired custom company coffee mugs for them to enjoy drinking their holiday gifts in.

Many high-end or luxury food halls or food stores also pack holiday-inspired gift baskets that include many of their top picks for gourmet snacks and desserts. Cookies, cheese, crackers, and chocolate are some of the delicious items you’ll find in these gift packages. Just be sure your coworker or boss doesn’t have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.

Making It Appropriately Personal

Seeing as you spend a lot of time with your coworkers and boss, you probably know a little bit about them. Making gifts appropriately personal is a great way to approach holiday gift-giving at work.

For example, if your coworker loves plants, perhaps gift them another plant to add to their desk or collection. If your boss loves his or her coffee, gift them a stainless-steel travel mug so their coffee can stay warm while on the go. If your coworker is into sustainability, perhaps a custom tote bag or embroidered bag for work that they can take to the grocery store later is the right gift for them. If your boss loves showing off pictures of their kids, then perhaps gift them one of those cool digital frames for their desk so they can see slideshow photos of their family all day. Another great idea is gifting a book that you enjoyed and think your boss or coworker would also love.

These gift examples are all simple and professional yet personal and meaningful. Say happy holidays to your boss and coworkers this year with the perfect gift that you know they’ll love.