What Should I Give My Co-Workers for the Holidays?

Whether you work in a small office or a large one, chances are good that there are at least a few co-workers that you want to (or need to) buy holiday gifts. Shopping for co-workers, many of whom you only interact with five days a week, eight hours a day, can be tricky. Here are a few tips designed to help you choose gifts that will be appreciated, while being acceptable for even those co-workers who you might only consider acquaintances.

Food and Drinks
Food and drinks are always good holiday gifts for acquaintances like co-workers, as they aren't too personal, but can be somewhat personalized. For example, if your co-worker is a coffee drinker, a selection of gourmet coffees or coffee flavoring syrups might be a nice choice. If you've noticed that one of your co-workers frequently hits the snack machines for candy, a nice tin of his or her favorites is always good. Shopping for food and drink related holiday gifts is made even easier by the fact that many larger stores carry pre-packaged gift sets around the holidays. You can simply browse the aisles for something that strikes you as a good match with the co-worker in question. One word of advice - if you are looking at the "drinks" portion of this suggestion, think non-alcoholic. While some companies may be more accepting of gifts of alcohol between co-workers, it's always a better idea to play it safe and steer clear of this potential dangerous area. Also, keep in mind the plethora of food allergies that people have today. If you simply aren't sure about someone's allergies, you may be safer choosing a different gift instead.