Advise sought: appropriate to give a gift to boss...

[fluiddruid]

I've recently (i.e. last September) started working at a new company. I love it and my boss is a really cool guy. His birthday is coming up later this month and I'm wondering what everyone would think about giving him a gift.

I've never really given gifts individually to bosses - it's always been a "pitch in" type situation for a gift card or something - but as his only direct report, that obviously won't work this time.

I'd really like to acknowledge his birthday and show my appreciation for him. He's the best boss I've had, he is open with praise and is always helpful when I go to him for help (which is relatively often, given the type of position that I'm in). He always makes time for me even though he's busy, and is wonderfully even-tempered. We also talk a lot about non-business related stuff and I like him personally.

I just don't want to come across as kissing up or anything, as that's certainly not my intention. In the past, the only birthday gifts I've been given in a business setting were things like gift cards or flowers, and those were from my own managers. I really don't want to do a gift card because I find them kind of impersonal, and I think it's weird when it's just from one person and you know exactly what the person spent. However, flowers are definitely not appropriate from a female employee to a male boss. ;)

Anyhow, just wanted some feedback about how this would be taken around your office. I really would like to to the gift, but not sure what exactly to do. I'm just looking for something that shows appreciation, I think it would be inappropriate to spend too much. What would you do in this situation?

[twickster]

I think it would be nice.

Give him something for his office -- a nice picture frame (that he can put a picture of his SO or kids in), or a mug, or a nice desk toy -- something like that.

[delphica]

I know you mentioned that you are his only direct report, but if you've gotten to know anyone else at the company, could you ask some casual questions about what is generally done? That might help you figure out a general range. At my office, the rule is very much "token," say $20 or less, and a little higher if it's a milestone occasion. I still cringe when I remember a time that I completely misjudged the office gift environment and got a more expensive gift and how much it stood out.

Twickster is right about the office-related gift, this is often a good way to go because it keeps things solidly in the professional forum. If there's some particular snack he likes, you could do something like a mug filled with (like if this were my boss) Lifesavers candy -- even if it's a drugstore-type snack, it's recognizing something that you already know he really likes. Using my own boss for another example, he recently got into the whole iPod thing, so we did get him a gift card for iTunes -- I'm with you, I usually don't like gift cards, but they can work if it's something specific that he has an active interest in.

[corkboard]

Everything I've learned over the years of working in an office environment, from an entry level employee to being "the boss", is that you don't gift up. Gifts come from up to down. I think a card with a nice message in it about how you respect the guy is appropriate and all that's really appropriate.

YMMV.

[sugar and spice]

In this situation, I would probably bake cookies or a cake (to take home, not for candles) or something, but I also like to bake. Another idea is to take him out to lunch -- perhaps you could get a group together. Its something that makes the day a little more fun, but doesn't have the worries of an actual gift.

[Kalhoun]

I would go with an office-oriented something or lunch.

[Caffeine.addict]

We don't do gifting here, but my dad's organization used to. I remember one year, his secretary gave him a bottle of wine. Something like that might work.

[gigi]

A gift set out in a ommunal area (snacks, food) would make it less one-on-one personal but still mark the occasion. Ditto on finding out how things are done there. Overdoing it will feel quite uncomfortable.

[ASAKMOTSD]

Does he have a sense of humor? How about this (http://despair.com/pessimistsmug.html)?