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Deck the Desks
Every workplace handles the holidays differently. My first employer out of college scheduled me to work on Christmas Eve. My current employer sets up a lighted tree in the lobby, and places a menorah in the breakroom. One thing both places do, however, is organize a Secret Santa operation.
It doesn't matter whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanakkuh, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, or Festivus. Buying a gift for a colleague can be stressful. You don't want to give the wrong message (like when Tom bought Pat a box of Crest Whitestrips). But you don't want to give a generic box set of hot cocoa, either. Here are some unique gift ideas for anyone - from Suzanne in Accounting to Mark in IT - all under $20.
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Music. It's been said that music is the universal language. Find out what types of music your colleague enjoys. If she loves Toby Keith and already has his entire collection, try using Pandora.com to select a new artist for her repertoire. Be responsible for broadening horizons! (Bonus: you won't have to listen to Toby all day anymore!) |
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Gadgets. I can't tell you how many times I heard Margaret complain during the summer months about her outrageous energy bills at home. She kept her AC running all the time because her apartment didn't have a screen door. Problem solved. I found an "instant screen door" at Things You Never Knew. Another fun find on this site…remember the infamous leg lamp from the movie A Christmas Story? It's here in miniature - a must-have nightlight for that sleaze-bag in Sales. |
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Office stuff. Not post-its or legal pads. You can swipe those from the supply closet. Pick up something novel for your officemate's desk. The intern got a Cubes action figure so he could play like he was the boss. Demotivators products go over well with the sarcastic. And you can never go wrong with a desktop zen garden or a dogs-playing-poker mousepad. |
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Inspiration. So maybe you've picked a friend out of the Secret Santa hat, and are searching for something a little more meaningful? How about a nice planner or calendar for the year ahead? Help your friend prioritize goals (inside and outside the office) and acknowledge their achievements. Go online to 43 Things and list your goals for the next year together. Take him/her to lunch. Your friendship is the best gift you can give. |
Hopefully this list can serve as my Secret Santa gift to you and pave the way to a stress-free winter at work. Happy Holidays! And best wishes for a Great '08. |
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