While figures do not exist that track what we spend on gifts in the workplace, gift giving for business has been a form of doing business for centuries. It is a tradition. It is a holiday ritual like many others. And it is fraught with risks unlike any other. Not So Fast - In this age of political correctness, it may be prudent to check the rules about giving gifts on the job.
Many companies have a gift giving policy.
The US Postal Service, for example, cites strict regulation on their web site about gifts. The policy reads like a tax code. If the gift is intended for a boss, there is a laundry list of criteria it must meet. A gift can be given only during specific gift giving periods. Chances are that the postal service is not alone.