The awkwardness of handling office presents and gifts
Office employees are at the moment enjoying handing out and receiving gifts from their colleagues and bosses.
One of the most awkward moments regarding office interaction often relates to how well you receive a gift from an office colleague.
With Christmas less than 24 hours away, there is a fair chance that presents will be distributed throughout your office, whether as part of an office secret Santa initiative or from colleagues you have worked closely with.
Office presents are one of the few things that can give clear indicators as to how valued a colleague you are.
Hence why a lot of employees, while grateful for the gifts, will often psycho analyse the presents and to a certain extent, the giver of the present.
There is another issue, which mainly comes down to character. If you have put a lot of thought and effort into your gift, will you appreciate if it appears the person who has bought your present has put little or no effort into it?
Some employees will brush off the thought that there is a deeper significance relating to the office present giving. There are others who adopt the opposite point of view.
For some, the present represents a social hierarchy etiquette, a subtle way to find out where you figure in relation to other colleagues. They may also give you an indication of what your boss thinks of you.
For others the office present represents not politicking or currying favour but the extent in which you can express your feelings for an office colleague and the chance to find out if these feelings are reciprocated.
As with many things in the office, presents are never solely about giving and receiving gifts, there is a whole different layer to them.