Corporate Gift Programs

Watch out for these gift gaffes

Good manners may have been taught by your grandmother, but they are just as important in the boardroom as they were in her living room.

Giving gifts in the corporate world is fraught with do’s and don’ts. But if you do your homework and keep your focus on the interests of the recipient, you’re not likely to have your knuckles rapped by a ruler.

“A gift is about the person who is receiving it. It’s not about you,” says Amy Edwards, director of the Protocol School of North Carolina in Raleigh, which offers customized etiquette training for businesses.

The best gifts are those that are preceded with some research about the recipient’s preferences. One company Edwards worked with learned that a major client loved to play tennis. The gift was a custom-made tennis racquet.

The first step is to determine whether the gift recipient works for a company that has a policy about employees receiving gifts. It’s not unusual for companies to have a cap of as little as $25 for gifts accepted by employees. Others, because of their position or because of a governmental policy, may not be allowed to accept gifts at all.

When dealing with international companies, never make assumptions about religion and be careful that certain gifts can trigger superstitions or be considered insulting, says Duane Pitman, executive director of the N.C. School of Etiquette & Protocol in Greenville.

“If you are traveling overseas and do business in a particular country or region, you need to really study up on what’s proper,” says Pitman. “It can mean the difference between strengthening a relationship or bombing out.”

And there are many pitfalls. Never give a leather item to a person who is Hindu. People of Jewish or Muslim faith would be insulted by a gift of a country ham. For many people in Middle Eastern countries, presenting them with a gift in a black box signifies death. For some far-eastern countries, certain flowers are associated with death. Knives never send a good message.

Domestically, be careful that gifts are not construed as intimate. Often gifts that are very expensive can be viewed as too personal. Gifts of clothing can also be suggestive.

Edwards suggests always waiting until a business relationship is established before giving a gift. Presenting a token too soon may be perceived as a bribe to win business. A gift should honor a standing relationship — not serve as a way to strengthen a budding one, Edwards says.

But once a business relationship is solidified, Pitman and Edwards say there are many appropriate gifts if given in the right spirit to recipients. Suitable gifts include electronic gadgets, an atlas or a highway emergency kit for a business associate who travels. 

Flowers are always appropriate, and it’s OK for both women and men to send flowers to the same sex or opposite sex. But do be aware that some flowers may have different meanings. Red roses should be saved for romantic relationships. Food is always good, though you should be aware of food allergies.

Pitman warns against exchanging gifts in the office, opting instead for a restaurant or other off-site location. “Opening gifts and all the wrapping paper takes away from the professional atmosphere,” she says. “It can be distracting and there can be hurt feelings among other associates.”  

And she adds that it’s always preferable to give a gift in person rather than shipping it. If you order from a gift catalog, have the gift sent to you, she says, then deliver it in person with a handwritten note. 

If you are lucky enough to be the recipient of a gift from a business associate, remember the golden rule of good manners: Thank you notes are crucial and should be sent within 24 hours of receiving a gift, and no later than three days afterward. Thank you notes should always be handwritten, never printed by computer, faxed or emailed. — Laura Williams-Tracy

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