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Boss lady, big guy, head honcho, supervisor, manager, sensei, or master. Doesn’t matter what you call them, there’s a holiday for them. And it’s tomorrow. Luckily overnight shipping and a few clicks and your career will continue its glorious upward trajectory. Sure, Boss’s Day may be an invention by bosses for bosses, but being shown up by the lame-o three cubes up is never worth it. Luckily expert help (yes, there are experts in these things) is coming at you via SFist.
Hillary Mendelsohn is a gift-giving expert for Office Depot (hmmm.. how exactly do we get THAT job?) and the founder and president of thepurplebook: The Definitive Guide to Exceptional Online Shopping. So basically she gets paid cash monies to shop and tell about shopping. WE know, not nice to let you know on a Monday that such an awesome job even exists. But hey, Hilary is on your side. Read on for her tips for a guide to a happy Boss’s day for everyone.
Do you have to celebrate Boss's Day?
Boss’ Day provides a great way for you to show your appreciation. While a gift probably will not help in getting that promotion you’re up for, it is a personal reflection of you – so make it a good one. You do not need to spend a lot to make an impact.
How should one go about hinting that maybe “Worker's Day” (or “Underling’s Day”) should also be celebrated?
We all work hard and want to be appreciated. I recommend setting the example and the tone. If you appreciate someone else, then let them know. Giving a gift for National Boss’ Day is a thoughtful gesture to express your thanks and recognize your boss for all of the support and leadership. The right gift could also help you to stand out. So, giving a gift would only help you in the future.
What's the history of Boss's day?
National Boss' Day was created on October 16, 1958 as a way for employees to officially acknowledge and honor the hard work of their bosses and superiors nationwide.
What would be a good gift for a San Francisco Boss?
Before thinking about gift ideas set a realistic budget of no more than $20 if you are giving a gift on your own. For a department gift, have everyone contribute money for one present costing $75-$100. Then, really take time and think about the hobbies and interests of your boss. Don’t be afraid to express your creativity and have fun with gift giving.
Now for the San Francisco boss, I recommend that you tap into the city’s high-tech orientation by finding gifts that can be used on a daily basis. For under $10, you could purchase an Ativa Memory Card USB Drive that allows your manager to be environmentally friendly, reduce the amount of paper files and turn unused memory cards into USB drives that can quickly transfer data, photos or other files between computers.
Gifts along these lines can show your appreciation, provide humor and demonstrate your creative side while allowing you to maintain your budget. Let your imagination run free with creative ideas. For instance, one year, I gave my boss a silver mesh pencil cup filled with Life Savers with a handwritten note that said, “Thank you for being my personal life saver.” You could also pull together a “doodle kit” comprised of a nice journal and an assortment of colored pens for the boss who always sketches on his or her notes.
Many people tell me that it can be difficult to buy gifts for a boss of the opposite gender. Here’s what I would recommend:
• If your boss is a woman, style and color count. Gifts like stylish pens, colorful desk accessories or a great-looking tote are always good choices.
• For a male manager, it’s safe to stick with neutral colors. If you have a boss or manager who travels often for business, look for a gift that fits this lifestyle such as a Foray Leather Passport Holder or Leather Luggage Tag. Or, you can’t go wrong with the latest gadget. Any boss would enjoy a unique present like a digital photo frame from the team. Especially if they take the extra time to pre-load it with some fun photos of everyone.
Anything that should MOST definitely be avoided?
Balancing the fine line between choosing a present that your boss will like and one that is appropriate for the office can be a challenge.
The best advice I can offer to avoid an inappropriate gift is to give something that your boss would use in their daily work routine. I recommend strolling through the aisles of an office supply store like Office Depot thinking about what might suit your boss or might build off of a running joke in the office everyone shares. For example, if your boss is hard to reach, think about giving them an Ativa Bluetooth headset along with a funny card about never being out of touch.
The bottom line is to stick with safe gifts that can’t be interpreted as inappropriate or out of line.
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Ummmm.... is this the wrong thread for me to address executive overcompensation?
Was this a paid ad or a post?
National Bosses Day? WTF?
Anything that should MOST definitely be avoided?
A flaming bag of dog shit.
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In that case. No gift for my boss this Boss Day.
What you say? Only 2 more weeks until Barista Day? ...I'm on it.
You interviewed a professional shopper. Is this Jane magazine in disguise?
I have a totally awesome boss, but there is absolutely no way I'm going to celebrate this bullshit holiday.
How about a nice little plush toy? I'm partial to the ulcer, staph and typhoid fever ones.
Here's an idea. Nobody needs to give anyone any perfunctory "you're appreciated" gifts in a business context. It's one-sided unless everyone gets one and if everyone gets one then it's ultimately pointless and we're all better off just keeping the money that we'd spend on gifts and that someone else would then spend on a counter-gift. The only people benefited by this crap are people who sell the damn gifts.
It's work. You're doing it because they pay you to show up. Let's not try to act like it's grade school all over again.
A new gadget is NuPocket. Only $20 for a cell phone holder with a hidden wallet. When you said Passport holder, I hoped you could imagine this.
This is a wallet that folds over the waistband to carry your cell phone or passport, cash, coins and credit cards. A waterproof nylon wallet that grabs the cell phone to carry it under your hand, on your waist. Patent-pending 2007. I was substitute teaching and I had to have everything very very secure and organized. This is our first year. Everyone raves about how different it is. The McDonald's lady said her daughter borrowed hers and won't give it back. The deaf say it vibrates against their waist. The realtors are using it to carry their entry devices and paperwork in one holder. It is faster than a pocket. Women lose their purses because they don't have a pocket. Now here is a great pocket.
Go for it!