Survey Reveals Unusual Gifts Exchanged on the Job

The national study was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service providing creative, advertising, marketing and web professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. It is based on 250 telephone interviews -- 125 with advertising executives randomly selected from the nation's 2,000 largest advertising agencies and 125 with senior marketing executives randomly selected from the nation's 2,000 largest companies.

Advertising and marketing executives also were asked, "During the holiday season, which of the following types of gifts, if any, are typically given in your office?" Their responses*:

    Total citing any of the gifts below .................. 79%
    Gifts from managers to staff members ................. 51%
    Gifts from staff members to each other ............... 51%
    Gifts to coworkers based on names dropped in a hat ... 43%
    Gifts from staff to their managers ................... 39%
    None/no gifts are given .............................. 19%

    *  Multiple responses permitted.

"Given the current economy, office gift giving may be toned down this year, but there still will be those who want to spread holiday cheer by giving colleagues tokens of appreciation," said Megan Slabinski, executive director of The Creative Group. "Although presents don't have to be expensive, they do need to be thoughtful and appropriate to the work environment. A gift that works in one setting may not be well received in another."

    Following are some questionable gifts cited by survey respondents:
    --  "Someone gave a coworker a voodoo doll of the boss. The boss found out
        and wasn't very happy about it."
    --  "One employee liked to give out portraits of himself. I'm glad I never
        received one."
    --  "A wrapped six-pack of beer. There was no time spent on selection or
        thought."
    --  "I received the ugliest lamp. I packed it away and never looked at it
        again."


    By contrast, these next presents showed considerable thought:
    --  "My favorite and most memorable gift was a membership to a local art
        gallery."
    --  "Someone gave his coworker a ride on a parade float with Santa."
    --  "We got Ohio State football helmets because we are all Ohio State
        football fans."
    --  "Each employee received a bobblehead that was a replica of him- or
        herself."
    --  "An employee made a photo collage of an art director's children."
    --  "Someone received a customized Disney toy."
    --  "My staff gave me 2 pounds of stone crab last year. They were
        delicious!"

Although some thought might have gone into these offerings, it's hard to say what that thought was:

    --  "Someone gave his assistant a case of tuna. It was really strange."
    --  "A colleague gave me orange hair extensions. I wasn't sure what they
        were for."
    --  "My staff gave me an industrial-size can of chicken loaf. I never ate
        it."
    --  "A person gave a colleague a fully stocked 125-pound aquarium."
    --  "One person received a plastic pizza with a face on it. She thought it
        was frightening."
    --  "Someone gave an employee a box of meat."

Then there were those whose gifts may not have been heartfelt but did get a laugh:

    --  "Someone gave a coworker The Clapper -- that device that turns things
        on when you clap.  Everyone got a kick out of it."
    --  "I got a punching bag that emits curses when you hit it.  I enjoyed
        the gift."
    --  "One year someone gave a coworker who was always getting speeding
        tickets a radar detector. The whole office found it funny."

    And, finally, there were gifts that keep on giving:
    --  "We gave a certificate to a charity in the person's name."
    --  "We elect, as a staff, to distribute gifts to families that are
        needy."

Slabinski noted that donating to a charity during the holiday season is a nice way to give back to the community. "This year, especially, many nonprofits could use the help, whether it's a gift in an individual's name to a cause he or she believes in, or a group outing to provide assistance to those in need," she said.

About The Creative Group

The Creative Group specializes in placing a range of highly skilled creative, advertising, marketing and web professionals with a variety of firms on a project and full-time basis. The Creative Group's internal account managers typically have prior experience working within the creative industry, which helps them better understand their clients' needs and their freelancers' unique talents. Headquartered inMenlo Park, Calif., the firm has offices in major markets acrossthe United States and inCanada. More information, including online job-hunting services, candidate portfolios and The Creative Group's award-winning career magazine, can be found at http://www.creativegroup.com.

SOURCE The Creative Group

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