Gift
Ideas for Secretaries Week
April 27th
Secretaries Day came into existence in the early 60's when card companies
decided there needed to be a another gift and flower holiday. They were
correct in recognizing a very important group of individual who are often
over worked and under appreciated.
Administration Assistants, Assistants, and individuals who still called
themselves Secretaries have now well established this holiday - stretching
it to a week long holiday, Secretaries Week.
From a legal, tax and a long term working relationship stand point,
it is becoming increasingly important that this holiday be celebrated in
a very professional, policy sensitive manner.
We would like to offer the following guidelines for exchanging office
gifts for "Secretary Day"
The standard gift for Secretary Day is lunch with the boss and flowers.
This can take place any time during Secretaries Week. You should select
the day and plan it at a nice restaurant.
Other types of gifts can be given.
Professional types of gifts
Fine writing accessories.
A Business related leather portfolio.
Give your assistant a class or seminar of their choice to in rich their
skills on company time.
Paying the membership for a related professional organization.
A magazine subscription to a related professional magazine.
A hand blown glass paperweight.
Recognition gifts
Art, sculptures engraved with a Thank you.
Company logo gift, Boxes of chocolates distributed by the company to
all employees.
Buttons that everyone in the office can wear Celebrating The Assistant.
Personal gifts
Scarfs
Gift basket of gourmet food
Box or arrangement of gourmet cookies
A nice costume jewelry pin.
Perfume or Cologne.
Other types of employee gifts
Charity gift. Offer to give a gift to their favorite charity.
Their are many other types of personal gifts you could give but you
may want to be careful. Innocent gifts can bounce back as gossip, lawsuits,
and as company policy violations effecting both yourself and your employee.
Kind of takes the fun out of it. Based on the number of years of employment
and the closeness of your professional relationship with your assistants
you can decide what is appropriate.
Who is giving the gift:
Small to midsize companies - the direct boss is expected to recognize their
assistants.
Large Corporations - If you work for a corporation and would like to
give a gift to a co worker it is strongly advised that you contact your
human resource department and ask for a copy of your companies policy on
gift giving and receiving.
Corporations usual have a gift giving statement. They read something
like - to the effect that gifts of more than "nominal value" should not
be given or accepted. Nominal value??? If your company has this policy
ask for a memo describing nominal from your Human Resource department.
This many seem like a hassle now, but having policies well documented will
protect you and will save you time in the future.
Tax accountability
Gifts that are of nominal value do not have to be added to your employees
W2's. If you give cash, a gift certificate or credit card number to go
purchase a gift this is considered taxable income. A way to give gift certificates
is to have it assigned as a nonnegotiable certificate. Meaning they have
no dollar value and can not be exchanged for cash. This area of the tax
rules is very vague and it is best to check with your accountant for the
latest rulings and interpretations.
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