Gift Giving Etiquette In American Business
Is it acceptable to give a gift to a business associate from another company?
It's almost illegal to give to a business associate a gift outside the company. There are very few exceptions in this. This is important as companies all have gift giving, and gift receiving policies in place, otherwise it could be considered a bribe. It's acceptable under certain circumstances to give gifts to a business associate in another company. For example, if you give a gift under $25 that's consumable. That's very common, especially during holidays where if you want to send somebody a gift plate, or a gift basket of cheeses and fruit, it's very common. Or, pens, or baseball caps, as there are a lot of those little things that are considered normal. But people giving business, especially it you're trying to get their business, is below the bar of company policies. However, senior executives give each other expensive gifts such as arts and trips, but we're mere mortals. We need to practice a different set of standards such as giving small, consumable gifts, even if it's gifts to a sporting event. For example, let's say that you're trying to get business from XYZ company, and you want to give this purchasing agent tickets to the baseball game, most companies have a rule that if its not over $100, and they go with you, you can attend. But to just give out two, or three hundred dollar theatre tickets or sporting event season tickets and them not coming, could be considered a bribe in certain circumstances. So with giving small gifts to a business associate, and if you're going to accept a gift to go to a theatre event or a sporting event for an expensive ticket, you generally need to get permission from your manager.
When is gift-giving appropriate in the workplace?
The holidays are an appropriate time for gift-giving in the workplace, and by the holidays, what I really mean is from the 15th of December on because there's so many different religions and cultures in the workplace that it's just deemed as a time to exchange gifts, and often times companies have brown bags where people draw names to give gifts. But giving gifts to your bosses is appropriate in the workplace. I also think it's important for someone with an administrative assistant to give her a minimum of $25 in cash, and in a card, not just taken out of your wallet and handed to her. You can give a gift to your manager, or senior manager of $50or more. You should get them something nice, a basket of fruit, or a good bottle of something if you know that they enjoy that particular brand of wine or liquor. It's not uncommon at all, but you don't want to give gifts of wine or liquor to someone of another company. Gift-giving policies really don't encourage that at all, it usually says that they can't accept liquor.
When is it appropriate to give cash as a gift in business?
It is okay and appropriate to give your administrative assistant cash as a gift in business, but that's about the only time that you want to give cash as a gift in business and again, ensure it's in a card that is signed by you.
What is the etiquette of thank you notes in a business setting?
With thank you notes in a business setting, often times it's easier to send an email thank you note. And it's also appropriate to send a handwritten thank you note. Both are appropriate but some gesture needs to be made in a business setting, even if you just pick up the phone and you call someone to say thank you. But if you're not going to call someone and thank them, then email them, and if you're not going to email them, write them note. Do some gesture. You are busy, I know that, and people travel so they may not get their mail and an email is better than nothing. Indeed a phone call is better than nothing as is a handwritten note thank you note. There are times that you'll use a different one, but do one of the three at least. I know we are a casual society, American Business today, but do something, don't just ignore the thank you note in a business setting.
When is it appropriate to send a thank you note?
Thank you notes are appropriate for the receipt of a gift. With flowers, a lot of gifts are given in business for congratulations, for someone getting a promotion or whether they're retired. Gifts are also given for a new house, or for someone who's been ill for a long time, here again it is appropriate for the company or the office to send flowers. If there's been a death in the family, flowers, gifts, food or cash is sent. Thank you notes are appropriate for all these. I've sent thank you notes, and I often even send thank you notes to people who make introductions for me, or who go out of their way to help me grow my business, or who do things that are just out of the ordinarily polite and kind. For example to include me in on a luncheon or invite me to sit on panel, indeed you can't find too many reasons. Never does a week pass that I don't send out one or at least two. Just think of all the opportunities we can have to be fully grateful for the life we live and to let people know that you're grateful. It's great to let people know how grateful you are that they've touched your life. And I think it means a lot to other people. Now some may think that that's an antiquated attitude in an antiquated culture because handwritten letters and thank you notes were of a certain time, but I don't think it's ever too antiquated to let people know that you appreciate their time, and thus it's always appropriate to send a thank you note.
What is appropriate to write in a business-related thank you note?
In a business related thank you note, it's appropriate to write just a simple note with three lines. A typical example is 'Thank you for inviting me to your party, it was lovely.' Or even 'Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview with X, Y, Z company. I enjoyed our time and look forward to hearing from you.' Make your business related thank you note sweet and make it simple. It doesn't need to be syrupy and long.
