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If I am on a tight budget, what are my obligations in giving gifts to colleagues or co-workers?

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Host: If I am on a tight budget, what are my obligations in giving gifts to colleagues or coworkers?

Nancy Mitchell: Many of us have been in that situation where the particular time of the year or that particular time in our career we do not have a lot of extra money. When people come around to collect in an office for a gift for someone or for the office, some gift budget or whatever, give what you can give. People should not come to you and say, We are collecting $25, we are collecting $50. They should come to you and they should say, We are collecting for this present for Jane, this present for John, the retirement for Mr. Davis, whatever, and give whatever you can. Even if you give $2 and other people are giving $10 you have contributed, you feel that you are a part of the team. If you can not give, or you do not know the person, you do not feel that it is necessary to give, say that, Well, I really don t know that person, I don t think that I ll participate that is perfectly alright to say that. If you know the person very well, you may say, I have planned to give my own gift on that person s retirement, or Christmas, or the end of the holidays, or their wedding, or whatever the occasion is. But be sincere; do not use that as an excuse, not to contribute if you truly are going to give a gift to someone on your own that is fine. Do not feel the pressure of the office collection to give beyond your means.

Expert: Nancy Mitchell

www.etiquetteadvocate.com

P: (301) 320-2393

Email: nancy@etiquetteadvocate.com

Nancy R. Mitchell is an established protocol and etiquette consultant and advisor with more than 30 years of experience in the field. Currently, she is an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University, where she developed and teaches protocol courses to Event Management Certificate Program students in the School of Business and Public Management, and at Stratford University, Falls Church, VA. She serves More »