'Adult' artwork and 3 other holiday gifts you should never give co-workers

Overjoyed, touched, surprised. These are some of the reactions employees are expecting when they give holiday presents to their co-workers. But workers who dole out any of these “inappropriate” gifts are likely to receive the opposite reactions.

Unless gift-giving is a company-sanctioned event at your workplace, you may be better off (or at least less-stressed) not giving gifts this year.

Of course, some people just love to give. If you fall into that category, here’s a good barometer: If you wouldn’t let a child see the gift you’re giving — then it’s not work appropriate.

Here are four gifts that are wrong 99 out of 100 times:

Anything “adult” oriented. Things like pornography and toys are obvious, but artwork, books, music or anything that carries even a whisper of sexual suggestion is not only creepy … it’s just wrong.

Presents with religious or political themes. Religion and politics are highly divisive topics. Unless you’re 100% sure that your co-worker would appreciate that Glenn Beck coffee mug (for the irony or otherwise), then it’s safer to select a more vanilla gift.

Grooming gifts. Even if it’s not as overt as a Mangroomer for Larry, the hairy guy from Accounting, personal-care products (perfume, toothbrushes, body and skin care products, etc.) are generally too, well, personal to give in the office.

Jokey gifts with the potential to offend. This includes anything that could be offensive to any race, culture, group or worker with disabilities. Usually, these gifts are meant to be fun or funny.
Key: Avoid everything that could ever be interpreted as discriminatory and/or stereotyping.

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