Gifts for your boss

Go in on a group gift

A group gift is the cleanest way to thank a manager. Everyone chips in a small amount, one person buys it, and the whole team signs the card. It avoids the feeling that any one person is trying to stand out.

A Boss appreciation gift set or a Gift basket for him are easy shared picks. For a send-off, a Crystal retirement plaque with stand marks the moment properly.

What to give if you go solo

Think of what a manager uses every day. A Radical Candor book, an A5 work notebook or an Every Flippin' Day desktop flipbook sits on the desk and says thanks without a fuss. The Atlas Coffee Club World of Coffee 4-pack suits a coffee drinker.

If your budget allows more, a novium Hoverpen Interstellar ballpoint pen is a conversation piece. Still, stay within what a peer might spend on a friend at work.

Check the rules and the room

Some companies and public agencies ban or cap gifts to supervisors. Ask HR if you are unsure. The holiday season and a boss's birthday are the usual moments, and a manager's own departure is another. Whatever you choose, a note naming something specific they taught you will outlast the gift. If you are also shopping for a coworker or a Christmas gift for the team, those lists have more ideas.