Here's a Fire Extinguisher, Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

CHICAGO -- There's no party like a workplace holiday party because workplace holiday parties can get awkward. That's especially true when workers bearing gifts deviate from the more traditional offerings such as candy and gift baskets.

Some 21% of workers say they plan to buy holiday gifts for co-workers (similar to last year, 22%), and 20% plan to buy a gift for the boss, finds CareerBuilder's annual holiday survey.

Of those who plan to buy gifts for their co-workers or bosses, 76% expect to spend $25 or less on each gift, 33% will spend $10 or less and 10% will spend $5 or less.

The survey also asked workers to share the most unusual gifts they've received from a co-worker during the holiday season. A few got a little more creative with their definition of "gift," as evidenced by the items respondents cited in CareerBuilder's annual holiday survey.

Among the more unusual:

• A box of Hot Pockets.
• A fire extinguisher.
• A chess piece (just one piece, not a set).
• A voucher for a free lawn game of the co-worker's own invention.
• A turquoise leather vest.
• Zombie action figures.
• A Ziploc bag with coffee (enough to make one pot).
• A "gun of the day" calendar.
• A bag of chips.
• A Christmas ornament adorned with the co-worker and spouse's photos.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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