gifts & coworkers (long)

i am the assistant to the COO. she runs a pretty large dept - and i often end up assisting many directors, and managers that work for her. i also help many of my collegues in many ways that i can - wheter is bumping around meeting so they have the better conference room - or finishing off a presentation slides, or making the copies for a meeting etc. i also tend to be the dept psychologist @ times - and i am everyones venting pole.

so now last year i was surprised by how many gifts i received from people. i graciously accepted and thanked them all. (some stuff was great- itunes giftcards, keihls lotions, etc...)

so - now this year - should i reciprocate gifts? maybe by something small? or no - is it a genuine gift for all the strings i pull all year long.

i am confused to know which people are just a$$ kissing me - and which genuinely think we are friends? HELP!

Sounds like you're a pretty vital person around your office! When I've been unsure about people, I usually get them the same thing but with different types. One year I went to the Lindt store and picked out pretty boxes with the type of truffles that they liked. Sometimes it's gift cards/gift certificates.

If I was expecting gifts this year, I would probably plan on reciprocating, so I'm prepared when I get theirs.

Buy the office lunch! People appreciate food

Seems like it was done our of their appreciation for you.

I would go with a small thoughtful gift for everyone...