Vacation Souvenirs for Co-Workers -- Should You? For Whom? And, What?
Last week we gave all of you doubting whether you had time to take summer vacation a little nudge to take legal-history inspired vacations. We even had suggestions for the nerds at heart, and the too-cool-for-school types.
No matter what kind of vacation you take, at some point -- most likely five minutes before your flight at the airport gift shop -- you will deal with the question: Do I need to bring back souvenirs for my co-workers?
Do You Need to Bring Back Souvenirs?
The first question you need to ask yourself is, do I even need to bring back souvenirs? The answer is -- it depends. If you are the most junior of associates, with no one reporting to you, then it's not necessary. If you work on a team, or have delegated work while you are gone, then maybe. In either situation, it's not necessary, but especially in the latter scenario, it's the nice thing to do.
Who Should I Bring Back Souvenirs For?
If you have an admin then you'll want to bring something back for her. Also, if you have another associate who will be dealing with your issues while you are gone (i.e., the person you write down as the contact if any emergencies come up on your out-of-office email), then you will want to bring them back a little "thank-you" for keeping things up while you were gone.
What Kinds of Souvenirs Should I Bring Back?
Remember, you don't need to go crazy with elaborate, expensive gifts; all you really want to do is bestow appreciation for having kept things from utterly falling apart while you were gone. That said, a tasty treat specific to the locale you visited is always a safe bet -- everyone likes food. Or, you can give "officey" type gifts life pens, pencils, mugs, magnets or key chains (pens and mugs from the Supreme Court are FindLaw favorites). Those are things that somehow, people cannot have enough of and you will find in touristy stores everywhere.
Don't let the idea of getting souvenirs stress you out -- you're on vacation, relax a little! If you put some thought into whether you need to get your co-workers gifts before you go, then just make a list and go shopping -- you'll be stress free and less likely to over-buy. Have fun, and safe travels!
What's the worst vacation souvenir you've received? Let us know on Facebook for FindLaw for Legal Professionals.
Related Resources:
- Lawyers on Vacation? Yeah Right. 8 Tips to Make It Happen (FindLaw's Greedy Associate Blog)
- Lawyer Gets Bitten by Travel Bug, Makes Globe Trekking Her Job (FindLaw's Greedy Associate Blog)
- 5 Tips for Staying Productive in the Summer (FindLaw's Greedy Associate Blog)
