When the holidays come around most offices coworkers will give you a holiday card or some chocolates or something like that as a show of appreciation of being a good coworker/working hard, etc.. Most of my coworkers are female, so I'm wondering if its common for males to buy a small gift like that for other men, or if it would be OK if I only got those kinds of things for my female coworkers? I've always felt awkward writing a card to another guy or buying those little gift things for other men. Thoughts?
Gift cards to local restaurants for lunch (like $25 - enough for a big meal or a couple of regular meals). Men appreciate those because (1) guys generally appreciate food, and (2) they'll actually use them since they're nearby. No card - just a handshake & a "good job, thank you for your hard work, I know you'll enjoy this" when giving them the card (we're talking like supervisor/management gifts to their team here, right? Not just like coworker to coworker).
For women - flowers, small potted plants, and/or chocolates, with a card. For women it tends to be a more personal gesture of appreciation. Think how Instagram is - girls like to tell their girlfriends what they got, how their boss thinks they're great, have something to take a picture of, etc. Guys don't want that. Guys want food (or money). That's even how they do bonuses at work - boss walks around, shakes your hand, hands you a check, says thank you for the good work, and then he's gone. No awkwardness. It's great!
That's stereotyping, but it works in most cases. There are some guys who appreciate a card and some girls who don't appreciate the little gift baskets & stuff. But generally the girls go bananas over that stuff & it makes their whole day better, whereas things like restaurant gift cards are things that a guy can immediately put to good use.