Business only

The real relationships in a society are regarded as interaction between different groups of people. In the morning, in the circle of the family you are a father/mother/son/daughter. But in the day time you are getting to be a part of the big mechanism that allows defining a person as an important body in the society machine – job. At job a person is becoming another person – with other thoughts, with other reflections, with other dreams. It concerns not only friendly relationship, but also cooperation and even rival competition. It is a kind of communication. On the official level businessmen make the deals, provide the negotiations, and seek for new companions... but between business deals there is another level that is an important part of any successful business relationship. There is a tradition in Japan to present the gifts for a successful occasion in the business life – for example, a new international agreement or a very important meeting at the international level. They used to present the products usually. It reminds some kind of pagan offering, but perhaps Eastern philosophy is deeper than Western one.

So, the presents in business are a kind of communication. What occasion? What to present? How to present? After or before the occasion? These "trifles" are very important issues in a daily professional life.

Etiquette is very definite as for business gifts. If you are a manager of the lowest link, 10-20 dollars is enough for a present to a co-worker. Middle link is limited with 25 dollars. And only the workers of the high links can make the presents for 50-100 dollars. And nobody who knows non-pronounced rules of presenting would take a gift which costs more than 100 dollars, even President. Why? It is considered to be a bribe. It is strictly recommended not to give presents before an agreement signed as it is a kind of a bribe as well. Your partner could think that you want to suborn him and however it is hard, he would definitely deny off this expensive, but very lovely present. It is not for the reason that he does not want this gift. Perhaps this watch is something he had been dreaming about for all his life. But the presents are limited with the administrative inner rules.

Some people believe that a personal present to a boss is a good and promising event (of course, everybody wants to get the 13th celery), but etiquette, this evil old man, is very strict to such shows. It looks like you desire to be better, to attract attention to your personality, to heighten over the crowds. But it is not something that coincides with the corporation politics or inner staff rules. It is used to present gifts to a boss from the whole staff – of course, it is to be something practical, perhaps, something that shows your good taste. And looking at this picturesque picture or wonderful ship model, perhaps at one of the meetings your boss will be more loyal and understandable to all of his staff.

So, resume.

• A gift is a method of communication, an ability to show your attitude to a person you works with;

• A gift is not to be expensive in order not to break harmony of the collective;

• A gift is not to be intimate, only practical or symbolic presents are allowed, no tricks or joking!

• In the whole world it is not common to give the presents to the bosses, it is better to collect money and make present from the whole staff. In such a way your chief would value your attention. At least even our bosses are humans with their own weak and strong features.