Business Get Well Gifts

Business Get Well Etiquette

According to Peggy Post and Peter Post, co-authors of The Etiquette Advantage in Business, the following suggestions will help you to share your concern with a colleague who is ill or who has a seriously ill family member:

• Actions speak louder than words: show sympathy by helping the person on the job. Take over certain aspects of their daily load and keep them informed on important business happenings.
• If your colleague is ill enough that he or she will be out of the office for an extended period of time, send a get well card. This can be done by you alone or you can team up with other folks at work.
• If you have a close relationship with an individual who is laid-up for several days, weeks or months, consider a simple gift such as flowers or a potted plant.
• Team up with co-workers and take turns making or ordering meals (check with the individual or a family member first).
• Gifts such as flowers and food are nice to receive as are crossword puzzles, books and CDs. Temporary gifts help make sick days fly by.
• If your co-worker insists on staying on-the-job in spite of a terrible cold (sneezing and coughing and wielding tissues!) or other short-term illness, it is fine to let that individual know that you are concerned about his or her health and the health of the rest of the office.
• You can help alleviate your sick co-workers concerns about spending a day or two away from the office by offering to help with his or her work load: offer to check their voice mail, follow up with a client or complete a project.