Ah, the office Secret Santa—a time-honoured workplace tradition where mystery meets merriment and (hopefully) good taste. Done right, gift exchange games like these can definitely brighten the office vibe. But done poorly, it can create more awkwardness at the work Christmas party than an over-shared email chain. 

For this blog post, we polled 50+ office workers, managers, and HR staff about their particular company’s Secret Santa ideas as well as their dos and don’ts. To ensure your office holiday gift exchange stays on the cheerful side, here are the golden rules of this tradition. 

Secret Santa etiquette dos: What do UK office managers and staff say?

Do: Give enough time 

Nobody enjoys the idea of running up and down a crowded high street in the middle of a Secret Santa rush. Especially at the time of year when the shops are already packed and the weather is less than accommodating. Most of the workplaces who responded to our survey said they give staff 2+ weeks to prepare. Considering that everyone is busy during the festive season, a week’s notice should be the absolute bare minimum.