The Office Playground Blog

Be the Best Secret Santa Ever!

Image Credit: Michael Wade   What is the most embarrassing thing that can happen to you at work during the holidays? Sure, getting too drunk at the company holiday party, telling the CEO he looks like Screech and photocopying your behind are all pretty bad. But, we're talking about never being able to live down being a lame Secret Santa. Maybe you didn't even want to participate in the first place. Some people don't believe in Santa anymore. Yet, we all still stand in line to pick one of our co-worker's names out of a hat. You don't have to dread the workplace Secret Santa. The Office Toy Guy wants you to embrace it! This year, your co-workers will refer to you as the most amazing Secret Santa gift giver in company history. Or, at least they will think you are really cool and thoughtful for getting them such an awesome gift. OfficePlayground.com is ready to help you be the best Secret Santa gift giver you can be. Check out these unique gift ideas for your next Secret Santa exchange and really nail it this year!

Dependable and Classy Need to play it a little safe while making a good impression? Give a Zen Garden, Newton's Cradle, Kinetic Motion or Liquid Motion. Zen Gardens Newton's Cradles Kinetic Motion Liquid Motion Vulgar and Irreverent Do your co-workers appreciate low brow humor? Are your company's policies a little loose? Share a chuckle over our Vulgar Stuff and Desk Toys. Vulgar Stuff Desk Toys Cute and Cuddly A desktop plant or an animal toy will win you the cutest gift award. There are many adorable items in Desktop Gardening and Animal Toys. Desktop Gardening Animal Toys Stress Relieving If everyone is stressed out in your office, you can't go wrong with a Stress Ball, Stress Reliever or Foam Stress Toy. Stress Balls Stress Relievers Foam Stress Toys Silly Yet Practical Sometimes goofy can be useful. Give a Funny Office Supply or Gumball Machine for a fun twist on the regular. Funny Office Supplies Gumball Machines

You don't have to be a lame Secret Santa this year. Just make your picks, place your order and we'll get that awesome Secret Santa gift to you really fast. We wish you the best at your holiday office party and may you be remembered for your non-lame Secret Santa gift and not for dancing with a lampshade on your head. Lamelessly, Bill Ross The Office Toy Guy OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com www.OfficePlayground.com We help you play on company time.

Boss's Day Gift Ideas

Friday, October 16 is National Boss Day. It's an opportunity for employees to show appreciation for their hardworking boss. It's also an opportunity for an employee to make a good impression with a thoughtful gift. You can present a classy gift or a useful item or a whimsical toy that adds a little fun to your boss's day.

If you're in need of ideas for a gift, start with a pre-purchase observation; look at what types of items adorn the boss's desk and office. For sophisticated gifts, check out our Executive Toys category or Kinetic Motion and Levitating items. Take note of how much space is available for your gift. If your boss's desk is crowded, consider something that hangs on a wall such an amusing clock, a funny sign, a dartboard, or a basketball game.

Novelty items that draw positive attention to an office include the Magic Fishbowl, Executive Desk Gong, Exotic Sands, or Zen Garden. A gift from our Desktop Gardening category will please any plant lover.

Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the Executive Office Putter, the Chip Shotz Golfer game and Executive Sandbox-Golf Sand Trap. Surprise your boss with comical Office Supplies such as funny note pads, a Dog Stapler or a Chocolate Calculator.

Make this National Boss Day a memorable one.

National Boss Day is Friday, October 16

National Boss Day has traditionally been a day for employees to recognize and thank their supervisor or boss. It started in 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski, then an employee at State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois, registered the holiday with the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Ms. Haroski's purpose was to designate a day to show appreciation for her boss and other bosses. She also hoped to improve the relationship between employees and supervisors. She believed young employees often do not realize the challenges bosses face in running a business. Ms. Haroski chose October 16 because it was her father's birthday, and he also happened to be her boss.

During the early years of National Boss Day observance, the holiday was mocked as Hallmark Holiday. In fact, Hallmark did not offer a Boss's Day card for sale until 1979. Recognition for Boss Day has grown tremendously in popularity and Hallmark responded by increasing the size of its National Boss Day card collection by 90 percent in 2007. National Boss Day has become an international celebration in recent years and now is observed in countries such as Australia and South Africa, in addition to the United States.

Image courtesy of Luz.

Have a Stress Free Administrative Professionals' Day

Administrative Professionals' Week is April 19-25 with Administrative Professionals' Day on Wednesday, April 22. Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals' Week. It has become one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, there are more than 4 million secretaries and administrative assistants and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles in the United States. In the United States, it’s customary to give administrative professionals a gift of appreciation on this day such as flowers, lunch or a handwritten card. This year, consider a gift that keeps on giving, a fun item that also aids in stress relief at work. Studies done by the CDC’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, have found the percentage of Americans who are "extremely stressed at work" range between 29% and 40%. Stress in the workplace often leads to higher absenteeism, health problems, lower productivity and burnout. Playful or humorous items on a person’s desk or in the workplace add a little fun to a busy day which can reduce stress and make a cubicle or office a more relaxing environment. Stress relief products and office toys are available in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. Office Playground offers something for every personality, including desktop plants for nurturers, zen gardens for those looking for inner peace, and fun office supplies for the organized workaholic. We hope you have a stress free Administrative Professionals' Day!

Better Meetings with Toys

You can improve your business meetings by using office toys. Here are some ways to get more out of your next training session, company-wide meeting or weekly team reviews.

Attention span – Keep their hands busy and their minds open. Hand out office toys to keep attendees focused. Attention spans will increase if attendees have something to manipulate in their fingers. If meeting goers are busy fidgeting with a Tangle or Magic Loop, they will listen and retain more content.

Attendance – If employees know that toys are given out at a meeting, they will show up and will stay to the end. Give toys to employees who arrive on time. If they arrive late, they don't get a toy. Late arrivers will be very disappointed. On the flip side, give an office toy to folks who stay for the entire meeting. It'll be a fun reward for staying.

Participation – Encourage people to give feedback and get involved in the meeting by giving office toys to audience members who ask good questions or who are the first to answer. The entire room will be on the edge of their seats, absorbing everything you say.

Bowl of Office Toys – Place a bunch of small inexpensive toys in a bowl or basket in the middle of the table or near the door. Choose office toys that are all the same style or a variety. Be sure to pick "quiet" office toys so they aren't a distraction during the meeting. Foam Stress Balls, Thredz-Flex Ziggy Variegated, Bendeez Confetti are all good examples. Folks should return the office toys to the basket after the meeting to be used next time.

Handouts/Rewards – Keep a variety of office toys on hand to give out during the meeting. Popular office toys such as Newton's Cradle 5" Silver or Mini Deluxe Zen Garden are great rewards for reaching certain business objectives, making a quota or staying within budget. Fun office toys, such as Happy Face Stress Ball or Laughing Stress Ball are great handouts for folks who participate and for positive attitudes. Extremely affordable items such as Stretchy Body Bits and Funny Monster Clips are ideal for folks who arrive on time or answer/ask questions.

Props and Games - Use office toys as props to support your lessons. Themed office toys help reinforce key ideas and points. Trainees will be reminded of important messages long after the meeting has ended. For example, use an Affirmation Ball to reinforce positive customer service behavior or a Beach in a Box to remind your sales staff of the trip for folks who reach annual goals. Create teambuilding exercises by playing games with office toys. Participants are sure to bond over a Boss Toss competition, Downtown Shootout or Basket Case Hoop Game.

Let's face it, business meetings aren't on the top of everyone's list of favorite things to do. But, they are a necessary part of the operation. Take it from us, business people love to play with office toys and will respond favorably if you incorporate them into your next meeting. So, go ahead and give it a try!

Ten Reasons Why Office Toys Make Great Gifts

• 1) Affordable - Many of our office toys are reasonably priced under $10.
• 2) Enjoyable - Playing with office toys is a fun lighthearted distraction from the daily grind.
• 3) Impressive - A memorable office toy will remind the recipient how terrific you are for giving it to them.
• 4) Humorous - Office toys provide much needed comic relief around the workplace and at home.
• 5) Stress Relieving - It is very soothing to release tension with a tactile office toy.
• 6) Practical - Many office toys are quite handy to have on your desk and serve a useful purpose.
• 7) Colorful - You can brighten up any workspace at home or the office with cheerful and lively office toys.
• 8) Cute - Lots of people love appealing things and we have many adorable and charming office toys.
• 9) Informal - The casual nature of office toys makes them simple and easy gifts for business associates.
• 10) Popular - Office toys are well-liked and folks love to spruce up their desks with these hip and cool items.

Office toys are the ideal gifts for all kinds of people and you'll find a large selection of office toys at www.OfficePlayground.com. For nearly 10 years, Office Playground has been committed to providing you with the best office toys available. We are trustworthy, competent, friendly and passionate.

If you're interested in getting some really awesome gifts at extremely affordable prices and receiving them quickly, please explore our web site or contact us for suggestions or with any questions. We're standing by to help.