Funky Office Gifts

Novelty-shaped stress balls are an inexpensive but unconventional office gift.helmet stress ball image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com

Whether you are participating in a "Secret Santa"-style gift exchange, or simply trying to show a coworker your appreciation, selecting a gift for somebody you don't know particularly well -- and may have only met in an office setting -- can be difficult. Pick out something unconventional and funky, but keep in mind personal boundaries in order to avoid accidentally offending anyone.

Novelty Desk Accessories

Select a novelty desk accessory for the coworker with a sense of humor. For the offbeat or frustrated, select a pen holder, drink holder or bookmark in the shape of a stick figure that appears to have met a gruesome end; a music-loving coworker might appreciate a set of pencils shaped like drumsticks. More common but nonetheless useful items are also available, such as variously-shaped staplers, pens or adhesive notes.

The coworker who already has everything might appreciate a gift that has no purpose except to entertain. Options vary from magnetic or scientific toys to stress balls, miniature dart boards and golf courses, complicated puzzles or even novelty stuffed toys such as microbes or movie characters. For the computer geeks, there is a wide variety of gadgets that will plug into a USB port, from cup warmers, miniature fridges and flexible lights to light-up snowmen, animated robots and even a pet rock that does absolutely nothing.

Consider a decorative gift for the coworker with a bare, plain office. Moss terrariums are available in many different shapes and will add a splash of color to any office, without requiring regular care like normal potted plants. Humoristic posters, calendars and wall graphics are a widely available and relatively inexpensive gift, although they may be inappropriate in certain office settings.