With a recession looming, corporations are cutting back. But with expectations not as high as holidays past, surprising a client, co-worker or new colleague with a thoughtful corporate gift is that much easier.

There are plenty of ways to express gratitude to a boss, client or co-worker without having to spend more than $30.

Most people will respond positively to a gift that reflects their interests. No doubt coffee lovers will love coffee and employees with kids will love gifts they can share with their children.

And not all gifts have to be tangible. There is a growing trend among businesses to give out vacation time instead of a wrapped gift. Rene Ruiz Couture in Coral Gables always held an afternoon holiday party on Dec. 23. This year, the designer decided to forgo the party and just let his employees go home and take Christmas Eve off as well. ''It is good for our employees and team to have the extra time to spend with their families,'' Ruiz said. For customers, the company also is donating to a charity of their customers' choice 10 percent of the price of certain custom evening gowns or suits purchased this holiday season.

Other employers let their employees take a day of paid leave to volunteer at a local charity. Sunbeam Properties and Development has taken a page from that playbook. It is teaming with its Miramar Park of Commerce tenants and WSVN employees to build a home for a needy family in Miramar through Habitat for Humanity Dec. 20. It's ''an idea we came up with to rekindle that sense of camaraderie,'' said Andrew Ansin, vice president.

Surely, gifts that benefit charitable causes are appropriate in these uncertain times.

Regardless of what is given, however, corporate gifts can make the working world a little easier and the holidays a little happier.

Here are a few:

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@