Q: Here’s a quick holiday question.
I want to buy something nice for some business contacts who have provided good service this year. I THINK a couple of them might be Jewish, and so I would want to make the gift during an appropriate time and with the appropriate card.
Should I just ask outright? “Hey, Bob, you’ve done an awesome job this year and I want to reward you. You Jewish?”
That seems a bit, uh, oafish. Any ideas?
SCOTT: The holidays get so confusing and with the religious diversity that exists today, it’s even more perplexing when it comes to buying religion-based gifts. So what do you do for business contacts or employees?
Well, you could always get a menorah for your Jewish employee, a cross for your Catholic employee and maybe pick up some incense for the Hindu on your list. Hallmark even produces a Muslim Eid al-Fitr card to mark the end of Ramadan, so be sure to pick up a coupla those. Oh, and we can’t forget our Buddhist friends, either!
See, it can get really complicated and that’s why it’s best to stick to “generic” holiday wishes.
I always say when in doubt, keep it simple. Just get a box of those never memorable but always appropriate “Happy Holidays” cards and avoid the holy-day complications.
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– Scott