Gifts for Your Work Bestie (Your Corporate Soulmate)
For the person who's seen your 'working' screen time.
Why It's Tricky
Your work bestie is the person who makes corporate life survivable. They're the one you Slack when the meeting goes off the rails, the one who knows which bathroom is the crying bathroom, and the one who'll back up whatever lie you told about why you were late. This isn't a colleague—this is a trauma bond forged in the fires of quarterly reviews and mandatory team-building exercises. They've earned a gift that says 'you're the only reason I haven't updated my LinkedIn to 'open to opportunities.''
Gift Ideas
- -Matching 'I'm just here so I don't get fined' desk accessories
- -A custom mug with your most unhinged Slack screenshot (keep it HR-adjacent)
- -A 'We Should Start a Podcast About This Company' journal
- -Fancy snacks for your secret desk drawer stash
- -A framed photo of the empty conference room where you both hide
Things to Consider
- *You can go more personal here—they already know your search history
- *Inside jokes are not just allowed, they're required
- *Consider their exit strategy—will they take this to their next job or is it too incriminating?
Get Gift Ideas That Actually Land
Get gift ideas worthy of your work spouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if someone is my work bestie?
- You've complained about the same coworker. You've shared salary information. You have a dedicated Slack thread that would get you both fired if discovered. You've considered starting a business together at least three times. That's your work bestie.
- Can I get my work bestie something inappropriate?
- Define 'inappropriate.' A funny mug with mild profanity that lives in their desk drawer? Absolutely. Something that could be used as evidence in a harassment case? Read the room. Preferably in writing, to a lawyer.
- What if my work bestie and I have different gift budgets?
- Real work besties don't care about reciprocity. Give what feels right to you. If they're really your person, they're not keeping score—they're just glad someone in this hellscape understands them.
- Should work bestie gifts be exchanged at work or privately?
- Depends on the gift. Generic nice thing? At work, absolutely. Something with an inside joke about your boss's weird email sign-off? Maybe save that for happy hour.