A few guidelines to get you through this holiday season:
* No one likes to be coughed on. Seriously. Keep your hands over your mouth or keep your sick self at home.
* Some folks get rather down this time of year. Get counseling or ask a friend to grab a cup of joe to pull your woe-is-me routine. Anything to help you through it, except cornering your poor co-workers ’round the punchbowl at the office Christmas party. Keep it jolly.
* Don’t hand out presents in front of people whom you didn’t buy for. It’s rude. Do it in private.
* Don’t expect a gift in return.
* Though you might think everyone loves alcohol as much as you do, don’t include it in your gifts unless you’re sure the recipient can appreciate the rare single-malt you’ve just invested in.
* No matter how tempting, it’s never OK to get more tanked than your boss at your office holiday party. Names of the naughty will be taken down on some list somewhere. Trust me on this.
* Not everyone believes in Santa and/or Jesus. A simple “Happy Holidays” will suffice if you don’t know someone’s religion.
* Tacky decor is not OK. Plastic Santas taller than you are not cool, and never will be.
* Be generous with your tips for your waitresses, waiters, and bartenders. Everyone’s got someone special they’re trying to buy for this holiday season.
