How to Shake Up an Office White Elephant Game

November 6, 2020


White elephant activities are an office holiday staple—and with good reason. They allow colleagues to relax and enjoy one another while having fun and sharing holiday cheer. Additionally, it’s easy to include everyone—no matter if you celebrate virtually or in-person—as it’s a game that truly unites teams as they laugh over white elephant gifts.

Chances are you’re familiar with the white elephant game, but here’s a quick refresher. Each participant will bring a wrapped gift and then everyone draws a number, from 1 to however many people you have. Whoever has No. 1 goes first, choosing a gift and unwrapping it for all to see. Then the second person can either “steal” that gift if it’s one they want, or choose to open a new one. No. 3 can then choose either of the first two gifts or open a new one. As you can see, the trick is that the higher numbers are the best, because then you have the pick of all the gifts—and less time for a coveted item to be “stolen” by a fellow team member.

And while that’s always been a classic that everyone looks forward to, why not shake up the white elephant format with some new twists on gift exchange ideas this year. Consider this your ultimate “White Elephant Planning Guide.”

New White Elephant Twists Your Colleagues Won’t Soon Forget

The whole point of an office activity is to encourage camaraderie, which comes naturally when team members hang out and joke and play together. Trying something new and fun together can build bonds, too, so this year, why not put a new spin on the white elephant game? Here are some ideas.

  • A “theme” white elephant: A theme white elephant takes some of the stress out of choosing gift exchange ideas because everyone is bringing a similar item. The fun is in the elegant or wacky choices each team member makes. Themes to consider include coffee mugs, socks, snacks, or desk accessories—something that every employee will enjoy but that offers lots of room for variation.
  • A true “white elephant” white elephant: Wait, what does that even mean? Well because the game has gotten so popular in its current form where people bring new items, it has strayed from its roots. A true “white elephant” is something that is useless to its owner, as in a “white elephant” sale, which is another name for a garage sale. For this spin, people bring things from their own house that they think others might like. As they say, “one man’s trash is another person’s treasure.”
  • A philanthropic white elephant: The holiday season brings out the giving spirit in all of us, and some team members might prefer a charitable component, rather than trading material goods. For this one, everyone will be donating a certain sum to a nonprofit. Each team member writes down their charity of choice on a slip of paper, and coworkers open them to reveal where they will be sending their money. Team members can even guess which coworker picked which philanthropy as you get to know your colleagues and their interests better.
  • A gift card exchange white elephant: Who doesn’t love a few bucks to spend somewhere, whether it’s the local coffee shop or a favorite retailer? The choices range from practical—like an office supply store to level up your desk accessories—to indulgent, such as the local ice cream store.

Make Your White Elephant Inclusive For All

The whole goal of the white elephant is for everyone to want to participate in a fun activity. But believe it or not, the concept of choosing white elephant gifts for an office party or gathering can stress some people out. Consider that a study from Jobsite found that more than one-quarter of millennials had to use savings or an overdraft to participate in an office gift exchange and nearly 20% were worried they’d be judged by the gift they chose.

One way to determine if your team feels financially able to participate is to do a survey of the different white elephant game ideas to see what resonates. Those who are watching their wallets the closest might opt for the true “white elephant” that comes at no cost, or you might find a practical “theme” wins out. Taking a cue from the office vibe can help reassure the team that the event will be fun, and not a source of added stress.

White Elephant Gift Suggestions Sure to Please

If you decide to go the classic route at your next office gathering, your team might appreciate some gift exchange ideas. Try to remind them not to buy anything too personal, religious, or expensive—and that adhering to a spending limit will maintain inclusivity. Also, it’s usually suitable to choose something relatively unisex.

Here are some broad categories that are affordable, and sure to please anyone.

Or, you can let their imaginations run wild. (But not too wild!) As they say, it’s better to give than receive, so try to remind your coworkers that it’s all in fun.

About the Author

Cathie Ericson is a freelance writer who specializes in small business, finance and real estate.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is,” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.