Happy National Boss's Day!?

How do you celebrate this uniquely American holiday? What, if anything, do you do for your boss?

When asked recently what’s the appropriate gift for Boss’s Day, I gave my standard answer: It depends. Seriously, it depends on what you think of your boss and your professional relationship with him/her.

If you work for a good boss

Take the boss out for breakfast or lunch, and tell him/her how much you enjoy working with him/her (with specific feedback reinforcing why you like being part of the team). If you have trouble expressing yourself, you can always count on Hallmark or American Greetings to say it for you.

If you work for a bad boss

There are a lot of self-help books you can give to the boss, leave anonymously on his/her desk, or get for yourself to help you cope. For example, The No-Asshole Rule ... Working Wounded … Fish! … (Note: I could put in a cheap plug for my book, Taking Care of the People Who Matter Most: A Guide to Employee-Customer Care, here as well, but the truth is it’s not for the clueless.)

Here’s one other idea for the perfect gift when you work for a bad boss, and it’s one you give yourself - an updated resume. It might just be the ultimate gift that gets you a new job and peace of mind.