More than half(53 percent) of global executives surveyed believe their boss is the hardest person to buy a holiday gift for, according to the latest Executive Quiz from Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY), the premier provider of executive search, outsourced recruiting and leadership development solutions. Bosses topped the list of responses, which also included subordinates (17 percent), assistants (16 percent) and colleagues/peers (14 percent).

Other survey highlights include:

• Holiday Workload. The largest percentage of executives (38 percent) plan to take between four and seven vacation days during this upcoming holiday season. More than one-third (34 percent) plan to take more than eight days, and more than one-quarter (27 percent) plan to take fewer than three days. Seven of ten (72 percent) of executives expect to do work while on vacation over the upcoming holiday season. 
• Holiday Bonuses. When asked if they expect to receive a holiday bonus this year, the most common response by executives was "highly unlikely" (37 percent). Only one in five (20 percent) believe receiving a holiday bonus is "highly likely," with the remaining 43 percent of executives unsure. 
• Holiday Shopping. The largest percentage of executives (45 percent) believes that $25-50 USD is an appropriate amount of money to spend on a holiday gift for a colleague. The next largest percentage (29 percent) say "less than $25," 17 percent say "$50-100," eight percent say "$0" and two percent say "more than $100." 
• Holiday Parties. More than half (51 percent) of executives surveyed plan to attend their company´s holiday party this year. Twenty-one percent do not plan to attend, five percent are unsure and the remainder of respondents (22 percent) report their company is not having a holiday party. 
• Holiday Cards. Executives have mixed feelings about the use of business-related holiday cards. Thirty-nine percent feel they are "an important business development tool," while 41 percent say they "should be reserved for personal use" and 20 percent call them a "waste of paper." 
• New Year´s Resolutions. More than two-thirds (70 percent) of executives plan to make a job-related new year´s resolution for 2006.

"Etiquette around inter-office holiday gifts - especially for the boss - is often tricky for executives, who struggle with the appropriate type and price range for these items," said Bob Damon, president of North America for Korn/Ferry. "You don´t want to give something too small and appear stingy, but something too nice could be viewed as an attempt to buy favor."

Methodology

The Korn/Ferry International Executive Quiz is based on a global survey of executives registered within the firm´s online Executive Center, ekornferry.com. Respondents from nearly 60 countries, representing a wide spectrum of industries and functional areas, participated in the most recent Executive Quiz between November and December 2005.

About Korn/Ferry International

Korn/Ferry International, with more than 70 offices in 35 countries, is the premier provider of executive search, outsourced recruiting and leadership development solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm partners with clients worldwide to deliver unparalleled senior-level search, management assessment, coaching and development, and recruitment outsourcing services through its Futurestep subsidiary. For more information, visit the Korn/Ferry International Web site at www.kornferry.com or the Futurestep Web site at www.futurestep.com.