Chipping in for boss gift?

[erincon23]

I started a new job Oct. 15. It's a small office -- three admins (I'm one -- two of us are part-time, 1 full-time), 9 or 10 real estate brokers. Two of the brokers gave me small bonuses yesterday, which was unexpected but very nice. In my email yesterday, there was a message from the full-time admin saying that she was taking care of the collection for a gift for the agency's owner. I asked her what she was expecting people to contribute -- she said $20, but whatever I felt I could manage, and no pressure.

Money's tight and I haven't been there that long, but I don't want to cause an issue -- can I get away with $10?

 

[girli565]

I'm sure $10 is fine, they did say whatever you could manage.

 

[prncess674]

Totally inappropriate to give a gift to the boss. I would politely decline and bring in a plate of homemade cookies for the entire staff to enjoy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34276009/ns/business-careers/t/think-twice-giving-boss-gift/

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I think $10 is perfectly fine. You are only part time and have not been there very long.

We all give $5 to buy our boss a gift and then get her a gift card to her nail place. She then gets us all $5 gift cards to one of the local places we go to lunch occasionally. We are really just swapping money which I think is silly, but I play along to not rock the boat.

 

[Marionnette]

Totally inappropriate to give a gift to the boss. I would politely decline and bring in a plate of homemade cookies for the entire staff to enjoy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34276009/ns/business-careers/t/think-twice-giving-boss-gift/

I disagree. Office politics are important to a career and if you're the new kid on the block, you don't want to risk alienating your co-workers by pointing out any faux pas they may be committing. If gifting the boss is a tradition at the office, then you should try to follow suit.

For the OP, I think it's appropriate to give just $10 this year. After all, you have only been at this office for 2 months. The other employees have been there longer. However, next year is a different story and I don't think your co-workers will be as understanding if you were to chip in less than they do.

 

[Ksquilter72]

Personally, I would give $20 for the gift. You received two small, unexpected bonuses so it's not 'extra' money coming out of a budget. In addition, it's possible those bonuses may be followed by others, including one from the owner. Also, in a small office, there may be 'no pressure', but there definitely will be long memories. If you're grateful for the job, enjoying the people and want to be there long-term, then show that you're fully committed by pitching in the $20 that was requested.

And this is advice given from personal experience - I work in a small office as well and other employees still bring up holiday events from years and years past!

 

[onescgirl]

I would give the $20 or up it to $15.

 

[erincon23]

Thanks! I'll have to think about it.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

First - I agree that a boss does not get a Christmas gift from his/her employees.

Second - $10 is more than enough for a part time person to contribute.

 

[erincon23]

After talking with DH last night, I think $10 is what I'll do. And while I may agree in principle about boss gifts being inappropriate, I think the feeling around here is that the boss -- who is the owner of the agency -- goes way above and beyond to make the office have a much more "family" feeling than most offices. He is a much-loved person to the employees, many of whom have worked with/for him for years. So it's kind of a "thank you for all you do" type of thing. I don't have any objection to the gift as such -- it's just our personal situation and the length of time I've been there. And to the poster who said there are long memories of "office transgressions," I understand that! But I haven't seen ANY (and I know how unusual this is) signs of tension/irritation/backstabbing etc. among the people in the office. (and geez, it's kind of wearing to the cynic in me... )

 

[Swirly girls]

I'm bringing a nice container with baked Christmas cookies and goodies. I might also buy a nice poinsettia plant too. Not sure about that.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I work for a very small business, 12 employees. The boss has a Christmas dinner every year at a nice place and invites everyone to bring a spouse or SO. The dinner usually costs him about 2K, I'm in a position to know. He also gives generous bonuses each year. At least, I think they are generous. Even in today's economy, the bonus increases each year by $100(on top of the original bonus) to "reward loyalty", as he puts it. Last year was the first year everyone chipped in an bought him a Christmas gift.

He was moved to tears...

Now, I will tell you that my boss is my brother. I've exchanged gifts with him every year since I was old enough to wrap. But, the one last year, given to him from his employees, probably meant the most of any gift I've seen him receive. So, regardless if the MSN article may consider you a "brown noser", consider your boss as a person... then decide.

To the OP, I think a $10 contribution is very reasonable... what you can afford is just that, what you can afford.

Merry Christmas!

 

[figment814]

I work for a large-sh company. I supervise three managers and one admin. I do not expect gifts from any of my employees. I know different people have different philosophies and it doesn't affect our work relationship. Thus far I have received a book from one of my managers, and some food gifts and a nice note from another. My admin and I will exchange gifts we've worked together for years, and really connect on a professional level. If my fourth direct report gives me nothing, I have no reason to think any differently about her. She is an awesome employee and does amazing work; she does like to keep work and personal separate and I totally respect that. My boss and I also have a great relationship, and exchange gifts.

As a new employe, and a part time one to boot, I would not expect anything from you except a happy holidays/merry Christmas!

 

[Northernlites]

above where the boss spent lots of money on the dinner then yes a small gift is okay. Most people fail to realize that the boss doesn't usually want a gift or expect a gift plus where I work the boss makes $100 k more than the staff. He doesn't buy us gifts so why would we get him a gift

 

[piglet33]

Totally inappropriate to give a gift to the boss. I would politely decline and bring in a plate of homemade cookies for the entire staff to enjoy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34276009/ns/business-careers/t/think-twice-giving-boss-gift/

I don't agree with this. We always collect money for a gift for my boss and get her a gift card. She is a wonderful person to work for, and we like to show her we appreciate her. She usually takes us out to lunch and gives us gift cards too.

 

[tasha99]

Boss gifts being inappropriate is news to me. When I was an admin assistant/legal secretary for a sole practitioner (very small office), I always exchanged gifts w/ my boss. I'd get him a bottle of wine or some food gift, and he'd give me a bonus and take me out to lunch.

 

[prncess674]

above where the boss spent lots of money on the dinner then yes a small gift is okay. Most people fail to realize that the boss doesn't usually want a gift or expect a gift plus where I work the boss makes $100 k more than the staff. He doesn't buy us gifts so why would we get him a gift

Agree that a small token gift is appropriate, but all the admins collecting for a large gift for the boss is IMHO a no-no.

I don't agree with this. We always collect money for a gift for my boss and get her a gift card. She is a wonderful person to work for, and we like to show her we appreciate her. She usually takes us out to lunch and gives us gift cards too.

So you are all exchanging cash? As someone in a professional position I would feel very uncomfortable if my administrative staff collected money to buy me a gift. Of course a small dish of candy or homemade cookies is lovely, but a cash or GC would honestly make me uncomfortable knowing that my salary is 4 to 5 times higher than my admins.

I think it needs to be clear when we say "boss" and what that means to others. If you are the department supervisor in a large shop (Target, Wal-Mart, JCP, Kohl's) then I would say it is fine if your department coworkers were to buy you a gift and you buy each of them a gift of equal value, but let's say you are the store manager (with 250 employees) and your employees all chipped in $5 a piece to buy the store manager a gift then yes that is certainly inappropriate.

 

[Gigi22]

In the small office setting described by the OP, I would advise her to chip in at least $10.
In the large office settings I have worked in, we had code of conduct rules that mandated against gifts of any type to the boss. All in the name of keeping everything equal.
I never fully appreciated the real purpose of our code of conduct rules until the time I 'inherited' an employee whose religion did not permit him to participate in Christmas celebrations of any type. He opted out of everything that was connected to the holiday.

 

[Lionqueen2]

Totally inappropriate to give a gift to the boss. I would politely decline and bring in a plate of homemade cookies for the entire staff to enjoy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34276009/ns/business-careers/t/think-twice-giving-boss-gift/

I also agree that is is totally inappropriate to give a gift to a boss and also totally appropriate for him to accept it. However, since this seems to be the norm in your office and it is a joint gift from a few employees, I would contribute $10 for the gift. The right thing for the owner to do would be to end this practice for future years.

 

[erincon23]

I also agree that is is totally inappropriate to give a gift to a boss and also totally appropriate for him to accept it. However, since this seems to be the norm in your office and it is a joint gift from a few employees, I would contribute $10 for the gift. The right thing for the owner to do would be to end this practice for future years.

I don't think it's inappropriate to give to a boss -- granted,I haven't really had a boss for many many years (I've been freelancing and substitute teaching), but when I worked full time, I think we always gave gifts to our boss.

And this isn't from a few employees -- it's from everyone in the company (all 13 or 14 of us). I don't see anything wrong with it, and I certainly wouldn't think he should do anything to end it. Most of the people in the office, except for us three admins, are independent contractors and not employees (it's a real estate office) and I'd be willing to bet that they all give a whole lot more than the suggested $20 (two of the agents are the owner's daughters). I think it's a nice recognition of his contributions and importance to the smooth running of this very nice office.