Christmas Gift for Bosses

[disneychrista]

Do your bosses give you gifts?

Sorry, I am not giving my bosses gifts.

 

[easyas123]

Do your bosses give you gifts?

Sorry, I am not giving my bosses gifts.

We give all of our employees gifts, and a paid week off between Christmas & New Years. 41 employees. That being said I'd be uncomfortable if anyone gave me gifts - besides, we get A TON of gift baskets & booze into the office from various vendors and Companies- it's not like we are hurting for holiday treats, that's for sure!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would probably just do $25 for both bosses, even though one is a little higher up the chain that the other.

I would do nothing. OKay, maybe homemade cookies. It's not proper to give gifts to your boss(es).

 

[Carol_]

Government employees are typically limited as to what gifts they can accept. Just make sure you keep it in the gift limit

I think I was told by a government employee that the legal limit was under $10. Here's a link: government gift limits
Bake some cookies lest you get subpoenaed by congress.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I've worked in state government for 30 years and never once have I received a gift or exchanged a gift - either have my colleagues. And I agree with the others, gifting down is the only way to go. me and my boss left the state to go private for 5 years.....she make 18 times more money (including her bonus) than I did ( and I made a decent wage) .....there was no chance in HELL I'd be buying her a gift.

 

[disneychrista]

Government employees are typically limited as to what gifts they can accept. Just make sure you keep it in the gift limit

As a government employee myself, we can not accept gifts from outsiders but there is nothing about from one employee to another. We do cash for birthdays (everyone chips in $10 and then it goes to the birthday person), there is a secret santa, there is a gift exchange within our department and other exchanges.

The reason behind the no gifts things is because it can be seen as a bribe.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

I would do nothing. OKay, maybe homemade cookies. It's not proper to give gifts to your boss(es).

I wonder if this depends on where we live and/or work. Yesterday at our work holiday lunch we all gave our bosses a gift. It isn’t expected, but everyone usually brings one. I have never heard anyone say it isn’t proper to give a gift to your boss. Interesting topic!

 

[disneychrista]

I wonder if this depends on where we live and/or work. Yesterday at our work holiday lunch we all gave our bosses a gift. It isn’t expected, but everyone usually brings one. I have never heard anyone say it isn’t proper to give a gift to your boss. Interesting topic!

The radio host yesterday did a thing on this topic yesterday. And basically said an individual should not gift to the boss but if as a group you want to give the boss a gift and all chip in it is okay.

 

[disneysteve]

The radio host yesterday did a thing on this topic yesterday. And basically said an individual should not gift to the boss but if as a group you want to give the boss a gift and all chip in it is okay.

I've read through all of the replies and this is the one I agree with most. I see nothing wrong with the group of employees going in together for a gift for the boss. I see a lot of potential issues with individual employees giving gifts to the boss. The latter creates the risk of favoritism and influence based on who gave what. It also introduces the chances of one-upmanship. You gave $50? Oh, well John gave $60, so Brenda found out and gave $75. It becomes an arms race.

The problem with a group gift is everybody isn't in the same situation. Even if you all earn exactly the same amount at your job, which is unlikely, people's life circumstances are all different.

What should you do? You should still do a group collection, but not for a set amount. Don't say that everyone has to chip in $15. Let everyone chip in whatever they are comfortable giving. Then take that pool of money to buy a single gift.

At my place (not a government job), I give all of our techs and our manager a gift. This year, it's a restaurant gift card to a place I know everyone likes - $15 for the techs, $25 for the manager. Last year they all chipped in and bought me a nice bottle of bourbon, probably $40-50 (I honestly don't remember which bottle they gave me). I thought that was very nice and didn't represent a large cost to any of them individually (there are 10-12 people contributing) but it was very much appreciated so a nice token gesture without them spending a ton of money, which I wouldn't want them to do.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Wow, thanks everyone for your replies. What a variety of responses. I really like the homemade treat ideas, but even though I love to cook I hate making treats, so that option is out.

As for comment on government, this is more looked at as a "friendship" type thing. We aren't able to accept gifts from people we do business with of value (value determined to be $20). But the area we work in, heavy in vendor relationships, it is strict nothing from vendors. Which is great, as one less vendor visit for them to give us something.

After giving it more thought I settled on $30 gc for my director. I think if it hasn't been the prefix for the past 15 years we chipped in, I would have never started with a gift for him. I also am somewhat in the mindset that no gifting up. But I feel cheap not giving him something. And, kinda 2nd guess $50 after hearing comments from everyone in my department that they were sticking a lot lower. I went the completely impersonal route and got him a prepaid mastercard gc versus one to the sporting goods store (lol only because my bank will issue fee free). Figured he could just go what ever place he felt like. If he wants to use it at the sports store great, but now he has the ability to do whatever he wants. Even though impersonal, if I was getting 9 gifts the last thing I would want is 9 things I'm never going to use and have to donate or just have sitting around taking up space.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I wonder if this depends on where we live and/or work.

Nope. It's an etiquette thing. Check some of the Ask a Manager links I posted earlier.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I’m a special ed teachers aide. In previous years I’ve worked with 2-3 teachers per year. The main teacher that I’m with the most and did the most work for never gave me a bday gift or Christmas gift. Not ven a thank you or I appreciate all your hard work. The first two years I gave a bday gift and never got a day gift so I stopped. She would gift(bday and Christmas) the principal, her teacher friend and VP. After the first year I no longer gifted her anything and didn’t feel bad. Plus it took the pressure off me.
The 2nd teacher I only worked one period and no gift exchange
The 3rd teacher only one period and for Christmas he’d gift his aides a $10 gc or small see’s chocolate candy box. I did gift him something. He was a good teacher and always appreciated help.

This year I’m with two new teacher and both are nice and friendly. I have no idea if they exchange gifts with the aides in the past. I wouldn’t mind getting them something little but if they don’t gift I don’t want it to feel awkward or start the gifting stress for future years.
What if anything would be a good little gift? Do I just skip it or have something handy?

I notice many don’t really gift so I don’t know how to go about it. There’s staff I would love to get a little something (like 2 office staff, some lunch staff) but theres 8 office staff and I don’t want to hurt feeling so I don’t gift.

I notice that the ones that do get gifts are the main office secretary, principal vice principal and the popular teachers.

 

[Bjkandma]

When I volunteered as a teacher's aide (just a parent who worked six hours a day, in a classroom(s) situations) - no pay, just trying to help out. I would get
two large boxes of hard candies or chocolates with a note Help yourself, Happy Holidays and placed one in the teacher's lounge and one in the office. That way anyone that was in the office or lounge could help themselves to it! (I've also made chocolate covered pretzels, wrapped in cellophane, tied with a ribbon and left in those areas).

It's the thought that counts!!!

 

[elsbit]

Nope. It's an etiquette thing. Check some of the Ask a Manager links I posted earlier.

There are just as many published articles giving boss gift suggestions, so obviously not everyone follows the same etiquette. I personally believe do what works for you and what makes you comfortable/ happy. I give my current boss a gift. My previous one I did not. Before that yes, no, yes..... I gift based on dynamics, treatment, etc.

 

[disneysteve]

Nope. It's an etiquette thing.

There are just as many published articles giving boss gift suggestions, so obviously not everyone follows the same etiquette.

Exactly. Etiquette is not universal; it is situational. The "proper" thing to do depends on the circumstances, the location, the cultures involved, the traditions at that place, etc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There are just as many published articles giving boss gift suggestions,

Writers get paid for published articles. Without searching for any, I feel safe guessing these articles suggest what to give your boss, not whether (to give a gift to someone who, ultimately, has serious input in your job duties or even that you have that job.)

 

[kymom99]

I’m a special ed teachers aide. In previous years I’ve worked with 2-3 teachers per year. The main teacher that I’m with the most and did the most work for never gave me a bday gift or Christmas gift. Not ven a thank you or I appreciate all your hard work. The first two years I gave a bday gift and never got a day gift so I stopped. She would gift(bday and Christmas) the principal, her teacher friend and VP. After the first year I no longer gifted her anything and didn’t feel bad. Plus it took the pressure off me.
The 2nd teacher I only worked one period and no gift exchange
The 3rd teacher only one period and for Christmas he’d gift his aides a $10 gc or small see’s chocolate candy box. I did gift him something. He was a good teacher and always appreciated help.

This year I’m with two new teacher and both are nice and friendly. I have no idea if they exchange gifts with the aides in the past. I wouldn’t mind getting them something little but if they don’t gift I don’t want it to feel awkward or start the gifting stress for future years.
What if anything would be a good little gift? Do I just skip it or have something handy?

I notice many don’t really gift so I don’t know how to go about it. There’s staff I would love to get a little something (like 2 office staff, some lunch staff) but theres 8 office staff and I don’t want to hurt feeling so I don’t gift.

I notice that the ones that do get gifts are the main office secretary, principal vice principal and the popular teachers.

I’m a teacher and when I wanted to give special colleagues something, I did small things. One year I got small hand sanitizers and packets of tissues and made goodie bags. I’ve also done movie theater boxes of candy, fuzzy socks, etc

 

[Summer2018]

I’m a teacher. We have a Principal and two Assistant Principals. I report directly to the Principal, and she is very supportive. I give her a gift and a Christmas card. My Paraprofessional and I exchange gifts and cards. The teachers on my floor used to exchange gifts, but we stopped last year and only do cards now. Many years ago we also baked cookies, but it became overwhelming. I have a devoted Volunteer that I always give a gift and card to thank her. I also give my Custodian a gift. She works so hard in my classroom.

At graduation, I give flowers to all Parent Volunteers and other Volunteers. It’s important to acknowledge those that support us.