Gifts from your boss

[5 Disney Fans]

What has been your favorite gift from your boss?

I manage a team of folks and normally had about 8-10 people on my team. I was buying a $10 g/c (Starbucks, Panera, Amazon) and then a treat of some sort. Like when BJs or Sam's had a 4 pack of mugs with Giardelli hot cocoa and chocolate I'd buy them and put the gift card with it. So I was spending around $15 per person.

Well this year with changes at my job I have closer to 20 people now. I'd hate to disappoint people who have been on my team for years by doing less but I can't spend $300 either. My team has chipped in together the past few years to buy me a VERY nice gift so I definitely want to do something in return.

I'm looking for ideas and thought I could ask others what gifts they received from their boss that they enjoyed and found meaningful and didn't think "ugh how cheap!"

 

[Vernie822]

I think even a $5-10 Starbucks/Dunkin/etc gift card would be much appreciated.

I don't have anyone under me, but last year I gave our team all homemade chex mix. I got cute little bags at Target (they have a ton of seasonal stuff in their dollar section), and filled them with Chex Mix.

I also bought a nice tin at Target (or maybe a craft store, I can't remember) and filled it with homemade cookies for my boss.

I know both of those things take some time but no one in my department ever denies food... haha.

You could also do a breakfast for everyone? Maybe get bagels, pastries and coffee from Panera and have a nice spread on a morning before everyone leaves for the holidays. Or sometimes, my manager will suggest a Starbucks run and pick up the tab. As employees we really appreciate when either of those occur.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Maybe a lunch, make some spaghetti, and garlic bread with a salad and give a 10 dollar gc. Spaghetti is fairly inexpensive.

 

[fbb]

Scratch off lottery tickets.

 

[havaneselover]

Scratch off lottery tickets.

I'd much rather have a $5 gift card than $5 in lottery tickets.

If my boss were spending their personal money on gifts for $20 employees, I wouldn't expect much. You sound like a great boss I like the idea of bringing in breakfast. We got amazon donuts from our bosses the Wednesday before thanksgiving which I really appreciated.

 

[fbb]

I'd much rather have a $5 gift card than $5 in lottery tickets.

If my boss were spending their personal money on gifts for $20 employees, I wouldn't expect much. You sound like a great boss I like the idea of bringing in breakfast. We got amazon donuts from our bosses the Wednesday before thanksgiving which I really appreciated.

Different strokes, for sure. I have a team of 65 and it's an easy one-size-fits-all answer.

 

[havaneselover]

Different strokes, for sure. I have a team of 65 and it's an easy one-size-fits-all answer.

Okay.

Just saying it's not something I would appreciate at all. Offering opinions and different perspectives is one of the reasons this forum exists.

A lot of Evangelical Christians see the lottery as gambling.

 

[fbb]

Okay.

Just saying it's not something I would appreciate at all. Offering opinions and different perspectives is one of the reasons this forum exists.

A lot of Evangelical Christians see the lottery as gambling.

I understand and respect your opinion.

 

[rnorwo1]

One year, I bought a Kerurig for the entire office.... Even the non-coffee drinkers loved it because they could use it for tea and hot chocolate, etc. so, maybe you can think of something the entire office could use?

 

[NorCalGal]

One year, I bought a Kerurig for the entire office.... Even the non-coffee drinkers loved it because they could use it for tea and hot chocolate, etc. so, maybe you can think of something the entire office could use? way.

Depends on your office, but this might be a great idea. A friend of mine works in a local medical office, and she said that the "coffee fund" had always been a little bit of a drama for the office. Then one year they were given a Keurig and now everyone just provides their own K-cups and they all love it.

 

[scrapquitler]

You could also do a breakfast for everyone? Maybe get bagels, pastries and coffee from Panera and have a nice spread on a morning before everyone leaves for the holidays. Or sometimes, my manager will suggest a Starbucks run and pick up the tab. As employees we really appreciate when either of those occur.

I like this idea much better than a little token gift.

Or if you have the power, allow everyone a half day off, or a leave early on Friday afternoon, etc. Especially if this is something that the employees are not normally free to do.

 

[BCV2003]

I manage about 17 people (all women) and I've done a variety of things. I've done Starbuck's and Tim Horton's gift cards, Subway gift cards, lottery tickets, and last year it was the Bath & Body Works 3-wick candles. This year, I got a good deal on umbrellas and matching reusable totes (the kind that fold up into a small pouch) at Ikea so everyone will get an umbrella and tote this year.

Its hard to think of something that the majority will like. If I didn't find the umbrellas and totes I probably would have gone the gift card route again.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Don't do scratch off lottery tickets. If the ticket is a loser that person then feels like they got nothing and you have just wasted money you could have spent on something else.

$5 gift cards as others have suggested.
Do you have a local candy shop that you could contact and see if they can cut you a deal on a box of chocolates since you will be buying quit a few

If you don't have the power to let them leave a half day early what about an hour early. Tell them to take their lunch time before they leave so they will then be leaving 2 hours early but the company is only paying for 1 hr of time.

 

[Handbag Lady]

$200 Gift card to The Sunglass Hut (this was a previous job. NICE!)

A Disney Dooney handbag (The Wonder Satchel)

Wine, wine and more wine. I really LOVE tasting different varieties of red wines. It seems that more and more of my colleagues have figured this out. Last year, I got 14 bottles from various people. I was in heaven!

(Well, it was asked what our favorites were!)


I LOVE getting lottery tickets. It isn't really about the win/lose, it is the anticipation and the silliness of trying to find a quarter and having a bunch of colleagues/friends start that conversation about IF they wine something big.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

One year, I bought a Kerurig for the entire office.... Even the non-coffee drinkers loved it because they could use it for tea and hot chocolate, etc. so, maybe you can think of something the entire office could use?

That is a really good idea!

 

[jedijill]

I buy donuts/bagels through the year but at Christmas I made a huge variety of Christmas candy and bring it for the entire team to enjoy. I get to enjoy making it and then I get it out of my house and the team enjoys the treat. I also give each person on the team (even though I only have 5 direct reports) a card.

Jill in CO

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My preschool classroom team has been giving the same type of gift to everyone who supports our class for a few years (principal, vice principal, speech therapist, custodian, librarian, etc.). We fill small gift bags with tea bags, hot chocolate packets, individually wrapped cookies, and candy. We look around for sales and then make a little assembly line to put them together. You could do the same type of thing and add a 5 or 10 dollar gift card.

 

[Eureka]

Trader Joes has small boxes of candy that are about $2...think Whitmans sampler size. They are attractive, just put a sparkly bow on them. Or do a Whitmans or Russell Stover box. I love getting mini treats that I don't have to share

 

[disneychrista]

My boss(es) have never bought us Christmas Gifts. The company gives us a (small) holiday bonus.

 

[clshirk]

I appreciate these ideas. i'm looking for the same. We've grown from around 10 to 14 in staff now and I gave small gifts out last year that I had bought after Christmas at Kohls the year before (ice scrapers, ornaments, etc)- this year I'm not sure.
Last year I did stock up on bags really cheap-

Maybe a cheaper bottle of wine for those you know who drink and something comparable in cost for those who don't?