Gifts from your boss

[Nztara]

Do you have a local event like a Festival of Lights? Ours is 8/per car. Maybe they have a group rate if you purchase a large number of tickets? That's a holiday gift a single person or family could enjoy.

My dad had 60 employees under him and my stepmom used to make chocolate cover pretzels, peanut clusters, etc and package in a pretty tin. They were always a big hit.

I also like the idea of bringing in lunch. Sandwich platters from a deli usually run $8.50/person in our area.

 

[goofeyken]

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.

The lottery is gambling but you personally would have made no financial bet, so no its not gambling in this case.

 

[undertheradar]

Macys has gourmet gifts on sale this weekend. Bought tins of candies and nuts for roughly $8 per person. Spend $99 and shipping is free. Go through ebates and earn 6% cash back.

While a food spread is a nice idea, what about people who aren't there that day? The tins are something they can take home and share.

 

[teacherforhi]

The lottery is gambling but you personally would have made no financial bet, so no its not gambling in this case.

You obviously don't live in the Bible Belt. NC didn't have a lottery for years because of the churches actively campaigning against it. Trust me, they consider it a sin whether or not they bought the tickets themselves.

 

[MomToOne]

Food for our team is problematic: we have meat eaters vs. various flavors of vegetarians (one comes close to a raw diet), only healthy eaters vs. those of us that enjoy treats on occasion. So at least in our case, I'd say avoid having food brought in. But that's just our team, and I know others may not be so problematic - but at least think it through before you do to make sure it is actually something everyone would enjoy.

For each member of my team (I am the lead but not the manager) I am planning to get a wooden back scratcher from Dollar Tree plus a lottery scratcher ticket and attach a note that says "Two Types of Scratchers for One Merry Christmas!" Total cost will be $2/pp. It's not much, but we have a history of exchanging these types of gifts - it's fun! And everyone I know loves those back scratchers

 

[McKelly]

I like the breakfast idea or can you do a holiday lunch? Either take them out somewhere reasonable where entrees/sandwiches are 10-15 pp or have something brought in? Pizza, subs, etc.

I didn't love this personally, but one year, a massage therapist came in with her chair and gave everyone 15 minutes shoulder massages. She then tried to sell us her services.......BUT, I heard that she didn't charge that much because the massage therapist looked at it as a marketing opportunity.

 

[CookieGVB]

I only have a few people this year who are not assigned to people who will get them gifts, but one year when I had 20 people, I bought everyone a Totes umbrella when one of our stores had them for $4.99 each. They loved those things, and some people still have them and remember I gave them that gift. My boss thought I was crazy, but it made me happy. The past few years I've had a lot less, so have gotten them each lotion and hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works during one of their sales, and got them each a $10 Starbucks gc.

 

[java]

I gave cash.

But i do like the umbrella idea. My dh got a flashlight/multi-tool thing one year that he loves.

 

[doxdogy]

Considering my current boss doesn't even acknowledge our presence most of the time, a simple card would be nice.

 

[aprilgail2]

Scratch off lottery tickets.

That would be fine with me- would rather a scratch off lottery ticket than a 5 or 10.00 gift card someplace.

 

[SEA333]

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.

This!!!! Employees mostly want only two things: Time off and money. And food.

If your employees are salary, give all of them a chance to leave early on a day or come in late. They will LOVE you!

My boss is amazing - we all love her and she is like our mom/sister (depending on our ages LOL), and she really looks out for us. We have very busy times every so often (like monthly!), and she knows that we all will work through lunch and come in early/stay late to meet a deadline, so she will bring in breakfast for us, or email us and tell us to send her our Jimmy Johns orders for lunch. We are all salaried professionals in supply chain of a well-known global manufactured goods business, but even a $7.00 sandwich will make us happy! LOL One time last year we were all sick one after another, and she came in with a big sack of oranges - she said she was going to stop for donuts but thought we all needed a vitamin C boost instead I don't know why I found that so funny then, but I still do to this day

She will also notice when we have worked too many hours and tell us to work from home for a morning or take a long lunch when it slows down a little.

She also gets us a bottle of wine at Christmas and usually a gift card to Starbucks or somewhere. We all appreciate it.

 

[gracie1]

I got a scratch off one year from my boss and won $200! I love getting them. I started buying them last year for the stocking stuffers for my parents. And for myself - Christmas Eve we will sit down and scratch them all. We only won about $4 last year but it was still fun!

 

[Judique]

aarrgh!

I have to do this this week as our holiday party is this week.

I have almost 200 to do 'something' for.

I have 7 immediate supervisors under me.

Then I have 2 bosses over me.

It's not easy. It's not so much the cost as the time and energy.

 

[sasywtch]

I have 7 that I am the lead for. The first year I was lead, I had 4 under me that were new state workers so I bought them all a plate, bowl, cup as every good worker has in their drawer for potlucks and such. (they were holiday decorated ones).

This year I'm doing cookies for my group. I was debating but then my worker asked me if I'm making the kiss cookies again. I had no idea she loved them. It made me feel good when she said "oh good". Since we are all work potluck junkies, I fortunately don't have the restrictions.

I did just go out and get items for someone who's mother just passed and we took up a collection. I got a gc for the local movie theatre, subway, Wendys, Amazon for her Kindle and a 6 pk bottles of Diet Coke. When her sister had passed a few years ago, she grumbled to me a little that she didn't like plants/flowers so we all thought where she goes and does and got the gc.

Just a tip for those who buy or do for coworkers, the day after Christmas, my large grocery store and Target/Walmart have Christmas plates, bowls etc for 50 cents. I buy some and put them away for gift giving the next year. I got Chinese take out containers in holiday theme for 10 cents last year. (large size). That's what they are getting their cookies in this year.

 

[mrp4352]

My boss gives us homemade breads every year! And he takes orders from a list of 4-5 types (his cranberry nut bread is the BEST!)

 

[MSSANDRA]

I have six women. I am taking everyone out to lunch at Olive Garden and did a gift bag for each one. Each one has a nice pair of Christmas slipper socks, a bottle of nice shower gel, a box of Christmas candy.

 

[angierae]

My immediate boss tends to give us gift cards to places within walking distance of work (we work in a little 'downtown' area and everyone walks to lunch if they go out.

I've also gotten chocolate, wine, other various candies. The one attorney I work for gives us gift certs to the chair masseuse that comes into the office every few weeks, which is nice.

 

[secretpantssam]

One year my boss gave us chocolates. Then there were a few years of nothing and last year he gave us a scratch off lottery ticket in an envelope with our name written on it. I personally would have preferred a card with something nice written in it and no lottery ticket.

Snacks and food are always a good gift to me. Candy, chocolate covered pretzels, hot chocolate, etc. A small gift card works as well. And again, I think a card that has a nice message thanking them for their hard work makes people feel appreciated.

 

[AquaDame]

A Christmas bonus.

OK ok, thats from the company at large, but he also will take us out for a holiday lunch which is always very appreciated. We forward the phone to one of us and walk to a restaurant within walking distance (downtown office). He covers drinks as well - my office has no policy other than "the work comes first" as far as that goes - we have kegs on every floor. It certainly strengthens the team bond when we get to do stuff like that together and makes us all jolly!

 

[clshirk]

Do you think guys like bottles of wine like the girls do?