holiday gifts at the office vent

[RadioFanatic]

at my old job, we had three levels of employees: partners (20), associates (including me, 15) and staff (about 60 people). Although we never rec'd anything from the partners (always told we would be getting a bonus and then oops - no bonus), and the staff gave us nothing, heck would break loose if it was thought we weren't giving the staff something - so every year, I was forced to contribute about $50 b/c there were so many more staff than associates. One year, we did a breakfast instead of our usual gift of 2 movie tix and boy were they unappreciative. So they got gifts from us and then gifts from partners. It drove me crazy every year.

Now in my new place, we just do a lunch. I have a staff of seven that I get a little something to just say thanks for all the hard work they do - but it's my decision. Last year, I spent $30, through a great deal at Bath & Body Works for 7 bottles of hand cream. This year, I got a great Yankee Candle deal (in August!) so it only cost me $23 for seven really nice sized different scented candles!

 

[dani0622]

It's nice to know that I am not the only one out there with office gift giving problems! Thanks everyone!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I worked in one large state agency in which everyone was expected to give X amount toward a gift for the director, X amount toward a gift for the assistant director, and X amount for the supervisor, in addition to drawing names and spending X amount for a gift. It was just insane. I really place the responsibility on the administrators, who should have nipped the gift-giving in the bud (what kind of $150,000/year administrators--these were physicians-- would accept gifts from underlings making minimum wage, anyway??). To top it all off, we were directed to bring a dish for a Christmas lunch to feed a huge amount of Important Visitors to our agency (who, I assure you, did NOT bring pot luck dishes).

I objected to the above and was considered a Scrooge (even though many others felt the same way but wouldn't verbalize for fear of being considered, yup, a Scrooge).

The most fun Christmas I've ever had in an office was when we all wrapped up silly junk from home or the dollar store (troll earrings, an ugly tie, that kind of thing) and took turns opening gifts. If you preferred the gift that someone before you had opened, you could take the gift from them and they in turn got to unwrap another gift. There was a huge amount of gift "stealing" and general hilarity. Nobody spent more than a dollar and everybody had a great time!

 

[RUDisney]

Kitty, you made me laugh! My sister is a drug rep. Before the govt cracked down on what reps could give to doctors, she had one doctor that she visited who would tell all the reps that he wanted a $200 GC to Sharper Image. You figure, if 20 reps would give that to him, he'd have enough for the $4,000 massage chair! He'd also demand a particular type of wine for other occasions.

Sounds like he'd have fit right in with the doctors in your office.

WTH!?! Having staff cater a meal for people who come in to visit them!?! Like they couldn't afford to cater an event for the staff and their visitors? All I can say is, "WOW!"

 

[SC Minnie]

I work for a Fortune 100 Forest Products co. We have over 50,000 employees worldwide. Sales in the division I work in are in the billions. We have a pot luck in our building every Christmas and the GM over the building funds doesn't even kick in for the ham and turkey.

 

[RUDisney]

SC Minnie, you reminded me of our office Christmas luncheon from several years ago. It was pot luck and that was fine with everyone. Let's say, though, that you decided to make lasagna... not a super expensive meal, but not inexpensive either. Great! I made the sausage and peppers... again, a reasonably priced meal. We aren't in the bonus program, or we are clerical positions. Then, the SVP, CFO, brings in a jar of olives, because he doesn't cook. So, he whose salary is published in the proxy statement each year because he makes so much brought a $.99 jar of olives, when the clerk spent $20 on her dish.

After much complaining, the decision was made that a committee would be formed. You either had to sign up to prepare a dish or you had to pay towards your share. They would buy the meats that would go into certain dishes, or pay for the ricotta in your lasagna. You'd still put in the labor, but wouldn't have to fund the whole dish while someone else was basically going to eat for free.

This resolved the issue and everyone is happy again.... except for the year that one of the secretaries was going to make chicken and noodles. The committee bought the chicken for her... maybe 10 lbs. of boneless breast meat. She basically cooked 2 lbs. of the chicken. Boiled up some egg noodles and tossed them with butter. OK, so the dish wasn't good right out of the gate, but she bragged at the luncheon that she was going to use the remaining 8 lbs. of chicken for the dinner that she and her husband were hosting for their families. She's no longer with us and that story comes up every year at the Christmas luncheon.