In your area, what is the going rate for gifts for co-workers?

[C.Ann]

At my DD's place of employment they draw names and then exchange gifts at the company Christmas party..

When I asked her how much they were to spend on a gift for the person whose name they drew she said fifty dollars!!!!!

I thought I was going to have to rip the oxygen off my poor DH's face and use it myself!

I think that's downright silly for a co-worker.. Shoot - half of them aren't even employed there until a month or so before the party..

Am I far too frugal - or do you think that's a bit much too?

 

[nyfinfan]

I'm with you. Too much. Maybe half that would be fair.

 

[Princess Michelle]

That's crazy! I would never participate in something like that, there are people in my family that don't get a present worth that much money let alone a co-worker.

In the place I work we do not do formal exchanges and that is how I prefer it. Everyone usually buys a little something for everybody (it's a small office, less than 15 people) but the combined price for the whole office is probably less than $50.00. That's a little extreme to me.

Whenever I've done ornament or gift exchanges at other work places the price limit was $10.00 so that everyone could feel free to participate.

 

[summerrluvv]

We do a secret santa gift exchange and draw names every year. Our limit is $25, which I personally think is too high for a co-worker. I know other depts in my company have a $15 limit. $50 is insane! If that was our limit, I would be opting out!!

 

[rae519]

Worksite - $25.00, usually gift certificates to restaurants

Stable - $20.00 gift exchange (pull out a name type drawing)


Rae

 

[DocRafiki]

Our exchange has a $10-15 guideline. I think it has more to do with the place of business rather than area (of the country, if that's what you meant.) I mean, most of the people at work make between $8-10 an hour; some are part-time workers who are still in high school. If we were all engineers, I'd expect more like $30. If we were Wall Street traders, maybe $500.

I'm expecting it will be more of a gift card exchange, anyway, which makes me a little cynical about the whole deal. Silly, silly.

 

[Cindy B]

We have a $10 limit at work. You could write three things on a list.

It worked out well...the person I received asked for either slippers, a small Yankee candle, or a surprise me!

Other people asked for a bottle of wine, or candles, gift certificate to Borders, anything by Bath and Body Works, etc...

 

[DVC-Don]

We banned gift exchanges at our little business a couple of years ago. Too many squables.

 

[C.Ann]

Phew! I was beginning to think maybe I was the "Queen" of cheapness..

I think it's INSANE !!! Because my DD is a supervisor, she feels as though she "has" to participate, but that's quite a stretch for the people working under her that don't make nearly as much money..

I think they should either do away with it entirely, or set a reasonable amount for a grab bag type thing.. That way no one would know who purchased what and they wouldn't have to feel bad if they couldn't afford to buy something lavish..