Inspired by...what does your boss give you for Christmas

[RadioNate]

Like I said in the other thread DH is the boss and we don't give his employees anything.

Every year I feel horribly guilty about it but we really can't afford it. We are looking at $400 + and that's only spending $5 a person.

We usually skip presents to eachother to save money at Christmas. Our list is big and we usually end up spending about $1500. This year do to my medical bills things are even tighter and I'm trying to stick to $1000.

He does usually do a pizza lunch or something similar.

 

[jlaspoq]

I think a pizza lunch for the group sounds wonderful! At my DH's work (government employee) they do a pot luck lunch - festive but simple. They are not allowed to do gifts.

My boss sends a holiday bouquet - but the company pays for it. I'd rather have pizza he paid for himself!

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

When my Mom owned her own business, she didn't give her employees gifts, she took them and their spouses out for a nice sit down dinner.

 

[golfgal]

At DH's old job he had 450 employees and there was no way we could give everyone one something personally-the company gave everyone something-usually a gift card to Applebees. We gave the management staff gifts-gift baskets, wine glass sets, one year we (well I) got them movie baskets with popcorn, movie candy and gift certificates to the movie rental place all in a cute popcorn bucket. This year I was going to give his staff a hand decorated serving tray thing but since he switched jobs I don't have to worry about that. The new company has a no gift policy which is fine by me.

 

[JKMastalski]

Last year my boss did a pizza lunch and gave everyone individual gifts. Mine was a really nice cheese serving tray and then also $100. He is a very kind generous man. But he can definitly afford to give gifts. Some people just can't and that's okay. I have had plenty of jobs where I didnt' get anything.

Maybe the best gift for your hubby to give would be to let everyone out 1/2 day or something like that. That would be the best gift for me

 

[Sandy V.]

Maybe the best gift for your hubby to give would be to let everyone out 1/2 day or something like that. That would be the best gift for me

That's what my husband did last year. Since we were out of town for the holidays, he "closed shop" (law practice) and gave his secretary the time off between Christmas and New Year's. She was thrilled, as her kids were out of school and she didn't have to worry about day care.

 

[RadioNate]

He is actually quite generous with time off and flexability. He has nearly 100 employees. Even though he is the boss he isn't the highest paid. He has several employees that make more than he does. That is just the nature of the business.

I know every year when people give him things he starts to feel guilty. He also does hand written cards with notes about how great/valuable the employee is.

 

[SC Minnie]

We get nothing.

Before our company was bought out the Director of our department always sent a gift that was delivered to our homes. One year it was a Nutcracker carousel, another a picture frame/clock. Our old company used to have a big Holiday party too. Now nothing.

 

[DVC-Don]

We take our staff and their spouses to an Olive Garden dinner. Course we only have 2 employees in addition to us.

 

[Honeibee]

My manager takes his direct reports (OK there's only two of us left) our to a really nice lunch and gives us each a $100 AmEx gift card. At least, that's what he's done for the past three years.

I give a holiday party for my 20 employees. Also, for the last two weeks of the year they get two hour lunches and we close up early (at lunchtime) before the holiday and on Fridays.

I have really wonderful people working for me, and I appreciate them, so I try to do everything in my power (since I can't give them all tremendous raises).

 

[Pam]

It sounds as though your DH is just the boss of these employees - not the owner of the company. I don't think that he has to do anything.

The fact that he splurges for a pizza lunch is very, very nice.

 

[lecach]

For the last 5 years I worked for a large corporation and we got nothing.

Now I work for a computer start up company. There are only about 35 employees. I know the company pays for a Christmas party at a steak restaurant for employees and their spouses. And gives a small gift like a coffee mug. I dont know if my supervisor (also one the stockholders and one of the top 3 management) will do anything or not. He's close with C, my boss from the previous company that now works here. She told him that my favorite reward is time off - especially now that I have a child. He's already told me on a Friday to leave 2 hours early. So I hope that by Christmas - when I wont have any time off left -that he'll give me time off. As much as I would like and can use $ - time off is more precious to me.

 

[mickeyboat]

My boss buys only for the people in the office. Almost every year we get a cyclamen plant. Every year I kill it.

Denae

 

[jennyl772003]

Well, there are only 3 employees (2 this year), so we actually make out pretty good. The owner of the company (his wife actually) picks out something nice for each of us. The gifts are usually in the $30-50 range I would guess. Then the office manager gets us something. And then all of the agents get us a little something. On the day they give us our gifts, we close the office early and have a little party with some appetizers and booze. We have a formal Christmas party then in January.

In jobs that I have had in the past, if I got a gift at all, it was usually something in the $10 range. This company is very generous as far as gifts go.

 

[NMAmy]

Last year, my boss gave me a book she thought I'd enjoy. She was right, I did enjoy it. She also gives everyone a goody bag filled with different cookies, candies, etc. I thought the book was such a thoughtful gift because she knows how much I enjoy reading and she put a lot of thought into getting me something she thought I'd like.

 

[EthansMom]

DH works for a rather good-sized company. The company does not give out Christmas gifts, but has a Fall Ball in November where the employee and one guest are treated to a very nice 5 course meal with wine, a d.j. and dancing, and door prizes. Last year, DH won $200 from the door prizes.

Also, the company has a little afternoon party for employees' families where Santa comes in for the kids.

 

[wdwpluto]

Our company (probably about 400 people?) has a fancy-schmancy party a week or two before Christmas. GREAT food, open bar, etc. (They also throw a swanky BBQ during the summer)

My immediate supervisor gives each of us in her department (there's 4 of us) a $50 Gap gift card.

 

[tinkerrn]

DH is boss to about 60, but we always manage to bring them something back from every vacation and give homemade goodies at christmas. This past vacation was our wedding/disneymoon, so the typical wedding favors were white mickey and gang shaped peppermints in tulle. They were precious. This year for christmas, I am making little mickey head ornaments with the usual goodies. The theme is mickey; there will be mickey head shaped rice krispie treats, brownies, chocolate pretzels, etc.. I have a blast making them and they seem to like them. He treats his employees pretty good, the company also has a huge christmas party at a very nice hotel in town. The dinner and drinks are free. Its a great company, well, actually its a hospital.
He is a nurse manager.

 

[crazyme5kids]

The company I work for usually gives something small, one time a lunch bag, another time a picnic blanket, plus they have a party at a catering hall.

My husband gets treated very well. He always gets an extra paycheck, plus they close foe the week between Christmas and New Years (although sometimes he winds up having to work anyway lol.)

 

[christineann]

Instead of spending $400 on gifts for the employees, how about asking the employees if they would like to have the money (or even a lesser amount, say $200) go to a needy family or to a homeless shelter? That would be a great team project that everyone could feel a part of.