Wouldn't it be great if everything holiday-related was as straightforward as sprinkled sugar cookies? Office gift giving is a gray area for many employees, especially if you're new to the company and aren't sure of holiday protocol. The presence of multiple supervisors and several colleagues make it difficult to separate those who should receive a gift (if any) from those who don't need to be included.
Will your boss receive a gift from you this year?
Hussein Chalayan
Rag and Bone
J by Jasper Conran
to be honest, i haven't thought much about it - i don't have money to buy anyone gifts, but i know that i probably should get something - a little token. it's hard with her since she doesn't really like things that would be easiest for me to get her.
1I'll be making everyone that works in my department/area the same super cute little homemade gift baskets with yummy baked goods and homemade coffee spoons and such.
2I have three bosses to consider... my immediate boss asked that I give whatever I was going to spend on her Christmas to a charitable organization. My second boss, a whole bunch of us are getting together and giving a donation to a charitable organization. My third boss, a bunch of us are getting together and buy something to give her.
Oy... I never really think about how messed up my 'boss' hierarchy is until I start talking about it!
3I've never bought a present for a boss, but I've also never worked closely or been in the same department as my boss. But I guess I've gifted the head of my department before.. nothing big though.
4yup! The Dean's (my boss) holiday party is Saturday so I will be bringing him a bottle of wine as usual
5I have given Godiva chocolates or wine in the past to my boss, because I know they throw a couple parties with their friends/family around this time of year, so I figure they can enjoy it then... I haven't decided if I will do anything for the rest of my coworkers... maybe some homemade treats. Last year I bought some of those hot chocolate mixes that are sold at Walgreens and Target and gave those out... haha I'm cheap! But, I figure this way they can at least regift if they don't want it... oh that's awful to plan that way, but, oh well!
6Everyone in my office is getting the same thing: homemade chocolate covered pretzels.
7My boss is like twice my age and doesn't need or really want anything, but I know he will get me a gift so I actually get him a small gift for his puppies which are like his babies.
8I am baking a HUGE amount fo homemade Christmas cookies and I am just going to bring those in during coffee sometime
9I work for a small staffing agency, so there are only about 15 people in the office. The owner is everyone's boss and I never know what to get him since I don't have a lot of money. I have a few people that I'm close with in the office, so I get them individual gifts. Last year, some of us chipped in for a nice wine opener for our supervisor (who none of us even like by the way). This year, I decided I'm going to make cookies for everyone cuz I can't afford to buy gifts for everyone and even the owner should be able to appreciate that. I do want to get something for one man in the office since he always gets us such nice gifts. But I have no idea what to get a 60 something year old man with no hobbies that I know of.
10I am only giving small gifts to my student assistants. I would never expect them to give me anything - and my boss could probably care less. I'm debating bringing in some cookies or brownies for the office as a whole.
11Angela, what is a homemade coffee spoon?
12i will be making some homemade cookies or some other treat together with my coworker to give to both of our bosses... i am around these people like 9 hours a day so i feel like i have to do something.
13The office is doing a secret santa, which the boss is included in. So, whomever got him, gets him a gift :]
14Sonya Ina...my office doing the same thing
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15This is my third Christmas at this company and each year I've scaled back my gifts for my two bosses a bit. This year it is more of a small token gift with a card since I want to give them something but unless something great had come to mind I wasn't going to spend a lot of money.
16My boss doesn't deserve a gift from me, if I would ever get him anything it would some coal and foot up his butt.
17I hadn't even thought about it, but he usually gets all of us something. Thanks for the reminder!
18Yes, I'm getting my "bosses" gifts because I need to keep good client relationships as a freelancer...but I'm keeping it cheap or doing home-made stuff like blank journals.
19I have never given a boss a gift-gift only a card and I more consider her my friend/mother/mentor 2 years after leaving that position we are still very close friends. My current boss is really cool whoever I won't be getting her anything.
20Our department has decided that we will each donate a toy to the toydrive instead of exchanging gifts this year.
21That is a fantastic idea, tlight!
I'm torn about this. Yes, I want my bosses to know I hold them in high regard AND get across how thankful I am for my job. Do they need my lame $15 gift? No! Do they care about my lame $15 gift? Certainly not! Do I bake something for them? I have no idea --- our office gets TONS of baked goods, cheese baskets, fruit baskets, etc. from our clients. I thought of making some mixed cds.... but one of my bosses has an extremely large music collection.
This is a toughy for me!
22Isn't brown nosing to give your boss a gift?
23Amber,
Perhaps. But I don't believe brown-nosing is the sole reason people give their bosses gifts. I genuinely feel grateful for my job and enjoy the company of those I spend my work days with! I appreciate them.
That said, what's wrong with a little brown-nosing? If it doesn't hurt anybody, what's the biggie?
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