Do you have employees you buy holiday gifts for?

[disneysteve]

Do you work in a setting where you have staff that you give gifts to? If so, what do you give them?

I have always given my staff holiday gifts. Even though they don't technically work for me, I've always felt that I owed them a thank you for everything they do. In my old practice, there were only 4 people so I gave them each a larger amount. I think I was doing $50/person when I left. Now, there are a lot more people - 10 currently. It's also a different environment as we are all employed by a large hospital system and I'm not the only provider they work with.

I think last year I gave everyone a $10 Dunkin Donuts card, which they all thought was great. They really aren't accustomed to getting gifts in their position so they really appreciated it.

This year, I decide to give cards to a new barbecue restaurant that opened nearby that I'm a big fan of and they have all had the opportunity to try and all liked it. I'm giving everyone a $15 card (and $25 to my manager). I dropped by and handed out 4 of them today. I may stop in tomorrow to try and catch a few more of them. Only 3 techs work at any given time along with the manager, so there's never a time when all 10 people are together.

[mumof2]

Where we worked we use to do a secret santa and then set a limit like$20 to spend on them...it was fun and a good way to bond with them....although as a family people we deal with all year such as the doctors/nurses, vet, chemist (drug store I think you call it) we buy them cookies/chocolates etc that they can all share..my doc I give her peanut mms in a big jar that she eats all year LOL...she loves it...other than not much else....it gets way to expensive over here to eat out.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Call me a Grinch but I've already told my subordinates that I'm not getting them anything so I told them not to get me anything. We all get paid by our employer (public sector).

[~bs]

No, but myself and a few other bosses buy xmas lunch for the staff. I oversee a department of around 40 people.

[Keshet]

The dept. I'm in only has 6 of us. As a group we decided to stop exchanging gifts a couple of years ago. Our Dec. staff meeting doubles as our holiday party; we bring homemade specialties and do a simple pot luck. Easy and low key.

[bjl584]

Nothing here. At least not in my department.
There are a few departments that exchange small gifts.

[Smallsteps]

I am not a big fan of gifts to co-workers. I am very glad in the last few years that has ended in the places i am working.
Years ago when i bought items, i tried to give gifts outside of work or in parking lot as we leave so it was more apart from work.

Mostly people may buy candy or treats for everyone to share but not gifts.

Some think a secret Santa thing is a good alternative but it is awkward to try to buy something for someone you barely know.
I have opted out and then people tend to feel like a person whom opts out are too poor or anti social etc. it is just a weird place to be in.

[kork13]

I don't give any co-workers gifts (it's generally discouraged between superior-subordinates in the military), but I try hard to make sure they know that I appreciate what they do.

For better or worse, I love to cook for people -- so I'll periodically make a big lunch of some kind for everybody in my office. Where I'm currently at, I'm responsible for 25-30 folks, and for Thanksgiving I made some ham & turkey plus some sides, and a few others brought stuff in as well, and we did a small potluck Thanksgiving dinner. We're planning to do the same at Christmas. Other times, I'll bring in or pay for random lunches or snacks/treats.

[disneysteve]

I am not a big fan of gifts to co-workers.

Why is that?

And just to be clear, I'm not talking about people on the same level as me - fellow professionals. I'm talking about our support staff - medical assistants and radiology techs. It would be like an executive giving something to his secretary/admin. assistant. I give everybody (except the manager) the same amount so it's all fair and equal.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Why is that?

And just to be clear, I'm not talking about people on the same level as me - fellow professionals. I'm talking about our support staff - medical assistants and radiology techs. It would be like an executive giving something to his secretary/admin. assistant. I give everybody (except the manager) the same amount so it's all fair and equal.

For me, I feel obligated if someone gives me something and I have to give them something in return. Now a plain Christmas card with no money or no gift card enclosed is fine with me. However if the envelope includes a gift card, here we go "obligation" again and I might feel obligated to get the giver something of equal value. It can get complex but I much rather nip things in the bud at the start and avoid all of it.

[rennigade]

Ill take it one step further. No matter how I try to say it it will sound bad, but I really get no enjoyment getting gifts for anyone during xmas. Its usually a hassle of trying to figure out what to buy. I told my parents I wish they would stop buying me stuff, but that will never happen. As I get older, it feels like its just going through the motions. My wife and I stopped exchanging gifts on holidays way before we were even married...in our mid 20's. Not that we couldnt afford it, we just buy things whenever we want. We never really specify a day when things have to be exchanged. From time to time, we will buy random stuff for each other, almost never for a special occasion or holiday though.

Now, if we have a kid someday, it will be fun buying them stuff and seeing the excitement.

As far as coworkers, not a chance. Im not a manager, but I probably wouldnt. I cant say I ever met anyone that enjoyed exchanging gifts with co workers, or participating in white elephant parties. It seems like its done to distract most people from the miserable soul sucking jobs they have. How often does anyone here go out to dinner or invite a co worker over? Very few I would imagine. I dont mind most of my co workers, but if I never saw them again, I wouldnt lose a single second of sleep.

[disneysteve]

It seems like its done to distract most people from the miserable soul sucking jobs they have. How often does anyone here go out to dinner or invite a co worker over? Very few I would imagine. I dont mind most of my co workers, but if I never saw them again, I wouldnt lose a single second of sleep.

I view giving the staff gifts as a tangible way of thanking them for all they do throughout the year.

I happen to go out with my staff pretty regularly. In the couple of years that I've been at this location, we've done numerous escape rooms, axe throwing, a zip line/ropes course, bowling, and various other activities. Just today there is an email going around about setting up a date to go to karaoke together. We've also gone out purely socially with a few people a number of times. One tech in particular we have become good friends with her and her wife and have gotten together with them several times.

As for them feeling obligated to give me a gift, I don't think they feel that way. That said, they have given me a small gift the past 2 years but I believe it was because they wanted to, not because they felt they had to. Last year they gave me a bottle of bourbon, so 10-12 people chipping in for a $40-50 present. Nothing extravagant. I appreciate all of them and they know it and they appreciate me. It's a nice situation to be in.

[cypher1]

Not for my area, which I'm glad. Some co-workers may bring in cookies. But that's about it.

[disneysteve]

I can only say that I've given out 7 of the 10 gifts between yesterday and today (going in on my days off to do so) and everyone was super excited to receive them. Those reactions make it well worth it.

[mumof2]

I can only say that I've given out 7 of the 10 gifts between yesterday and today (going in on my days off to do so) and everyone was super excited to receive them. Those reactions make it well worth it.

I think it depends on the relationship you have at work..some people sound unhappy in their jobs and its that just a job..like you we use to do things outside of work as well and had good relationships at work...so giving gifts is not such a big thing...sound like you work in a great place and because the staff feel apprecited you probably get more work out of them...and feel good about their work work being acknowledged as well