Are you getting your boss a Christmas gift?

[shimmer]

My other thread got me thinking, do you give your boss (or regional manager/higher upper) a Christmas gift?

I was thinking of giving a Christmas floral centerpiece but that seems just so common, so I''m a little hesitant (I have this image of his house filled with them...hehe).

 

[PaulaW]

I did get my boss a gift, but she and I are very close and we always exchange something little.
This year I got her these earrings from my favorite etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14842713

 

[fieryred33143]

I''m kind of bitter towards my boss if I''m being honest. He was at the same level as I am when he started here a year ago. He was promoted to Manager and rightfully so since he has about 7 more years of experience than I do. The reason why I''m kind of "blah" towards him right now is that this is his first time in a management role and I think he''s trying to find his groove. As a result, he''s kind of all over the place with me. He had a few weeks of being an insane micro-manager. Glad that phase is over.

Anyway, that said probably not. It''ll feel to weird. Maybe next year

Although for our last boss we gave a gift so now I''m wondering if he''ll be expecting one from me LOL

 

[shimmer]

Date: 12/15/2008 4:17:05 PM
Author: fieryred33143
I''m kind of bitter towards my boss if I''m being honest. He was at the same level as I am when he started here a year ago. He was promoted to Manager and rightfully so since he has about 7 more years of experience than I do. The reason why I''m kind of ''blah'' towards him right now is that this is his first time in a management role and I think he''s trying to find his groove. As a result, he''s kind of all over the place with me. He had a few weeks of being an insane micro-manager. Glad that phase is over.

Anyway, that said probably not. It''ll feel to weird. Maybe next year

Although for our last boss we gave a gift so now I''m wondering if he''ll be expecting one from me LOL

That''s too bad

It must be hard when his expectations keep changing!

On the other hand, I have been in a management position for the first time and it does take a while to get the hang of things. I did not expect gifts anyway!

 

[shimmer]

Date: 12/15/2008 4:14:30 PM
Author: PaulaW
I did get my boss a gift, but she and I are very close and we always exchange something little.

This year I got her these earrings from my favorite etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14842713

It''s awesome that you have such a great relationship! Love those earrings

 

[Haven]

I gave one administrator a gift with two of my colleagues, but that''s it. I''m a teacher, so I have about six bosses, and that would get very expensive.

 

[beau13]

My "boss" (or so he thinks) has plenty of gifts under the tree already!! I'm not getting him anything more..he's got me..what more could he want? (I'm referring to my husband). I am on his payroll after all!! I did put together some nice gift baskets (edibles) for his two secretaries (or administrative staff) however. They deserve a little something for putting up with him as their boss!! lol

 

[tabu]

I do give my boss a christmas gift, especially if I have been working there for over a year or longer. It doesnt have to be big, this year I gave mine a DVD collection with The Christmas Story, Elf, and Christmas Vacation. We both love all those movies and kind of have inside jokes with them. And I know he does not have them so hopefully he apprecitaes my thought

Also, for those of you who work in a bigger office and/or are close with your other co-workers.... I used to work in retail and everyone would pitch in like $10-20 (or whatever you wanted) and get our manager something nice. Usually we got him some kind of sports tickets. Just an idea!

 

[sammyj]

oh! thank goodness for this thread!!! i was actually thinking of this today. one of my bosses is amazing and i wanted to get her a gift this year except it needs to be mailed to her. i was thinking of a gift card to a restaurant or lululemon but i''m not sure of what is an appropriate amount. i have given her a certificate for a deluxe spa manicure in the past. any insight would be great!

to answer the OP, i normally just give my bosses a holiday card. with this particular boss, she gives her employees $50+ worth of xmas gifts (last year i got a $50 movie voucher package) and she really is a great boss.

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 12/15/2008 4:22:36 PM
Author: shimmer

Date: 12/15/2008 4:17:05 PM
Author: fieryred33143
I''m kind of bitter towards my boss if I''m being honest. He was at the same level as I am when he started here a year ago. He was promoted to Manager and rightfully so since he has about 7 more years of experience than I do. The reason why I''m kind of ''blah'' towards him right now is that this is his first time in a management role and I think he''s trying to find his groove. As a result, he''s kind of all over the place with me. He had a few weeks of being an insane micro-manager. Glad that phase is over.

Anyway, that said probably not. It''ll feel to weird. Maybe next year

Although for our last boss we gave a gift so now I''m wondering if he''ll be expecting one from me LOL

That''s too bad

It must be hard when his expectations keep changing!

On the other hand, I have been in a management position for the first time and it does take a while to get the hang of things. I did not expect gifts anyway!

He''s actually a really cool guy and I like him a lot. He just needs to find his path and stick to it before I throw my swingline over in his direction

 

[ChargerGrrl]

probably not. I''m not a total sitckler for etiquette, but this is one rule i do follow- you don''t gift higher-ups.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/SavingandDebt/P103179.asp
http://www.emilypost.com/everyday/corporate_gift_giving.htm

 

[iheartscience]

I did last year but I won''t this year...I''m broke!

 

[Clio]

I''m not. We''re actually not allowed to give gifts worth more than $10 to those above us. Instead, I''ll bring in some treats for the whole office to enjoy.

 

[VRBeauty]

Chiming in as a boss -- I don't really want to get gifts from my staff! It's awkward for me, and I really think the gratitude should flow the other way, so I like to take my staff out for a group lunch during the holidays. (I put the invites in their cubies after work this evening -- I think they'll be pleasantly surprised at the location for this year's luncheon!

) I've been in work situations where there was a big elaborate gift exchange, with everyone (it seemed) trying to out-perfect-gift each other, and it's just no fun (who needs the extra stress during the holidays?) not to mention totally inappropriate for work.

A nice card is always appreciated (especially if it includes a personal message) as are treats to be shared with the whole office.

If you're new to your workplace this year, I'd suggest a few discrete questions to determine the local customs.

 

[Fly Girl]

Nope, never do.

 

[somethingshiny]

I''ve worked in healthcare related fields, and the ONLY Christmas gifts we gave were donations/charity stuff.

Every year I would write up a letter to all of the staff members and suggest that in lieu of gifts for the doctors (or whomever) we go together and sponsor area families'' Christmases. Then I''d take up the collection and figure out how many families we could sponsor. I''d set up a catered dinner for each family (from the area supermarkets--at a great price when they knew it was for charity). We''d set up a day to shop and I''d take tons of pictures. Then at Christmas, we''d present each boss with a card and a note explaining what we did and then a few of the pictures. They always appreciated it and I think it really made us look good too, not just giving money but giving our time.

 

[niccia]

Yes...I give them (I have two risk manangers) something every year. I think I am the only one (although I am also pretty much the only female so that may have something to do with it too). Usually I give them chocolates and a bottle of something, but this year I got them both a massage at a nice spa, seeing as we work in a pretty high stress business I figured it was appropriate. I don''t think there is anything wrong with giving your bosses/managers etc a gift at Christmas if you have a good relationship with them.

 

[curiopotter]

I''m getting our GM and my other boss (the hiring manager) a gift. I''ll probably get them a Starbucks gift card or a nice bottle of wine. They''ve both been great and I always get them something, even if it''s little. I get invited to all their events; baby showers, birthdays, etc. They came to my wedding.

There are like 4 other managers but I don''t normally get them anything personal because we''re not that close.
Instead, I usually bring home made holiday cookies for the entire staff. It covers about 30 people and keeps costs down

 

[Irishgrrrl]

At my law firm, there are six bosses and six staff members. Each of the staff members buys one of the bosses a gift ($40 limit) "from the staff." We just throw all of the bosses'' names into a bowl and we each pick one, and that is who we''re responsible for buying for that year. The bosses do something similar for the staff members. Also, we exchange names among the staff and get each other a small gift ($20 limit). It works out well! This way, no one feels obligated to buy a separate gift for each boss/staff member.

 

[Elmorton]

Nope. I''m not paid enough, and they know it

 

[mochi]

My gift to my boss is that I will con''t to do my job as well as I have been and that they can count on me to be on time and to give 150%, even if they only give 3% raise.

We do give to the volunteers and angel kids as a group. It''s more fun giving to them.

 

[Rhea]

No, I''ve never the bosses anything unless someone has organized a group gift.

 

[deegee]

Where I work, the managers buy gifts for the staff rather than the other way around. I like that! I''m taking them out to lunch this week and I have a gift bag for each of them. If anyone wants to spend money, they will donate to our charity, which is a local nursing home where we have adopted 9 residents. This is only my second year of being a manager and buying gifts, and I''m excited and can''t wait to take my staff out.