Employees Buying Gifts For Bosses

[blas87]

Not really sure if this is a social problem or a hate thing or culture thing....maybe all of it mixed into one.

Where I work, there is a big pressure on employees to get money together to buy the shift lead(s) and the boss gifts for Christmas.

I personally never give a penny, because I want all of my hard earned money to go to people I love and cherish the most. Not to say that I hate or don't care for my lead or boss, but I just don't want to spare money to give them gifts. It's not a comfort or professional argument, I just don't want to.

What do you guys think? Do you feel the same pressure?

[telecom_goddess]

I don't feel that pressure.....and I have had bosses in the past that gave gifts to us and some that haven't.....I figure you just do what you want to do. But I'm lucky I guess.

[Giggle Goose]

I actually have the opposite problem, since at my work, employees aren't allowed to get their supervisors gifts at all. I brought a shitload of pearls home from China and unloaded them all onto my lady coworkers, including my boss, who was reluctant to take them because of the policy. I convinced her that I didn't pay a lot of USD for them and that it was ok to take them, so it wasn't like I was being extravagant and bribing her with gifts. I think that's the logic behind the policy --that they don't want managers to show favoritism for whoever gets them presents.

But that was my choice. I don't think anyone should feel pressured into buying a joint gift for a boss, or anyone at work for that matter. I think if a bunch of employees give the boss a gift, unless it's for a wedding or baby shower or something, it's just a big suck-up move IMHO.

[Ladeeda]

Miss Manners was asked a similar question recently: Bah Humbug!

The first two lines say it all: What is unreasonable is for employees to give Christmas presents to their boss. If anyone, it should be the boss giving to the employees, preferably in the form of a year-end bonus.

That's good enough for me. *prances to the bank*

[HYHYBT]

I didn't have a problem with it at McD's. The supervisors did come around and collect money from all salaried employees to put together and get a group present for the owner and the... oh, I forget the title, and don't want to use names. But then, they threw us a party which some years counted as a work day, and at which everyone got a bonus check, so it's not like it was a hardship...

[Andara Bledin]

The first two lines say it all: What is unreasonable is for employees to give Christmas presents to their boss.

This line, out of context, sounds like utter crap.

It's unreasonable for employees who choose to do so to give a boss a gift?

Hell, my boss has been wearing a pair of holiday earrings I gave her for much of the last 2 weeks. She wears them every year. It makes me happy that she likes them that much.

However, I tend to resent any situation where someone tries to pressure others into throwing money into some pot. Even if it's for the needy. Thankfully, we get none of that at the office.

^-.-^

[aurelemsrealm]

My opinion is that you're under no obligation to contribute if you don't want to contribute. That is your choice to make. You should only contribute if you want to contribute.

I figure I'll probably get my manager something, but haven't as of yet. My manager has been a good boss in terms of working around my school schedule, health problems, and other issues that have arisen in the time I've worked for her. As she said, she works with me when I need special considerations because I have proven to be one of the more dependable employees when I can help. I've worked hard to earn my place. I always make sure to alert her to any possible considerations as far in advance as possible. For me, it's not a tactic to gain favor. It's just a way of showing gratitude.

[JustaCashier]

That's bullshit. In no way should employees be compelled to get presents for the bosss(es). (Or even employees of equal status).

I know tha Supervisors are people too, I worked with/for some great ones, I've been one. But, my first thought on this was it's like the poor being pushed to buy gifts for the rich. Or the Peasants to be forced to bestow gifts upon the King and Queen.

Now I don't mean to imply with my analogy that your garden variety supervisor is rolling in the dough, and out there yachting with Bill Gates all the time, but it just feels odd on the surface, and as has been suggested seems a bit like sucking up.


Mike

[Boozy]

I have bought things for my boss before. A lot of people are close to their bosses and supervisors.

What I've got a problem with is the workplace collection idea. Expecting everyone to chip in for gifts can cause a lot of hard feelings. The mere existence of the "collection" is often enough for someone to feel pressured into giving money, even if they don't want to, can't afford it, or have another gift in mind.

I sent my boss a floral arrangment recently when she was recovering from surgery. I paid for the whole thing myself and then told my staff that everyone's name was going on the card. It was from all of us. A few people then gave me a few bucks, and I appreciated that. But it was kept quiet. We have a few students working for us that really need to keep every penny.

[JustaCashier]

Ooops!

I did mean to mention that if it was a smaller, more intimate work situation, e.g. boss and an employee or three, then I have no problem at all with that.


The thought was actually in my brain, but never made it down to my fingers.

I think that when the Peasant /KQ analogy popped into my head it replaced that thought!


(Oh, and flowers for a surgery type scenario is cool too. I think it's that I feel a bit repulsed, with all of the other Holiday pressures, especially the work related stress due to the time of year, to be compelled buy/chip in for a gift for your Supervisor(s) at Mega-Mart.)

Mike

[blas87]

Thanks for your feedback and opinions, guys. I'll admit I was hoping to get responses like that because a few people attempted to make me feel like dried up cow pie for not contributing.

It's nothing personal, I just don't want to. I'd rather keep my money and spend it on my family and my boyfriend.

I don't have a problem with people who pool money together and do it, or if they go about it themselves. It's just my opinion that it shouldn't be expected and no one should make anyone feel bad for not wanting to. I would think people would be more understanding with the fact that money is stil pretty tight these days.

[boringscreenname]

I've never been under any pressure to buy my boss a gift, and I don't feel obligated because they sure in the hell don't give us anything at Christmas.

[Sableonblonde]

It should definetly be left up to the individual if they want to give a gift to their boss, or anyone else in the workplace. My office did that last Christmas, took up a collection for a gift for our boss. And I felt obligated to give a few dollars toward it, even though left to my own devices I wouldn't have gotten him a gift. He was a nice enough guy, but I didn't like him enough to want to buy him a holiday gift.

We have a new boss this year, who I HATE. There ended up being no collection to get her a gift...which I find kind of funny, and wonder if everyone else dislikes her too? I wasn't going to give her anything, but ended up giving her some of the candy that I brought in to give to the co-workers that I like, only since she ended up giving us all a few little gifts.

My fiance was REALLY pissed about this issue, he had to give $20 toward a gift certificate for the secretaries in his office, while not getting any kind of bonus or gift himself. Really, giving a gift should be a purely personal choice, not something you get pressure into doing.

[Android Kaeli]

I made a pair of earrings for a few of my co-workers last year, I made the decision to do so and not anyone else. If there was a collection of some sorts for the managers, I'll tell the person who was doing the collection with a not so polite but firm 'Fuck no'.

It's not that I don't like the managers at my place, it's just that I don't want my name nor my money going into an unknown gift. I also don't trust 90% of my co-workers anyways, so I wouldn't know if my contribution would go towards a gift or not.

Besides, the last time I had given money to anything run by co-workers, the event had been canceled an hour before and it took almost a year for everyone to get their money back.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

In my case, I want to give me boss a gift. The guy spends money out of his pocket to buy us a gift. Each of us in fact.

I started my job here on the 17th of December two years ago. He knew that since I wasn't a part of the planning for the party nor was included in the secret santa gift exchange, that I was going to be at a party with people I had just met, and not going to be getting any presents.

He bought me a gift card for $25 at a local restaurant.

So when the time comes around and they put out the hat, I'll chip in gladly.

My boss is worth that.