You are not crazy. I don't gift up. I also ignored Boss's (Bosses'?) Day. Fuck that. Every day is Bosses' Day.
My newest cw came up with the idea of giving our boss flowers for boss's day and the other two jumped in and agreed and then I felt like a dick saying no.
That's crazy. I manage my family's small business. My parents still own it but I run everything. 5 of us chip in $10 each and give them a $50 gift card to a restaurant for Christmas. We give all the employees really nice bonuses (unless it's been a crappy year and then they still get a small bonus) I think $10-$20 is the most that should be asked for.
We have a 10 dollar maximum for supervisors and managers and on special occasions (retirement, etc) it can be a collective gift of up to $300. My boss makes 40% more than I do. She doesn't need an expensive gift. My gift to her is me not being a pain in her ass. Merry Christmas.
Ummm that’s really shitty that they are trying to guilt you after you said that was out of your comfort zone. Wow.
I had an admin who tried to do this in my department and it wasn’t even for my boss, it was for my boss’s boss. No way! I forget what I ended up doing.
Supposedly that's about the price of the gift they give us, but they, you know, HAVE WAY MORE FUCKING MONEY THAN US
That's why I hate gifts and this time of year. Give gifts if you like to give gifts. But don't fucking shame me or make me feel guilty for not giving gifts.
I certainly could afford giving $50 for a gift for my boss, but it's the principle being forced to do so that would make me angry. I don't even buy my parents gifts, so no I'm not giving my boss $50 towards a $500 gift.
Team That's-Insane-Thank-You-For-Accepting-My-HELL-NO. I am giving my boss a gift this year, but it's a small consumable b/c he's a foodie and I want to try making a specific type of candy this year. That's it. And even then, I still think I'll feel weird about it.
If I travel to some exotic place (like I did one year to Hawaii), I bring back coffee or some other consumable like a local spice for the boss, b/c said travel usually involved asking for special permission for time off. Legit $10.
Omg how many people are chipping in? Are you buying them a boat?
We don’t gift up in my office. Ever.
We are a small business. High end luxury retail. There are 9 of us that would be chipping in.
I've been an employee in this exact situation - 11 employee luxury retail. There was definitely no "gifting up" and I think the owner would have actively declined it. Stand firm and keep your hard-earned money.
That’s pure insanity. #1 a bonus is to reward you for a job well done. It is not a gift so including that in the argument is just dumb. #2 $50 is a lot to give the owner aka the person who already makes money off you. #3 a good boss wouldn’t accept an extravagant gift like that. #4 gifting up is weird. I’d feel weird doing it and I’m sure my boss would feel awkward accepting.
I can’t wait for someone to come in and be team not you.
WOW - I just wouldn't do it. When we were a young married couple with 2 small children, my department decided each should chip in $15 and we'd have $150 for a nice gift for my manager. We put a woman in charge that was a big mistake. She went shopping, saw this leather briefcase on sale for $300 - on sale. Twice what she had and it was non-returnable. She was a single mom, barely making ends meet herself. Yup, she bought it and then expected us each to chip in more money. Most of us did not. Most of us were young, had young families and didn't have the extra money. Over the years, we dropped giving gifts. We don't give to the managers, they don't give to us. It's not that any of us are anti-holiday. The company does a Christmas lunch and then we do an appetizer day. We each bring in something to share and that's enough for us.
Imagine you pay a neighbor's kid to mow your law, $40 a mow, once a month. You might give the kid a birthday bonus and end of year bonus for doing a good job or just to be nice. What would you think if the kid bought you a holiday gift? Seems really awkward. Money flows one way in exchange for goods and services.
Absolutely not. The federal government actually has ethics rules about this - you cannot gift up more than a nominal amount for any recurring event (holidays, birthdays, etc.). I don’t remember the exact guidelines, but I know you can gift up for one-time events, like a retirement or a baby shower. In my 7 years here, I think we’ve organized 3 things for supervisors - one was a retirement and two were moving away for other positions. And it was always modest, like a cake and modest gift. I’ve never chipped in more than 10 bucks.
It's rare to gift up more than anything nominal at my company--usually homemade cookies, candy, etc. Our mangers do not generally get their direct reports gifts in my division (some have a large number of employees). Again, maybe homemade goodies if anything.
I think that is insane. I have worked in organizations where gifting up a smaller group gift was the norm. I usually receive something like candles or a $50 gift card that all of my team contributes to, anything more and I would feel awkward about it. I usually get my teams a small gift $10-25 a person depending on team size that comes out of my own pocket, and that is a stretch. I have always had great teams, so I try to show my appreciation when I can.
Post by Leeham Rimes on Dec 5, 2019 9:08:56 GMT -5
How long as Mr and Mrs Money bags been accepting these very expensive gifts? I couldn’t fathom, as a business owner, having my subcontractors giving me something expensive (or anything, really) and I am not a moneybags. At all. Just do a good job so I don’t have to eat crow in front of my clients. That’s all I ask.
I need ham like water Like breath, like rain I need ham like mercy From Heaven's gate Sometimes ham salad or casserole or ham that’s free range, all natural I need ham
How long as Mr and Mrs Money bags been accepting these very expensive gifts? I couldn’t fathom, as a business owner, having my subcontractors giving me something expensive (or anything, really) and I am not a moneybags. At all. Just do a good job so I don’t have to eat crow in front of my clients. That’s all I ask.
This cw has been there 6 years, and it sounds like it's been the norm.
ETA:
Last year they said they did his and hers Gucci scarves, the year before, a gift certificate to Eddie V’s restaurant , the year before that a gift card to dinner/movie. Probably high end restaurant again.
At one point Mr. didn't know what kind of store kohl's was at all, to put them in perspective taste wise.
Absolutely not! In the past for some bosses my team has all chipped in $10-15 for a gift but not all bosses, and definitely not head of the company! lol at the idea of chipping in to buy the poor millionaire ceo a gift 😂😂
That'd be a big hell no from me. In general, employees should not gift up. A nominal gift if you really like your boss? Sure. Last year my husband made pens for my boss and his boss, cost us $10 and his time. No way am I gifting my boss $50-$80, heck, my gift giving budget for family is only like $25-$30.
Funnily enough, I just got an email today for the collection being taken up for my boss' boss. There is no specific dollar amount mentioned, but it did say that the money will go towards a VISA GC. I mean seriously, why bother? She probably makes double what we all make. Needless to say, I will not be contributing.
My company has a no gift policy. Prior to that, managers would usually give something small like a desktop plant. I've never gifted up beyond a card or plate of cookies. Good for you for saying something.