What do you give your employees for Christmas

[Art Vandelay]

I'm curious what others give to their employees for Christmas. Since I'm down to the last few days and there is no way I'm going to the mall it will likely be cash again this year. But I'm interested in what others give to their admin assistants or employees. In the past I have done:

• Spa certificate
• Manicure/pedicure certificates
• Baskets of soaps and lotions
• Movie gift certificates
• Visa gift cards
• Victoria Secret gift card

[Clark Addison]

I'm curious what others give to their employees for Christmas. Since I'm down to the last few days and there is no way I'm going to the mall it will likely be cash again this year. But I'm interested in what others give to their admin assistants or employees. In the past I have done:

• Spa certificate
• Manicure/pedicure certificates
• Baskets of soaps and lotions
• Movie gift certificates
• Visa gift cards
• Victoria Secret gift card

Giving my employees Victoria Secret gift cards would be a good idea if I were hoping to have a conversation with HR in the next few weeks.

I'm usually pretty unimaginative. I sometimes give out Amazon.com gift certificates. One year I got each of my people a book that I thought they would like; it didn't seem to go over that great. I have also gone with restaurant/movie gift cards.

[Art Vandelay]

Giving my employees Victoria Secret gift cards would be a good idea if I were hoping to have a conversation with HR in the next few weeks.

I'm usually pretty unimaginative. I sometimes give out Amazon.com gift certificates. One year I got each of my people a book that I thought they would like; it didn't seem to go over that great. I have also gone with restaurant/movie gift cards.

I was in the mall and just went into the lotion, stinky half of VS and thought my staff would like some of those things. After I purchased them and was putting them in their Christmas cards I thought a little more of the implications, but it was too late unless i wanted to give my wife $600 worth of gift cards in here stocking. Everyone thanked me and no lawsuits have been filed...yet.

I did the amazon certificate one year as well. That seemed to go over really well, maybe I will do that again.

[bluegoose]

I've tried a couple of different things, with varying levels of acceptance.

Gift certs for restaurants go over fairly well for the older crowd who are a bit more financially stable and in less need of the cash.

A few years ago I did 2 tickets to this nice dinner train in a mountain town about an hour away. That went over very well, as it was something that no one in our income bracket would actually pay for, but everyone wanted to do.

With younger employees who are raising families, my wife insists that we go back to cash and make sure it gets out early enough before Christmas that they can use it to shop for presents. That is a can't miss for everyone, although I always feel unimaginative when giving it out in the Christmas cards.

[clackamascoug]

A crisp $100 never had a bad day.

I like to iron them with a little starch before I hand them out. Nothing worse than old/limp/flimsy money.

[TheBYUGuy]

I get confused when people talk about giving (or receiving) Christmas gifts in the workplace. This includes year-end bonuses. Somehow the culture here strongly discourages it.

I gave gifts to a couple different bosses in the past, and they both looked at me like I was from another planet.

[FN Phat]

My wife's cinnamon rolls.

[Clark Addison]

I get confused when people talk about giving (or receiving) Christmas gifts in the workplace. This includes year-end bonuses. Somehow the culture here strongly discourages it.

I gave gifts to a couple different bosses in the past, and they both looked at me like I was from another planet.

I hate giving Christmas gifts to bosses. I strongly discourage it to those who work for me (I am not sure if I should be happy or offended that they follow my wishes so well on this). Two years ago, I was re-org'd in September, and got a new boss. In November, I took a new job, so I worked for this guy for a total of 2 months, not including any actual Christmases. In December, a woman who I did not know at all, who also worked for my ex-boss, called me up and told me that they were getting some sort of big lobster package for him, and asked if I wanted to contribute $50. I politely declined, which she was not happy about.

This year I wasn't so lucky. I have been working for my boss for about a year. One of my peers called me on Friday and said that he and my other peer had gotten an exotic car ride package for him, and did I want to go in on it. So I am out $65 to get something for a guy who makes $50K a year more than I do.

[Danimal]

I work for the feds and we can't give a superior a gift of more than $10.00. It doesn't matter, though, I wouldn't get them anything anyway.

I get the people below me the honor of working with me another year . I honestly don't know anybody who gives any presents to anybody at my work.

[Pheidippides]

I gave my secretary $200. That is less than last year, but the economy was down and so was my bonus.

[TripletDaddy]

I gave my secretary $200. That is less than last year, but the economy was down and so was my bonus.

I get my admin the same thing every year: the purse that she tells me to buy. She has yet to complain about her Christmas gift.

I don't buy gifts for superiors. In fact, it has never crossed my mind.

[happyone]

I work for the feds and we can't give a superior a gift of more than $10.00. ... I honestly don't know anybody who gives any presents to anybody at my work.

I work for the feds also, normally home made goodies get passed around the office. Nothing going upward.

[ERCougar]

I don't buy gifts for superiors. In fact, it has never crossed my mind.

Whew...I was starting to wonder what planet everyone lives on (and whether I should have buying gifts for bosses all these years). Why would you buy a gift for someone who makes more money than you and likely doesn't work as hard? It seems like the definition of "kiss up". Even the Feds have banned this one, it seems.

[happyone]

I work for the feds also, normally home made goodies get passed around the office. Nothing going upward.

I take the nothing going upwards back. This year our center director is in IRAQ and they have had a collection/donation for a goodie box for him. I understand most of the stuff will go to his soldiers though.