Should The Boss Give Holiday Gifts?
I was speaking with someone recently who, after telling me how hard he’s been pushing his department to complete a certain project, I commented that he should get them all a small gift for the holidays.
His reply was startling…”it’s their job…a gift is not required…” Hmmm.
Well. I agree that much of what he was asking them to do is part of their job, but my feeling is that HE created this unusually difficult push to get this work done.
I don’t see the harm in giving a small token to show your appreciation. I’m not talking about giving a Chanel watch…I’m thinking cookies or chocolates or perhaps a basket for the department.
I’ve worked for many employers who have given their department staff something small, yet thoughtful…am I wrong?
p.s. I think giving gift cards for employees is tacky and lazy. I once had a boss give one of those to me…and after I left the company and tried to use the card…I found that he’d closed that account!
Tags: Christmas-gifts, employee-gifts, gifts-for-the-boss, Godiva-chocolatesRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Fabulous Coffee Break
12 opinions for Should The Boss Give Holiday Gifts?
laura
Dec 7, 2006 at 11:21 pm
OMG!!!!
He closed the account???? That is the tackiest thing I have ever heard of.
I work in a dept, where vendors give thank you gifts (one good perk about being a buyer), so its rare that my supervisor will give us anything but a handshake when he gives out our small xmas bonuses.
However, I work for a branch office located in a different province and they gave me my xmas present today…..wait for it. They changed the radio station on their hold music. They had some horrible station that played music from I think the Lawrence Welk era, and I have been begging them to change it to something better (even all news would be better), and today they finally did. Best office christmas present ever. You really cant even possibly imagine how bad that music was to my precious ears. But now I am happy at work.
Kim
Dec 8, 2006 at 7:15 am
Hi Laura,
Why is it that sometimes when you flip around through the TV stations you can still find re-runs of the old Lawrence Welk show…how sad was that?
laura
Dec 8, 2006 at 7:19 am
Kim,
I don’t know, but my grandfather is very happy its still available to him. He believes its the only thing on the “box” that’s worth watching. Now that
“The Golden Girls” are off the air.
Kim
Dec 8, 2006 at 7:27 am
LOL…in my area, you can still catch re-runs of The Golden Girls…they were my Grandmother’s favorite too.
Secretly, I loved them as well.
Mary Jo
Dec 8, 2006 at 5:00 pm
But I want the Chanel watch!
Kim
Dec 8, 2006 at 5:25 pm
For you Mary Jo, you can have some of the millions of dollars of Chanel cosmetics I bought at Sak’s today…LOL
Mary Jo
Dec 8, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Now that’s just cruel — dangling a trip to Sak’s in front of me. (We don’t have on in Seattle.)
Karen
Dec 8, 2006 at 10:23 pm
I think Lifetime still shows Golden Girl reruns.
I think it’s appropriate for a boss to give an employee a gift. Even if what they do is “their job” a little goes a long way towards showing someone you appreciate their hard work and it helps morale.
Kim
Dec 9, 2006 at 8:30 am
Mary Jo…How about Burberry’s…lol Love their shopping bag!
Karen
Dec 9, 2006 at 8:32 am
Hi Karen…I think some bosses care only for their own pocketbooks…and need to be taught a thing or two about leadership.
Giselle
Dec 11, 2006 at 7:12 pm
A Holiday Gift is never wrong. My husband gives his tenants gift cards every Christmas. (it was my suggestion) A Landlord who gives a present is fairly unusual. We also give gifts to all kinds of service people, even our dry cleaner, and seamstress. It doesn’t cost a lot, and it generates so much goodwill. It has nothing to do with jobs, it has to do with interacting with these people.
Kim
Dec 12, 2006 at 4:04 pm
Hi Giselle,
Thanks so much for stopping by.
That is unusual, but awefully generous and kind.
I agree with you…
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