Holiday gift-giving is something many people enjoy doing. However, when it comes to the workplace and presents for the head of the company, it can get tricky. There are quite a few factors you need to consider: the relationship you have with them, your income, whether you feel appreciated or not... the list goes on.
Unfortunately, many employees end up being pushed into chipping in for the CEO's or company owner's gift and sometimes don’t know how to refuse. Some feel annoyed since they make several times less than their rich bosses, others fear that declining might affect their work relations. Whatever the reason, a few people took it upon themselves to share their experience on Reddit, sparking a very relevant discussion on the page.
Scroll down and check out some of the stories Bored Panda picked out from this page. If you have a similar experience yourself, make sure to share it with us in the comments below.
This post may include affiliate links.
This is so frustrating. My wife works for a doctors office. Her supervisor, the office manager, is organizing this collective gift for the doctors. My wife is front desk. Her and her coworkers make around $15/hour. The supervisor wants everybody to contribute $30. That’s two full hours of work. My wife wants to keep her job, and her $30 but doesn’t know how to get out of it without looking bad.
And I just know the supervisor is organizing this to suck up to the doctors and take credit for organizing this gift for them.
She’s probably going to end up having to give the $30, but I just needed to vent about it.
I should mention, she gets no Christmas bonus, she’s part time, and her job doesn’t offer benefits. Only managers and supervisors are entitled to healthcare benefits
**UPDATE: After showing her this thread, she decided not to give the money. She just told her supervisor that it wasn’t in her budget as there isn’t enough left over from her paycheck to contribute with her own personal holiday shopping she needs to take care of. Her supervisor sounded disappointed and said something like “Alright we’ll just leave your name of the gift”. My wife said “Sounds good, thanks!”. I’m so proud of her. No telling how that affects her relationship with the supervisor. But she wasn’t trying to move up there anyway. She’s just working there to make a couple extra bucks for a few months until she goes back to school.
One user, Purepk509, posted in the r/Antiwork online community about an email where they were asked to pitch in on buying the owner of the company a $900 gift for Christmas. We reached out to the user to talk a bit more about how this issue affects their work-life.
When employees are being asked to pay for their boss' Christmas present while earning way less, it just seems wrong. And the user agrees: "I feel it's a common trend that has been around for years that needs to go away. It's a mindset that people near the bottom of the totem pole need to appease the higher-ups."
Although, if you have doubts about pitching in, it may be hard to refuse the request. More often than not, it affects the relationship you have with colleagues who agree to contribute. The user mentioned that co-workers often try to push you into doing it, even if you do not feel comfortable.
I just f*cking can't. That money is going to my kids, not to the fat cats at the top who make at least 5x what I make on any given month.
Buy your own damn presents.
In the post, Purepk509 wrote that "everyone at my work is going to throw in $40 but I can't bring myself to spend even a penny on this guy." You should be able to stand your ground and choose for yourself if you want to chip in or not without feeling guilty about it. Unfortunately, the user told us that the decision they made raised some tension between them and other employees.
"I had one co-worker specifically tell me it was flat out rude I didn't donate," they told us. "The crazy thing is since I didn't donate towards the gift, the rest of my coworkers had to bump up how much they were putting towards the gift. So they inevitably had to put $70 towards the item for our boss."
I was 20 years old working at a 2 month long sleep over summer camp for kids aged 8-13 or so. I was one of the head staff, but a junior head staff. My job was to make the daily schedule for several hundred kids and ~60 staff for 6 periods every day in addition to teaching archery lessons for the first half of the day. The camp is a non-profit, and only paid me about $2500 before taxes and only had 3 days off, and 3 evenings off. The camp was in the middle of nowhere so the staff lived on site too.
On the last day, as I was about to leave the camp for good, I was approached by one of the more senior head staff about contributing $20 to a gift (spa day) for the director of the camp. This was the director who had given a closing speech to the entire camp the night prior. In that speech, she went through each of the head staff one by one (except me of course) thanking them for their hard work. My decision was already made for me, I had no intention of coming back the next year and I was still pissed about being forgotten.
My response: "Why would I bother giving up any of my tiny pay check to pay for my boss to go to a spa when she doesn't even remember I exist. I've literally spent 2 months working late into the night, in an office meters away from the directors desk, doing a job that no one else here knows how to do. This place would have burned to the ground without me and I am literally forgettable to her." I left without contributing anything to her spa day.
I'm a receptionist in a doctor's office at a hospital. Not a terrible job, but it's more so a holdover while I work toward other goals. It pays $15/hr which I guess is to be expected for this kind of job in Kentucky. Recently I received this email from our manager:
"It's time to collect money for buying the four doctors in our office a gift card for their Christmas gift from us. I'm asking for $25 from each of you all for these. Money due to me by Tuesday December 14. Thanks."
Not a big deal, but I mean, in the two years I've been here, we have never gotten a holiday bonus. At the last doctor's office I worked at, staff got a holiday bonus, which is pretty standard. I know for a fact the manager makes around 80k a year (she oversees more than one office & it's a big hospital) and the doctors are surgeons, so I can't imagine they make any less than 200k at a minimum, though I don't know their exact salaries. So why am I buying these people things? Especially with no holiday bonus. Seems like bullsh*t to me.
Just had to vent.
I just ignored the email. With or without a bonus I was never going to gift money to DOCTORS.
I agree, you all don't need to buy them presents...that should be the other way around.
It seems like bullshit, because it IS bullshit. What is sensible about the lowest paid employees giving up money to buy a gift for the highest paid people? Nothing, that's what.
This kind of pressure from supervisors should be illegal. It's one thing if you want to organize something unofficially and have it be entirely voluntary but to send it out, via work email, to subordinates with language that implies they're expected to pay up is just downright ridiculous and honestly? It's pretty f*****g cruel, too, considering the situation. These people have no shame, do they?!
Why are people giving gifts to their superiors? It js the other way around
Here's a great idea!! When you see one of these deals, take a few bucks, whatever you can afford, go to the local dollar tree and buy some body wash or coloring books etc. Drop it off at your nearest medicaid nursing home, preferably, assisted Living. Make a note, saying what you've done, and hey, you've actually done some good and you've done a donation in there name. Might be the only one ever.
In denmark the pay would be between 20-25$/hour.... and we have free healthcare, schools, university etc
This seems to be so far the normal for doctors offices, if the doctors knew what we were gonna do where I worked they would’ve declined that, but like I said different locations/ scenarios
pfft I got $500-$800 bonuses here in Canada at the grocery store I worked at.
This year, consumers in the United States are expected to spend approximately $886 on Christmas gifts on average, Statista reports. Alongside buying presents for your partner, children, parents, other family members and friends, thinking of whether or not you should pitch in to get something for your boss can make you feel stressed.
How about he gets a $20 Target gift card and stale candy like the rest of us instead?
How about he just gets his employees to show up and work, like they do every day, to make his business successful? Problem solved, buddy - Merry Christmas!
I am a salesperson at a company that is going to make $22 million this year. We're a decently small company in a major US city (about 40 office staff, with ~150-200 staff in the field). The company has done very well during the pandemic, although my department suffered a lot this summer. I singlehandedly worked my a*s off to keep certain operations running when my direct manager quit without notice. I spent my summer getting screamed at by angry clients and working 12-14 hour days with limited OT pay, all with none of my usual commission because the department was in such bad shape. The owner took multiple vacations during this time. While my department is back on its feet, and I'm able to pay my bills again, getting a message from our sales director about "everyone pitching in for [Owner's] holiday gift" just made me so angry. He owns a $6m house, multiple cars, and sends his kids to private school. What does he need us to chip in for a staycation at a 5-star hotel for?
if it were the other way round....the company giving something small...like a box of chocolates or such....it'll barely cause a dent to d company but will make the employees feel seen n appreciated.....they might give a gift willingly too.........talking s**t abt d person then demanding a gift....a big nuhhh
You should really think twice before agreeing to get your higher-up a gift. According to one survey, 31 percent of people said that they would give their boss a gift if they received one in return. "But of those, 11 percent said they would be expecting a raise in return," NBC News wrote. "That kind of thinking is what gets workers who give a present to their managers in trouble."
Everyone at my work is going to throw in 40$ but I can't bring myself to spend even a penny on this guy. I mean he hasn't done me any wrong but he's literally a multi millionaire. Should I just spend the 40 dollars? Everyone at work suddenly thinks I'm being a prick when I basically said this guy can kick rocks.
Just to clear some things up, the item they are wanting to buy my boss is a "ZIPLEVEL EZDepth for Excavators - EZD-30". I work at a company in Ohio with a sh*t ton of boomers. I also make 27.50 an hour. I am 29.
I'm genuinely lost for words here. Our company is pretty big, our one group spans roughly 100 employees, and they sent a mass email out to all of us, or what I assume is all of us. (I didn't go and ask every 100+ people, but several different groups within the 100 got this email, so I'm mostly just assuming).
It's just absurd, we tried to figure out what they were trying to get him, and we all had decided that it must of been a new Mustang from how much they were expecting to get. This actually prompted us to do our own secret santa instead. F*ck that guy, we deserve presents more than him.
so like contribute money from UR own money to a person u barely know so that ur supervisor can take the credit? sus...I'll pass
Purepk509 wanted to remind you that in this day and age, you never gift up, you always gift down. The whole purpose of gift-giving is to honor an existing relationship, not doing it because you feel obliged or pushed into it by others. Even if you like and respect your boss, getting a present for them can become too expensive for you, which in turn will impact your well-being.
My bosses, that drive matching Mercedes and make 100x more than I make a year (literally) need a Christmas present. Everybody complains about being underpaid, I don’t see how anyone in their right mind would even think to do that but we only have 5 employees so if I say no I know they’ll talk.
Some co-workers thought that it would be a good idea to chip in and buy the boss some airpods. This is the stupidest idea ever. That manager makes more than enough to buy their own Airpods. I gladly said no.
so many times...people r pressurized to give a gift...hello? it's a gift...it shudn't punish me
Every year our team pitches in some cash for a Christmas gift for the boss (ends up being about 200-300 bucks between 8-10 people). He makes well over 200k a year while most of the people on our team haven’t gotten raises in decades. Whenever we mention the need for at least a COLA, we’re met with “that’s out of my control” or “the CEO doesn’t believe in COLAs”. (For reference I make just enough for rent, but I’m afraid next year when rent rises again I won’t be able to afford it). Just getting tired of being fed the same line, and then having to pretend I’m thankful for being hired and doing the job I exchange a percentage of my lifespan for.
I just feel bad for anyone who works at this company! The business wants other businesses to pitch in for their staff Christmas party to happen!
Because of COVID and the fact we were working remotely, we did not have a holiday party. Very small company but we always had a nice party. We thought that as the company saved money on the party, we would be sent an extra nice holiday gift as there had been no raises and or bonuses. In the past the holiday gift was always something small but thoughtful and greatly appreciated. Hopefully wished that maybe we would get emailed a gift card. We received nothing. Company was profitable. Earlier in the year we had all voluntarily chipped in to buy the owner a birthday gift and when their spouse lost one of their parents we again all chipped in to send a lovely gift basket. It was quite a slap in the face.
Today is a "holiday" where employees are expected to give gifts and thank their bosses.
"thank u so much for hiring me and overusing me when I am desperately in need of money......I cant thank u enough.....and also the few days off when I can spend quality time....I am so delighted to give a piece of that money for ur gift"
They are asking for contributions to pay the support staff Christmas bonus (I don’t even get a bonus).
This isn't the same as the others - they are not being asked to put money towards gifts for people earning significantly more than they are, quite the opposite. Still not acceptable though.
Members of the r/Antiwork subreddit backed up the people who refuse to buy gifts for their bosses
As a boss: gifts flow downward. Always. I give all my employees gifts for the holidays, but they are NOT expected to reciprocate. When I have received presents in the past, I've usually tried to give them back by saying that it's a very kind gesture that I appreciate, but their hard work is more than enough for me, and I would prefer they give their gift to someone they feel could truly use it. I don't make a ton of money, but I make more than them, and I know what it's like to be in that position.
Kitty, your response just made my day. I also was a boss-company owner. I have always made sure the employees did NOT buy me presents. It's true what you said: gifts flow downward. Bless you.
Load More Replies...
Every company I've ever worked at, it's the boss who gives me a Christmas present every year, nothing ridiculous, a nice bottle of wine or two. They gave everyone who reported in to them this gift.
That's the way it should be, not the other way around.
Load More Replies...
Is this an American thing? I've worked a lot of places in the Uk, and apart from the usual, birthday/pregnancy/leaving presents, I've never been asked to do anything like this, usually your team leader might pop a bottle of wine or box of chocolates to us at Christmas time to thank us for all our hard work. As a company (>400 staff), we have a Christmas raffle where our staff numbers are automatically entered and drawn, the prizes range from nice food hampers to a box of Maltesers, it's kinda nice to 'win' something tbh. I find myself looking forward to what I'm going to get, this year I got a small bottle of raspberry gin, so result!
Exactly! The only time you get something for your boss is when you want to because they are over and above wonderful. A bit like tipping. Ah, I see a connection here....
Load More Replies...
I worked for a company once that did this. I was so broke in those days and had a budget of €10 each for presents for family members and was asked to contribute €20 for the boss. I couldn't even afford the bus and had to walk an hour to work every morning whilst he had a top of the range Merc. I was made to feel like it wasn't really a choice. Then we all had to gather in the board room and watch him open all his presents. It was horrible. I wish I had more confidence in those days to say no. I certainly do now.
Oh my god, that's so f*****g cruel of them. I have to assume they did not provide Christmas bonuses or buy gifts for any of the employees, too, correct? (*And even if they did, so what? A bonus doesn't entitle the giver to a gift)...How big of a POS do you have to be to expect gifts from your employees and then actually make those same people WATCH as you open them? That's some serious narcissistic, extortionist s**t. I'm so sorry you ever had to endure that indignity 🫂 And I hope this Christmas is a happy one for you and yours 🍻
Load More Replies...
Do they really have no clue how ridiculous it is to ask people not even making half of their salary for money?! I'm super grateful for the extra 400 dollar Christmas bonus we got this year on top of our 100 dollar gift card and voucher to use restaurants on the property. on top of that my office within the company gave me 100 dollars and goodies for my kids. usually they give me a 50 dollar Amazon card which is very nice too. nothing like google though who I heard got a 1600 bonus. But I'm happy with mine!
Can also reply, Gee Jan, should I get my own kid new shoes, or should I get the boss a new grill?
Load More Replies...
Work hitting up their employees for a donation is flat out nonsense. Presents for the boss sound like a suck up move (unless you were fortunate enough to have one of those CEOs that took a monster pay cut to pay all the employees a decent salary). I've had the "donate to our charity" crap pulled on me. 1) I'm a big boy. I'll pick my charity myself and 2) I always feel like they are hitting me so they get the write off although I could be wrong about that. Bottom line nobody should feel pressured to donate to anything at work. And unless it's for someone I know personally, I'm saying no on principle. Just remember that if you do donate, that will encourage whatever brown moser that is putting these together to do it again.
Didn't know this was a thing but it could be because I work for the state so doing this is actually against the HR policy since a boss accepting a gift of any sort could cause a bias or favoritism. We do gift exchanges for anyone who would like to participate, and normally the gift exchange is a $10 max and it is holiday related. Other gift exchange we often do is Secrete Santa but you buy a toy you think the person would have loved as a child. We all open them up and it is cute getting things childhood you would love, then we take them all and donate them to the children's hospital across the street.
Yes same jn my public institution. It can be considered a bribe
Load More Replies...
Shouldn't the company give the employees presents, or better yet - bonuses? I don't understand why these stupid Manager(s)/Supervisor(s), etc. demand a ridiculous amount for contribution from the employees? If the Manager(s)/Supervisor(s) want to give the big honcho a present, why can't they buy it themselves?
Does the boss know that donations are being extorted, or does he genuinely think his employees are getting him the present out of the kindness of their hearts? Does he get home in the evening and say 'Gee Betty, my workers sure do love me, I must be a great boss right?'. Assuming this is in the US.
Usually it is a kiss ass emplyee or business partner who organises it and glosses over and says everyone wanted to give you something and chip in
Load More Replies... One of my co-workers once suggested buying our boss a new camera. Not for her birthday or Christmas but because she threw a fit when they all socialised outside of working hours and didn’t invite her! (I wasn’t invited or there because I was on holiday). Needless to say, everyone totally ignored that email.
Whe you’re the boss, you should never expect your employees to include you in their after-hours socializing, as that’s THEIR time not YOURS! You certainly should never ever pitch a hissy fit because they didn’t invite you! If you invite yourself, you’re just stealing their chance to wind down and relax.If they invite you, politely decline. If they insist, then say yes but only stay a few minutes, then thank them, secretly arrange to cover their tab for the rest of the night, and leave so they can finally relax. This “boss” won’t be boss for long if she insists on acting like such a spoiled brat.
Load More Replies...
One commenter had it right: extortion. It is ridicolous. Shame on all the bosses who actually accept such a 'gift'
I understand having everyone sign a SINGLE card(not enforced), but actually paying this much money is too much. 5 people chipping in a total of $100??? And assuming you don't only have 5 ppl working for you, it's a lot more :////
We pitch in (by choice) for presents for the bosses on their birthdays, and they pitch in the majority for presents on our birthdays. I got an Xbox controller and full body massage at a posh spa for my birthday. I think it's important that it's not expected or required, though
Never had to buy a Christmas present but it's the constant charity collections that bug me. I budget for charitable giving every month, to charities of my choice. No I don't care you are running a marathon, you are the tenth person who has asked me for sponsorship for that same marathon. And I'm certainly not pitching in for a games console for a poor family when my own kids don't even get gifts like that.
It's nice that you already donate to charity; I hope your colleagues understand that you can't spread yourself thin. At my work, people send out emails, which makes it less awkward than someone dropping by in person.
Load More Replies...
where I worked, very happily for over a decade. the company sent us Christmas boxes of products, and a box of chocolates each at Christmas, and funded each locations staff meal out. within that, we did secret Santa. £5 (and later £10) limit, and everyone was in unless they asked not to be. including the manager. everyone had the same limit and the same spent on them. it would have been bad enough to chip in for presents for the manager, let alone higher within the company.
It's nice to see so much support for those who have refused to go along with this craziness. While employees are paid (yes I know there are HUGE issues around people not being paid what they should be, apparently especially in the US) for the service/skill they provide, providing some form of gift for them is a means of reminding them that they are not just a number and that, as their boss, their efforts are appreciated (and yes gifts should not be in lieu of appropriate payment). To expect this to be the other way around is total insanity- the boss/CEO etc are where they are becuase of the efforts of the little people.
I've only given gifts once to my superiors, and that was because they were lovely people who I loved working for. It was small things, under $15. They gave me gifts, but again, they weren't pricey, which was fine; the company gave us a week's pay as a holiday gift anyway. But for most of my career I worked for the government, where no gift up OR down can cost more than I believe $10. That keeps it sensible!
We have all seen here countless examples of the lie of companies telling their workers and applicants, "We're a family." This is the same kind of thing. Businesses are businesses not families or tribes or clans or whatever. They provide products and services for a PROFIT. They have no hearts or emotions, they don't care about anything except the bottom line. Strangely, workers seem to have an unfounded loyalty that is never reciprocated.
My boss is the best boss in the world, and I'd be more than happy to buy her a very expensive gift if I could afford it! She works very hard and deserve a great Xmas! Also on an unrelated note, I'm self employed.
The employees of this guy live in the past. A million dollars is not a lot of money anymore.
It seems like the middle managers are driving this desire to take from the lowest paid and provide gifts for the boss.
We actually get something for boss' birthday every year. Everyone chips in with a few Euros, which is completely voluntary. But then again our boss only makes 350€ (before tax) more than we do after the same time on the job. Plus, nobody wants to deal with what he has to deal with.
I'm Aussie and I was never asked to contribute to a present for the boss but then again I never received a Christmas bonus and only once were the two office manager given a gift. It was a large platter, must admit I have used it.
As a boss: gifts flow downward. Always. I give all my employees gifts for the holidays, but they are NOT expected to reciprocate. When I have received presents in the past, I've usually tried to give them back by saying that it's a very kind gesture that I appreciate, but their hard work is more than enough for me, and I would prefer they give their gift to someone they feel could truly use it. I don't make a ton of money, but I make more than them, and I know what it's like to be in that position.
Kitty, your response just made my day. I also was a boss-company owner. I have always made sure the employees did NOT buy me presents. It's true what you said: gifts flow downward. Bless you.
Load More Replies... Every company I've ever worked at, it's the boss who gives me a Christmas present every year, nothing ridiculous, a nice bottle of wine or two. They gave everyone who reported in to them this gift.
That's the way it should be, not the other way around.
Load More Replies... Is this an American thing? I've worked a lot of places in the Uk, and apart from the usual, birthday/pregnancy/leaving presents, I've never been asked to do anything like this, usually your team leader might pop a bottle of wine or box of chocolates to us at Christmas time to thank us for all our hard work. As a company (>400 staff), we have a Christmas raffle where our staff numbers are automatically entered and drawn, the prizes range from nice food hampers to a box of Maltesers, it's kinda nice to 'win' something tbh. I find myself looking forward to what I'm going to get, this year I got a small bottle of raspberry gin, so result!
Exactly! The only time you get something for your boss is when you want to because they are over and above wonderful. A bit like tipping. Ah, I see a connection here....
Load More Replies... I worked for a company once that did this. I was so broke in those days and had a budget of €10 each for presents for family members and was asked to contribute €20 for the boss. I couldn't even afford the bus and had to walk an hour to work every morning whilst he had a top of the range Merc. I was made to feel like it wasn't really a choice. Then we all had to gather in the board room and watch him open all his presents. It was horrible. I wish I had more confidence in those days to say no. I certainly do now.
Oh my god, that's so f*****g cruel of them. I have to assume they did not provide Christmas bonuses or buy gifts for any of the employees, too, correct? (*And even if they did, so what? A bonus doesn't entitle the giver to a gift)...How big of a POS do you have to be to expect gifts from your employees and then actually make those same people WATCH as you open them? That's some serious narcissistic, extortionist s**t. I'm so sorry you ever had to endure that indignity 🫂 And I hope this Christmas is a happy one for you and yours 🍻
Load More Replies... Do they really have no clue how ridiculous it is to ask people not even making half of their salary for money?! I'm super grateful for the extra 400 dollar Christmas bonus we got this year on top of our 100 dollar gift card and voucher to use restaurants on the property. on top of that my office within the company gave me 100 dollars and goodies for my kids. usually they give me a 50 dollar Amazon card which is very nice too. nothing like google though who I heard got a 1600 bonus. But I'm happy with mine!
Can also reply, Gee Jan, should I get my own kid new shoes, or should I get the boss a new grill?
Load More Replies... Work hitting up their employees for a donation is flat out nonsense. Presents for the boss sound like a suck up move (unless you were fortunate enough to have one of those CEOs that took a monster pay cut to pay all the employees a decent salary). I've had the "donate to our charity" crap pulled on me. 1) I'm a big boy. I'll pick my charity myself and 2) I always feel like they are hitting me so they get the write off although I could be wrong about that. Bottom line nobody should feel pressured to donate to anything at work. And unless it's for someone I know personally, I'm saying no on principle. Just remember that if you do donate, that will encourage whatever brown moser that is putting these together to do it again.
Didn't know this was a thing but it could be because I work for the state so doing this is actually against the HR policy since a boss accepting a gift of any sort could cause a bias or favoritism. We do gift exchanges for anyone who would like to participate, and normally the gift exchange is a $10 max and it is holiday related. Other gift exchange we often do is Secrete Santa but you buy a toy you think the person would have loved as a child. We all open them up and it is cute getting things childhood you would love, then we take them all and donate them to the children's hospital across the street.
Yes same jn my public institution. It can be considered a bribe
Load More Replies... Shouldn't the company give the employees presents, or better yet - bonuses? I don't understand why these stupid Manager(s)/Supervisor(s), etc. demand a ridiculous amount for contribution from the employees? If the Manager(s)/Supervisor(s) want to give the big honcho a present, why can't they buy it themselves?
Does the boss know that donations are being extorted, or does he genuinely think his employees are getting him the present out of the kindness of their hearts? Does he get home in the evening and say 'Gee Betty, my workers sure do love me, I must be a great boss right?'. Assuming this is in the US.
Usually it is a kiss ass emplyee or business partner who organises it and glosses over and says everyone wanted to give you something and chip in
Load More Replies... One of my co-workers once suggested buying our boss a new camera. Not for her birthday or Christmas but because she threw a fit when they all socialised outside of working hours and didn’t invite her! (I wasn’t invited or there because I was on holiday). Needless to say, everyone totally ignored that email.
Whe you’re the boss, you should never expect your employees to include you in their after-hours socializing, as that’s THEIR time not YOURS! You certainly should never ever pitch a hissy fit because they didn’t invite you! If you invite yourself, you’re just stealing their chance to wind down and relax.If they invite you, politely decline. If they insist, then say yes but only stay a few minutes, then thank them, secretly arrange to cover their tab for the rest of the night, and leave so they can finally relax. This “boss” won’t be boss for long if she insists on acting like such a spoiled brat.
Load More Replies... One commenter had it right: extortion. It is ridicolous. Shame on all the bosses who actually accept such a 'gift'
I understand having everyone sign a SINGLE card(not enforced), but actually paying this much money is too much. 5 people chipping in a total of $100??? And assuming you don't only have 5 ppl working for you, it's a lot more :////
We pitch in (by choice) for presents for the bosses on their birthdays, and they pitch in the majority for presents on our birthdays. I got an Xbox controller and full body massage at a posh spa for my birthday. I think it's important that it's not expected or required, though
Never had to buy a Christmas present but it's the constant charity collections that bug me. I budget for charitable giving every month, to charities of my choice. No I don't care you are running a marathon, you are the tenth person who has asked me for sponsorship for that same marathon. And I'm certainly not pitching in for a games console for a poor family when my own kids don't even get gifts like that.
It's nice that you already donate to charity; I hope your colleagues understand that you can't spread yourself thin. At my work, people send out emails, which makes it less awkward than someone dropping by in person.
Load More Replies... where I worked, very happily for over a decade. the company sent us Christmas boxes of products, and a box of chocolates each at Christmas, and funded each locations staff meal out. within that, we did secret Santa. £5 (and later £10) limit, and everyone was in unless they asked not to be. including the manager. everyone had the same limit and the same spent on them. it would have been bad enough to chip in for presents for the manager, let alone higher within the company.
It's nice to see so much support for those who have refused to go along with this craziness. While employees are paid (yes I know there are HUGE issues around people not being paid what they should be, apparently especially in the US) for the service/skill they provide, providing some form of gift for them is a means of reminding them that they are not just a number and that, as their boss, their efforts are appreciated (and yes gifts should not be in lieu of appropriate payment). To expect this to be the other way around is total insanity- the boss/CEO etc are where they are becuase of the efforts of the little people.
I've only given gifts once to my superiors, and that was because they were lovely people who I loved working for. It was small things, under $15. They gave me gifts, but again, they weren't pricey, which was fine; the company gave us a week's pay as a holiday gift anyway. But for most of my career I worked for the government, where no gift up OR down can cost more than I believe $10. That keeps it sensible!
We have all seen here countless examples of the lie of companies telling their workers and applicants, "We're a family." This is the same kind of thing. Businesses are businesses not families or tribes or clans or whatever. They provide products and services for a PROFIT. They have no hearts or emotions, they don't care about anything except the bottom line. Strangely, workers seem to have an unfounded loyalty that is never reciprocated.
My boss is the best boss in the world, and I'd be more than happy to buy her a very expensive gift if I could afford it! She works very hard and deserve a great Xmas! Also on an unrelated note, I'm self employed.
The employees of this guy live in the past. A million dollars is not a lot of money anymore.
It seems like the middle managers are driving this desire to take from the lowest paid and provide gifts for the boss.
We actually get something for boss' birthday every year. Everyone chips in with a few Euros, which is completely voluntary. But then again our boss only makes 350€ (before tax) more than we do after the same time on the job. Plus, nobody wants to deal with what he has to deal with.
I'm Aussie and I was never asked to contribute to a present for the boss but then again I never received a Christmas bonus and only once were the two office manager given a gift. It was a large platter, must admit I have used it.
