Office Gifts?

[coppertop]

What do people do about office gifts? I supervise two people and have always gotten them a small gift - maybe $15 to $20.  I do not get my boss or any co-workers gifts.  Some people around here go crazy exchanging gifts with each other; it's an unwrapping frenzy the last day before the holiday. 

My boss usually gets me some expensive but useless trinket that his wife buys.  Another guy gets me a bottle of wine every year - very much appreciated.  The firm usually gives us all a week's pay.

[ltt]

Keep doing what you are doing--a small gift is appropriate.  I've always heard that etiquette says a boss is supposed to do the gift giving, not the other way around.  I think what you are doing is fine.  Just make sure what you are giving your two employees is something they can use.  A gift card to a grocery store/W*l-mart always goes over well.

[pachnik]

I am the lowest person on the totem pole at my work.  There are two lawyers and a paralegal in the office plus myself - a legal administrative assistant.  For my bosses, I am going to make some buttertarts and put them into Christmas trays.  Say a dozen tarts per person?  Not really sure what I will do about the paralegal who is someone I really like and get along with (thank God).  I think maybe a Christmas arrangement but I am not sure.   They are all very, very good to me at my work so I want to do something.

[galliver]

As a grad student, I like to give small tokens of appreciation to the admin staff that deal with our paperwork, purchasing, reimbursements, and other BS so we don't have to (and do a good job, too!). Seems right to show my appreciation and acknowledge their role for <$5 (last year I did mugs with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and apple cider packets; I try to avoid sweets because adult women tend to have a love-hate relationship with holiday treats...).

[going2ER]

Well, I only have 3 co-workers, so that helps cut down on the expense. This year I will be making each of them a tin of fudge. Easy, inexpensive and generally well received. If someone is on a "diet" than they can share with their family and friends when they come to visit.

[lizzzi]

When I worked in an office of around 12 people with a lot of different salary levels, we could participate in a gift exchange if we wanted to, with a set, fairly low ($20, I think), price limit. So, if people wanted to be part of it, they could. If they didn't want to, they didn't have to, and nobody cared one way or the other. The system worked pretty well, except that some people would just ask to be given money instead of a gift. I thought that kind of defeated the purpose... presumably they would buy a low-value gift, or re-gift something to the person whose name they picked,  and hope to get a $20 bill as their "gift" from whoever had picked their name.

[Goldielocks]

Hmm,

In the past:

Alwasy - very nice card with hand written comments.

Poinsettia plants -- I upgrade the pot to something I find at thrift store that looks wonderful, big bow.
Candy -- I have bought chocolates from a nice store, or done the home made fudge route.  It is all in the packaging to make it a gift.
I bought small magnetic levels one year for staff.  I managed mechanics and the shipping supervisor that year.  I knew that they had trailers/ utility trailers.  Tape measures work well too.

One year I bought nice golf club covers, for my boss... but really, although he was a golfer, don't do this.(Flop)  It is a personal item for a hobby he did regularly, and most people will already have what they want for that, or be very particular about it.

Oh!  One lady LOVED the small dog toy and treats that I gift wrapped for her.    Yes, she had a dog and obviously loved it a lot.  She liked it so much better than something for herself directly.

My rule - keep it small, make it pretty (package / wrap), write a thoughtful, personal note.  Keep it consistent across team members if you can.

[Dezrah]

I actually just purchased 99 1.5oz hexagonal glass jars with golden screw lids for $.78 each including shipping. 60 of these will go to my sister who will pay me back. My plan is to fill them with my own personal spice blends. Each jar will contain a single serving of either taco seasoning, white chicken chili seasoning, sweet Italian dressing, or hot cocoa mix with a full recipe and list of ingredients. Each one will cost less than a dollar and I get to show my gratitude to the MANY people who help me out.