Must I buy my boss a pricey holiday gift?

I guess I’m a bit late here, but I did not give my boss a gift. The reason - I just graduated from college and barely make enough to cover my basic expenses. On top of that, I am asked to contribute money every time someone on my team has a baby or a wedding or a birthday (everyone was out for my birthday last year, so I got nothing). It adds up. I hope my boss recognizes that the reason I do not give her a gift is because she makes 10x what I make, and to buy her a gift would be silly.

This year, I bought my boss a yearly subscription to the local newspaper. Every day, he runs out for lunch and always picks up a paper while he is out. I know this is something he will enjoy and it also saves him time (albiet a few minutes). Perfect.

I’m overseas and have 15 co-workers ranging from ages 20 to 42. I decided a thoughtful inexpensive gift would be goodie bags. I went on Oriental Trading company and ordered some goodies that I think everyone will enjoy. Had mom ship me some candy canes and cocoa packets to add to the bags and wall-la! Everyone gets the same thing and there’s no jealousy. Of course there are a few people I am a lot closer too, they were given an e-certificate for their fav department store.

“A good gift for a boss is a donation to their favorite charity”

Hmmm, yeah just make sure you don’t make a donation to the “human fund” (like George from Seinfeld)

A good gift for a boss is a donation to their favorite charity.

No gifts PLEASE! I have a thousand cups, tokens, do-dads from over the years. I throw them away. Its not a reflection on the person giving them its just I never use them. They sit there doing noting until I get tired of moving them around and throw them away. I would rather have a ride to the airport to board so I can get to my families Christmass and have a handshake a a,”wish you and your a very Merry Christmass–with a smile.” Again not a scrooge, I love Christmas, wish it were everyday, dress your office up, make candies but no gifts PLEASE.

thank goodness we’re not allowed to give supervisors gifts. We have a wonderful office tradition, the white office gift exchange. We bring in all the awful stuff everyone else brings us and give it each other, anonymously, of course

The worst give I ever received from work will come this year - a poinsettia. I can’t stand those flowers and they are poisonous to my animals. The second worst gift I received from a boss was a smoked turkey and 4 padded hangers. What the hey?

I’m giving my boss a set of noise reduction headphones - he travels 2-4 times a week.

My department collects $20 each to buy the boss a present. The department continues to grow, but the donation amount has stayed the same. The organizer of the gift has decided to buy the boss a very expensive Tiffany bracelet. Do you think it is appropriate to give such a lavish, personal gift? Should I opt out and buy my own gift for the boss?

If you are male and have a male boss, what are the gift giving guidelines? Keep in mind that I live in the deep south and was raised/ educated in the north….. Demographics can play a very large role in gift giving.

As a Chinese girl, I have to take it into account before Spring Festival. Usually I will take the special local products of my hometown, especially some delicious food, welcome and not so expensive!