Do you give your staff or boss a holiday gift?
I feel torn, I don't have a ton of disposable income despite my age and people thinking 40something managers must be loaded, but am I supposed to give my staff and my boss a holiday gift? I had an old boss who said no gifts and I also told my own staff no gifts, but I think they expect a gift from me. I have done water bottles and lottery tickets, homemade sweets, coffee shop giftcards etc... it gets expensive and some of my staff turn their noses up regardless of what I give them. I have 9 people who work for me.
My boss last year gave me a smart speaker for my house which I haven't used yet and I felt compelled to rush and buy him something which I didn't manage to do before he left for holiday vacation. Ughhhhh
This is tough. It can get expensive to give your staff gifts if you have a large team, and not everyone can afford to do that. Personally I like the idea of taking the group to a breakfast or lunch to celebrate the holidays and accomplishments of the year, or doing a potluck with the group if cost is a concern. That way, you are giving time and showing appreciation without having to do gifts. The holidays are expensive as it is...I don't think you have to spend money to show appreciation.
I only give holiday gifts to my direct reports. I feel this. I am single and have to get together gifts for staff, friends, family, and my building managers...my budget takes a pretty big hit.
I make my own cards, so I'm going to make a few extra fancy ones for my boss and a few other folks and leave it at that.
When in doubt go with food - a cheese basket or cookies is a thoughtful gift and will make someone in your employee's families happy :) I also love the idea of a personal note - I think that really adds something to it!
This is a tough one and really depends on you and your particular circumstances. I don't have any staff under me but I have numerous coworkers who I interact with throughout the year and four supervisors. (I work for attorneys). I get small cute holiday decorated empty gift baskets or boxes from the dollar store for each of my coworkers and team mates for $1 each. I load them up with small treats such as a few pieces of Godiva chocolate, a sample sized bag of specialty, flavored coffee or tea, a small 50ml sample size of various liquer such as Baileys or Rumchatta, Bath and Body Works chapsticks or hand sanitizers, or any other small treats that I come across for a deal that can brighten up the baskets. While I generally don't spend more than $6-10 for each of the baskets, my coworkers have always seemed thrilled to get them. I usually give my attorneys either a gift card for Topgolf or a bottle of Patron or Scotch depending on each of their personal preferences (which I took the time to nail down prior to the holiday season). I never expect anyone to give me a gift and more than half of the people I give a basket to have never reciprocated. That is totally fine with me. I don't give them a basket in the expectation of receiving something back. I just really enjoy leaving them all a little treat and saying thank you for being such a great teammate and coworker. Don't feel obligated to run out and buy something for someone simply because they surprised you with a gift. A gift doesn't come with guilt and obligations. When others do something nice for me or leave a little treat or gift for me, I appreciate the gesture and I write them a handwritten thank you.
I do a little more for my attorneys, cost-wise, because they have all been extremely great to work for. Again, I don't expect anything in return. It is always nice though when someone surprises me with something like coffee shop gift cards or homemade baked goods. One coworker gave me kitchen dishcloths which she had crocheted herself. Another gave me cute socks. Others just give me a card with a personal note. I am happy with any of it. It's always nice to know someone took the time to show they were thinking of me in some small way.