How do you handle gift exchanges with a Scrooge in the office?

Question

Seriously, every year one member of our team out-does her last attempt to spend as little as possible on the exchange. Just when you think, it can't be any worse--viola, we have our group exchange (5 people total). This year, we each received a sinble slice of 3 different fancy breads in zip lock bags. I don't know if she really bakes this stuff herself or not, but it was nasty. The Christmas bag was nicer than the gift. We all make good money, but this person has trouble getting along with the other team members. It feels like she wants you know how little she thinks of you. Is there any correct way to get out of this next year?

sinble = single

Answer 1

Do the gift exchange because you like exchanging gifts and don't let her attitude affect you. No matter what she does, give her something nice - not too expensive, but thoughtful.

You don't know her home life. You don't know what is running through her mind. She could be a Scrooge or she could be a victim of a bad relationship. You really don't know her whole story and might not ever know her whole story.

Remember a time in your life when you felt very misunderstood and with some empathy - even if you never share it with anyone else, give her a break.

The gift giving is fun and it's something we all do with love. It's a gift to ourselves as much as a gift to others because of how good we feel after we've done it. So, again I say, give her the gift for yourself and forget about her part.

Answer 2

I think its totally wrong to have gift exchange at work. It is going too far. Where does it end? Do we have to give presents to everyone we ever met? If you are personal friends with some of the people you work with and feel you MUST give them a present do it out of the work space. For all you know this person may have important things to spend her own money on.

A little hint : A true gift requires no payback!

Answer 3

Lady, giving a gift is not mandatory! Not to your child, spouse, friend, brother, mother or father.

Giving a gift, at any time, is a very personal thing. Its only purpose is, to share, because we CARE! We give gifts to persons that we care about, and the gift is what we feel really beautiful about giving! This has not to do with size/price! Only feeling and what you feel good about as to the gift.

Never sell your integrity, virtue, ethics or moral values.

Do not be a part of something that you strongly disagree with.
Never give a gift it giving does not come from your inner self!

You can chose to give each member something, that you care about. And you can say, "No thank you", if you feel insulted or uncomfortable with the gift!

Never go into the PIG PEN with the pigs. Never try to be like the PIGS, lest you become a pig!


If you accept the gift, you may keep it or give it back immediately,
with a No thank You! NEVER with a complaint! No matter what the gift is!

Answer 4

I personally would just give her a Christmas card - and that is it.

I think that the person in charge of getting this gift exchange together should tell people that it is okay if they don't want to participate this next Christmas - but if they do want to participate - understand that the suggested amount of gift is $5.00-whatever ya'll decide - usually $5.00-$10.00 is a workable amount for most people's budgets. Then - if she does it again - just completely leave her out of the loop.

Answer 5

Be involved in it for what it apparently is - a time to celebrate the holiday and everybody working together. In every work situation, there are some folks who don't fit in, don't believe they fit in, don't want to fit in, or some other version of this picture. It doesn't matter - because it's work.

I'm self-employed and haven't been in one of these situations in years, but I recall never giving a rat's *** what I was given. It's just work. Try not to take it personally. This person probably has some problems you don't know about. Let her have her issues. The main thing is being courteous, professional, and kind.

Answer 6

It's not appropriate to have gift exchange at a workplace because it could, and did in your case, cause frictions and affect the team spirit. There are people who don't celebrate XMas for whatever reason and that's perfectly within their right. You can't just impose the gift xchange thing on people. If you do, expect unpleasant things and put up with them. Again, no gift xchange should be allowed at a workplace.

Answer 7

Why not just ignore it, write it off to a lack of class. Overly cheap people excuse their rude self-centeredness, so short of telling her off, nothing will work anyway. For adults who have done gift exchange for some time, perhaps it is time to change the tradition and go out to lunch, each person contributing $XXX on a luncheon or dinner. Those not wanting to participate won't go.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

As some people mentioned, gift giving should not be an expectation and doing this at work ALWAYS creates problems! If you want to give a gift during the holiday then give it to people you want to give it to, not just the name you pulled out of a bag.

Answer 10

I would get together with the other people in the office, officially cancel the gift exchange, and just exchange gifts with the nice ones-somewhere outside the office.