I am an assistant in a very corporate sales office, and between my family and my boyfriend's family, I am completely broke this Christmas. Is it tacky to not purchase Christmas presents for my sales team? There are only 5 individuals and we are all pitching in for a present for our manager.
2007-12-07 04:55:32 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It's o.k. not to buy a gift for your co-workers, however, if exchanging gifts is something that you've always done, you may want to mention to them that you are short on cash this year and suggestion that you do something different i.e. a cookie swap, draw names or something.
You can also bring in a nice big tray of homemade goodies for the whole staff to enjoy.
2007-12-07 05:10:20 · answer #1 · answered by junebug 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never been in an office environment where Christmas presents were bought for all coworkers. Usually there is a work culture, and I would try to conform to that. Almost every year any office I have worked in has had a gift exchange. You pick one name out of a hat and purchase for that person only. They also usually set a $20 to $30 limit. If think that might be easier, you could suggest it, but it might not save much money.
Buying a gift for the manager seems tacky to me. It's brown nosing. That they are manager suggests they make more money than you, and there you are broke, buying them something? It should be the other way around, the company should be showing you they appreciate you.
2007-12-07 05:37:35 · answer #2 · answered by JuanB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hear ya!... Our company "party-coordinator" asks that each person pitch-in $20 or $40 for a couple (like from me and my husband) for a wedding, and $10 for a baby. Ridiculous if you ask me! ...I would have spent $80 this summer pitching-in on baby and wedding gifts alone! (I didn't pitch-in on most of the stuff...I really couldn't afford to.) That doesn't include all the home-parties and stuff that we all go to for each other and charities that people ask us to donate to.
We're doing a $5 gift exchange and a potluck this Christmas (you could recommend something like that) you buy ONE $5 gift and pick names from a hat...though everyone does chip-in for a big gift to the owner as well. I wouldn't spend more than $5 on a co-worker unless it was someone that was also a friend or I worked really closely with.
You should try to give your sales team something. Try making something...like caramelcorn or cookies and putting it/them in tins (dollar store?) or bags tied with a ribbon and giving them as gifts. Or, maybe you have some kind of craft you can do, or make them ornaments or something that will cost you nothing or very minimal to take care of gifts for the whole team.
I don't know how big your team is, but you can get good stuff at some dollar stores...get each person a candle, or smelly lotion or something.
Everyone's been broke at one time or another. If you can't even afford making something or the dollar store, then explain that you won't be participating in a gift-exchange this year.
2007-12-07 05:32:28 · answer #3 · answered by Angela H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are really close to them, I think a gift would be a nice gesture. You could still do the apples for everyone and then give them their extra little gifts in private and thank them for being such a great co worker. Did they get the same thing for everyone else that they gave you? If so, I wouldn't go to the extra trouble of giving them something special. They probably just wanted to spend more money on everyone than you did. There is nothing wrong with that either. Everyone's budget is different.
2016-05-22 00:41:02 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Instead, let them know that you are very short on cash and will be unable to purchase gifts for everyone. So have a gift swap instead. Write names on a piece of paper and have each person draw a name to buy that one person a gift. Set a limit of 5-10 dollars on each gift. They are to put the name of the person they drew on the gift only. Kinda like secret Santa, to where no one knows for sure who drew whos name. This will give you all something to do and a nice Christmas gift. However, if they usually do exchange gifts with everyone, then it would be best for you to do the same. Go to a dollar store or cheap place where you can find gifts that look like they were much more expensive than they were.
2007-12-07 05:06:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might seem a little awkward to not have something for your team but it doesn't have to be individualized or expensive. Put together a platter of Christmas cookies or treats or nuts or even a fruit basket with a "Merry Christmas to the team" card.
2007-12-07 05:52:06 · answer #6 · answered by dawnb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think its tacky. If you feel guilty however, you could bring in a batch of cookies or something for everyone to share.
2007-12-07 04:59:11 · answer #7 · answered by beaners1229 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as 'co-workers' does not include your supervisor or manager.
2007-12-07 05:04:22 · answer #8 · answered by !truth! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋