The Porn Dude

Appropriate Christmas Gifts for Employees

PierreCoeur

??? MONKEY MEMBER
May 26, 2013
1,727
509
83
Surrey
I work for a company that has about 800 employees. I have a team of 24 people including 2 managers, 5 supervisors, several clerks, and two personal assistants.

A few questions

Are gift cards, appropriate gifts to give out?

What dollar value should the gift cards be ?

Should I give everyone the same gift or should it be position based or performance based?

Or should I just say Bah Humbug and hand out only the greeting card this year?

My boss is a Scrooge and leaves me a bottle of cheap wine that he leaves outside my office door. I would appreciate ideas. Thanks.
 

wintersurfer

Carpe Diem
Jan 26, 2014
989
374
63
Do the “24” affect your income (do you earn off their performance)?
If no then organize a secret Santa type exchange and max it at $50-$100
If yes then come up with a number that works ($30 gift card to $250+ for a valuable employee)
If you are the owner than that’s a different ball game...
 

PierreCoeur

??? MONKEY MEMBER
May 26, 2013
1,727
509
83
Surrey
No not the owner and I don't earn anything from their work performance. Gift would be personal and comes from my own earnings. My lowest paid employees earn about $35 per hour and my two managers earn about $60 per hour.
 

80watts

Well-known member
May 20, 2004
2,420
627
113
Victoria
The Secret Santa is best because you can ask who wants to participate and those people draw a name. So instead of 24 presents you only have one to get.
I would keep it to 20- 30 dollars. Not everybody in the office can afford it.

Alot of time it ends up as a coffee card. But the idea is to get them something they want or will use. The coffee card for me, is the bottom basement idea, as the secret santa did not put any thought into the gift.... Of course there are the coffee holic exceptions.....And you have to get the right brand (starbucks, tims, second cup etc)
 

PierreCoeur

??? MONKEY MEMBER
May 26, 2013
1,727
509
83
Surrey
I don't want to go the Secret Santa route but I am thinking gift cards for all. But good point about coffee gift cards and not everyone liking the same brands.

I saw some multi restaurant cards and am thinking about those. But again wondering if I should purchase everyone the same dollar amount or rewarding my harder working staff something higher. Am I at risk of looking like I am favoring some? Some I would like to give them a lump of coal because they are absolute union assholes - always minimal effort, disrespecting their team mates and knowing the union protects them. One individual bullied and intimidated his crew and then disrespected his manager. After two investigations that found him guilty, he got away with it both times, and continues to act like he can do what the F he wants. Union protects him over his crew's accusations and HR are wimps to do anything because they like to kiss Union ass.
 

80watts

Well-known member
May 20, 2004
2,420
627
113
Victoria
Kinda wondering how the lump of coal got put in socking in the first place....Coal was used for heat. Did it stand for that you need to use the coal to help heat up the place for everybody, thus your gift is to help everybody else out, because you been bad....
 

Jethro Bodine

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2009
4,369
1,361
113
Beverly Hills. In the Kitchen eatin' vittles.
Mine is a small staff who have been with me for years so I know what they like.
A friend of mine who owns a larger company with ~ 20 employees has done this...
In October he sends out an email asking each employee to respond to a few simple questions about their preferences such as What do you do for entertainment? What's your favorite food? Do you have any hobbies? What's your favorite colour? I think he got the idea from a business planner he hired at one time. Any way it is about 10 - 12 questions of various types.
Then from the answers he and his executive assistant (we can't call them secretaries any more LOL!) can plan the perfect gift foe each employee.

Cheers
J
 

justwannahavefun

Active member
Mar 17, 2018
225
171
43
Christmas dinner and a handshake this year.
For me, it depends on what kind of year the company had and how they contributed to it. Usually it will be a gift card to something I know they like or a bonus cheque if it was a good year. The amount would be determined by their performance during that year.
I always also do a small personal token gift.
 

PierreCoeur

??? MONKEY MEMBER
May 26, 2013
1,727
509
83
Surrey
This your first Christmas or something? What did you did for the previous multitude of them?
My team has grown significantly since last year and I do take them out for lunch on the company dime. When I had ten, I would give them a $15 coffee card and a tin of Quality Street. But now that I have more than double I am thinking I should be less generous to the under performers and more generous with the individuals who are contributors rather than pariah. Thinking it should range from $50 gift cards down to $15, so was hoping to find out what others consider appropriate.
 

lukom

Bobs and Vagenes Poacher
Dec 8, 2010
1,842
660
113
It's really up to you if you want to give some employees a more generous giftcard than others. I think a good option would be a prepaid Visa or Mastercard giftcard. It gives the person more buying power and if you run a corporation some of these banks can hook you up with a good deal. My employer has given them out as prizes in the past, and I know for a fact that they get up 20% off deals when they buy said giftcards in bulk. So a $50 giftcard I received really cost the company $40. Depending on the size of your business and your relationship with the bank you do business with you should be able to get some type of special deal on prepaid Visas too.
 

gastownguy9999

Active member
Oct 9, 2019
275
233
43
I say Gift Cards.

I found Secret Santa works the best with small close group only.

In the past I had gotten CF SHOP! Gift Cards as Christmas gifts. worked find for me (it was $300 ~ $1000)

Last year we did Nordstrom gift cards and I wouldn't mind the same this year.

Value can be anything depending on your company size and budget.

If you are going for less than $100 value, then maybe look into Starbucks or Tim Hortons gift cards. ($50 Starbucks ain't too bad for a Christmas gift)

Any gift cards at well known retail/restaurants should work. (I also received KEG EARLS etc)
 

joho

Active member
Jan 22, 2007
703
31
28
You are a good leader. You and I are in a similar situation in the company. What I do first is to make a budget for the bonus for 25 people. I usually give the employees the hand written card with cash inside. I give more cash to people who work harder and help me more. Merry Christmas:)
My team has grown significantly since last year and I do take them out for lunch on the company dime. When I had ten, I would give them a $15 coffee card and a tin of Quality Street. But now that I have more than double I am thinking I should be less generous to the under performers and more generous with the individuals who are contributors rather than pariah. Thinking it should range from $50 gift cards down to $15, so was hoping to find out what others consider appropriate.
 

Joesph

Member
Sep 15, 2019
30
2
8
I get quite a substantial bonus which I split not quite evenly with 2 other really good techs the 3 of us give every one else 1000 bucks cash .I tip my cleaning lady 200 plus 50 gift cert. for each of 2 daughters It all pays off My cleaning lady does a lot for me I'll get her a ham and a turkey plus some booze at work I took all who wanted out for drinks and dinner plus cab's
 

apl16

Well-known member
Jul 26, 2011
1,271
299
83
Look left. Way left.
You are a good leader. You and I are in a similar situation in the company. What I do first is to make a budget for the bonus for 25 people. I usually give the employees the hand written card with cash inside. I give more cash to people who work harder and help me more. Merry Christmas:)
Cash is King......say it with cash..... simple and appreciated.

My ex boss gave out off cards for going above and beyond..... unfortunately, for places like Earl's that had no value to me..... eventually I let him know that I appreciated the thought but it was no use to me.....so he stopped. My colleagues weren't happy because the stopped getting my gift cards....lol
 
Ashley Madison
Vancouver Escorts