Workplace gifts

[Bestseller]

I work across five sites. Staff at all sites are lovely and remember everyone's significant dates. Not just birthdays, there'll be flowers for wedding anniversaries or the anniversary of a parent's death etc plus thoughtful personal gifts for birthdays and Christmas.

It's lovely that they're all so nice but they've started including me too!

I'm not good at presents, I struggle to get things for my nearest and dearest plus tbh I'm not at all bothered about presents for me. If someone asks me what to get me I'll say "oh you don't need to do that" and mean it.

If I reciprocate all the gifts I'm getting (and whilst I appreciate the thought, I mostly don't want) that's 19 people and all their significant dates. I don't have the time, money or emotional energy/imagination for that. What do I do?

If it makes a difference, I am boss to most of these people (I think that makes it worse if I don't reciprocate?). I certainly don't want to change the lovely work atmosphere. They buy for the people at their site which will be 4/5 people, they're all buying for me.

Not just me who doesn't know what to do then?!

I would say you need to do it - sorry. But you can be quite low key about it and keep the presents generic really. Am assuming each site has collections which makes it easier??? Get yourself a job lot of M&S cards at the start of the year.

I would prob do presents for birthday and christmas, do you have someone on each site you could rope in to help with the gift buying for you?? You have to ask yourself if £400/£500 a yr for a great atmosphere is worth it?? Most companies would kill for that sort of friendliness and working together atmosphere.