Christmas gift from work

[LajesticVantrashell]

So, I've been given the unenviable task of coming up with suggestions for work gifts.

There are around 100 of us, geographically spread out. Every year, my company throws a big bash, gives us the afternoon off, free food and drinks. Most people go. It's enjoyed by all.

We obviously can't do that this year so they want to give everyone a gift (budget £75-£100 each). The MD wanted to give everyone a bottle of whiskey from the distillery next to us, but I've pushed back on that as not everyone drinks, and not everyone drinks whisky!

They're not sold on vouchers or hampers, but I think this is the best option as it gives people choice. I keep reiterating that it's not a thank you if you're given something you don't want or can't use.

So with that budget, what would you appreciate most from your company??

DH's firm are giving everyone a supermarket gift card. Will get used and they can buy whatever they want to have over Xmas eg. Fancy wine. And a lot safer than a gift card for a high street shop when you look at what has happened to some of them.

I wouldn’t do vouchers - most don’t get spent at the best of times and with the economy precarious even big retailers may not last far into 2021. They often require spending additional funds depending on where/what they are re for.

Could you provide options? I’ve seen this done with reasonable success: pick three or four options and the people can chose: a good quality laptop bag; champagne glasses and a bottle etc.

Failing that I’d go for a hamper - surely everyone loves a hamper at Christmas?

I'd like a fancy hamper, but in reality the voucher is probably the safest option for most people when you have to consider allergies, dietary restrictions etc. Booze is a tricky one because you'd have to have an alternative gift that people could choose instead if alcohol is no good for them, which would spoil the surprise element for everyone.

Which shop would the voucher be for? Somewhere that sells a bit of everything?

Something that I could usefully donate to someone else.

I neither need nor want gifts from my company. I have a job and get paid to do that. A "thank you" ie just the words, is what I would like. And if the company had money to spare for gifts personally I'd rather it was given away.

But I appreciate that others would not feel like that and I wouldn't in any way want to impose my views on them.

So something like a supermarket gift voucher that I could quietly give away without a fuss would be perfect IMO.

Our work gives a pre paid credit card and small box of choc and a few bits of their merchandise. I much prefer that than 75/100 of a present I might not use.

I agree with the supermarket gift card - and send it early so people can add it into their budget.
When something like this was done at my work, we were given the choice of a few places you Could have a card for. Eg John Lewis & Waitrose; Tesco; Asda - which is a good idea as not everyone will live near a single store you might choose

John Lewis coucher.

A bottle of whisky is a terrible idea! I'd definitely appreciate a hamper the most.

Voucher. Obvs.

I feel like that I will given that task this year too!

I think the idea of supermarket vouchers, at least people can put it towards their Christmas shopping.

My manager suggested giving everyone a turkey, but I said not everyone likes turkey/meat - myself include. She wanted to give a hamper but looking at the xmas tat thread it appears that those aren't welcome either.

If you do vouchers, you'll either have to do them individually and get them emailed out so it'll take you a few hours to complete, unless the company has a corporate team that can accept a spreadsheet with all the details.

I think mass gifts are tricky, if I had £100 spent on me, I'd rather something I really wanted than something that I just gave away. It would make me feel worse that receiving a box of chocolates, as the company could have put thought in but chose not too.

It depends how much time you want to give this, you could offer a 4/5 types of vouchers and be done with it, you will not make everyone happy!

Good luck!

Definitely not whiskey. That’s a terrible idea. Hamper or voucher is much better.

Just Eat vouchers.

That way people can have a ‘party’ with their families or in their bubble. Or if they are single can get a few take aways.

Nothing will suit everyone, but at least this is in the spirit of the Christmas party they are missing rather than a completely different gift.

And hell no to the whiskey.

I think that your suggestions are the best OP, so it’s a shame that the company won’t go for them. I’d probably appreciate nice wines most, and I think for non-drinkers most could regift. However, if you have any Muslim staff who don’t drink for religious reasons I would not go with that idea. It’s so hard to think of something everyone likes and would seem such a waste of a generous gift budget! Luxury scarves? Fancy toiletries?

I like the idea of a voucher/hamper split. There is a site that does loads of different hampers - there's even a vegan one which would score us brownie points.

I like the Just Eat idea too.

An extra day off. I'd much sooner have my last working day a day earlier and know that it was in thanks for my hard work.

The company does Amazon vouchers as a quarterly award and we're getting a lot of kick back from people who don't want to support them.

£100 bonus for everyone. Easy. They are there for the money so it's a no brainer. Vouchers are crap, hampers are usually wasted mostly, whiskey at least increases in value so could be an investment but I wouldn't want one.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz - I'm going to raise this as a separate issue as we're normally given the Friday afternoon of the party off, so I'd like them to still honour that.

OP Many people don't support JustEat either. Avoid vouchers.

The free day off is a belter of an idea. A duvet day each to take as and when they want throughout 2021

A posh box of chocolates from Hotel Chocolat or similar then the rest in vouchers

Ooh yy to Duvet day!

I would not want whiskey and I would not want a john lewis voucher. I'd like chocs or wine but my sister is tee total and a diabetic so those options won't suit everyone either. Is it unmanageable to ask people to choose from whiskey, hamper or voucher (specify a couple of choices?). Hamper would be largely wasted on me too btw as there is so much I can't eat (allergies and fussiness).

@LajesticVantrashell M&S vouchers are always my go-to. People can use them for clothes, to pick up gifts for others, homeware or put it towards their Christmas food shopping 😊

I'd guess the company can't just give everyone a cash bonus because employees end up being taxed on it.
I get Amazon vouchers, which I really appreciate (even though they are evil!) , but I understand some people might not want to support them.

I'd go with an afternoon off, and @RockingMyFiftiesNot idea of a voucher, giving them a choice of a few supermarkets or department stores.

We get £100 each at Christmas . It’s done in cash on the day of the Christmas party. I don’t think we’ll get it this year as we are out of the office.