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??

Free day off is a fab idea. Failing that a hamper with a couple of bottles of wine, some chocolates, maybe some cheeses. Something that is likely to be used at Christmas

Your office sounds like a lovely place to work!

^nd if they’re not a foodie?

That’s the exact same gift in two different variations; it’s not a choice and I would find it an awful gift.

If you’re going to give a choice then make the choices totally different from each other^

Well you know the whataboutery on here is at a whole new level when we have to account for the people who don't buy or eat any food.

The beauty of general food based gifts, so either some meat, or suitable vegetarian/vegan alternative of course, or supermarket vouchers is that everyone spends tens/hundreds of pounds a month on food, mostly in a supermarket, so even if they don't get any direct joy from the gift, they have released the equivalent amount that they have saved on food to spend in any way that they like.

Just Eat isn't a fabulous solution depending on where you are and where your employees live! Its doesn't cover everywhere......myself in Scotland included. We can't use it at all. Obviously not an issue if you're all in cities or areas with better coverage.

Dh works for quite a big company, on the shop floor. One year they did a hamper for everyone. At the same time they had a food bank donation point and on the way out, everyone was putting their hamper stuff in the collection box. The head office obviously didn’t know their audience and had thought the contents of a fancy hamper would go down well.

I’d much prefer a generic voucher for a supermarket or similar (m+s, next, John Lewis). If someone is wanting to spend £100 on me, I’d prefer to have a say on what that is being spent on.

I’ve recently been given (work related) a very lovely piece of jewellery that cost £200. I will rarely wear it because I just don’t wear that kind of thing very often. There are many things that I would have loved to spend that much money on.

Either keep it generic or give a choice. That may remove the element of surprise, but at the same time, when you don’t know people’s home situation I think it is by far the best option. (Even someone who is well payed By your company may be struggling if eg there partner hasn’t worked for most of the year).

get an ethical hamper with product full of social enterprises socialstoriesclub.com

M&S voucher

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

You don't have to be a foodie to eat meat or veg?

No, but it’s a boring gift if you’re not. It’s basically saying “here’s a box of food that you cannot choose yourself but you’re supposed to like because it’s wrapped up pretty in a hamper and now you’re stuck with”.

Hampers are a bad idea. Usually full of stuff like fruit pies, marzipan, nuts 🤢. Or a tin of jellified ham.

John Lewis voucher

I used to give staff a ‘Christmas shopping’ day in December. Everyone much preferred a day off instead of a gift!

Pre loaded debit card that can be spent anywhere, an online virtual conference where the big cheeses thank everyone and announce a day off to be taken sometime between the conference and end of march.

M&S vouchers would offer lots of choice. For that many people you need a voucher with lots of options. M&S could be food, clothes or household or booze. I would not want whisky at all I don't drink it and hampers are too tricky to cater for dietary requirements and allergies

I'd go for cash or a supermarket voucher to whatever amount won't cause tax problems. And the afternoon off.

Caterers are struggling so I'd spend any remaining cash at whatever company usually caters the party. Ask them to cater afternoon tea at a care home or another place that needs a morale boost.

@wishing3

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?

Non drinkers can give away wine they wouldn't drink but Muslim staff can't? I don't think anyone who doesn't drink wine should be lumbered with it

Vouchers are taxable as a benefit in kind as someone else has pointed out.

We usually get a cash Christmas bonus with the December salary payment and it's taxed, but better than nothing.

You could have a limited list of available gifts people have to choose from by a given date. If they don't choose something themselves in time, they get X from the list.

@wishing3

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?

This is like mumsnet bingo

Luxury scarves? Are the employees 80 year olds in care home!

Why not cashmere bedsocks, a sachet of hot chocolate in a novelty mug with cheap sprinkles and a nice afternoon tea.

Give 'em all some money and make a donation to a charity too.

I'd prefer they donated to charity, perhaps letting us choose which ones.

I wouldn't. I'd think it very high-handed if my company decided to make a charitable donation on my behalf.

Go for supermarket vouchers - Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury's.

That way people can effectively swap it out for cash by using the vouchers for their normal weekly shop and spending £75 on whatever they want.

John Lewis voucher would be good as you can send it online or use it in Waitrose. I'd be very happy with whisky, but can see that it wouldn't please everyone. I'm not very keen on hampers; they're usually what people think you ought to like rather than what you actually like.
Why does it have to be one size fits all? Couldn't you offer a choice of drinks/voucher from preferred shop or supermarket?

Amazon voucher.

Hampers are ok BUT only if you can be faffed with sorting stuff for dietary requirements etc.

I agree that whiskey isn’t a great idea.

If you offered a choice of vouchers, say Amazon, M&S, John Lewis, and two supermarkets people could pretty much buy whatever they wanted. Put it towards presents, Christmas food shop, a treat for themselves.

A voucher or the money, we received a large hamper in the summer and most of it is still in the cupboard. Alcohol is a no because not everybody drink or people like different types of alcohol. At least with money or voucher people can choose what they like or it might help them towards their Christmas costs.

Maybe a supermarket voucher with a message that people can buy their Christmas dinner with it?

The perx card (preloaded visa) we get is tax free for some reason? Our bonus depends on the hours we worked, we can get up to 500 on the card and after that it goes into our wages and we are taxed. Might be worth looking into. Might be different amounts as I'm in Ireland. It is the best thing ever to get as it's given the 1st week of December so sorts Christmas food etc.

Judging by the varied responses on the thread, you’re never going to please everyone! I think giving people a choice is a good idea.