Employer's gifts

[DreamingOfSoftWhiteSand]

If you get Christmas gifts from your employer, what was the one you liked best? I've been asked to buy gifts (the same for everyone) for our staff. Currently it's all women (30 - 50 age range) and the budget is £100 per person. Apparently they've already done make up bags, passport covers, scarves, candles, vouchers, etc. Please do not suggest money as they also get Xmas bonuses already. Help please as I have no idea what to get! Thank you.

Run a poll with 2 or 3 options ? I work in the NHS so never have had a gift except from patients

Magazine subscription

We each get a real 6ft Christmas tree at the end of November & a bottle of what we fancy in the run up to Christmas

I have to say that there is nothing that has been suggested that I would like to receive including my own suggestions!

Can they have £100 in premium bonds?

Im an NHS community trust….not for Xmas….but for the last 2 years we have all been given a one4all £50 gift card ( can be spent at loads of different places) ….given as a thank you for our hard work….I mean a bigger pay rise would have been better…but it was better than nothing

But vouchers makes sense and I imagine would be well received

I agree.

I don't understand why employers think everyone will like the same thing. This thread is proof of that.

Vouchers make much more sense - especially in the current climate.

Olive oil. Everyone can use a gorgeous oil selection. Like fine wine but without the cultural slash abuse issues.

Another one saying please just up the bonus or give vouchers!

Personally I love a hamper but I know that’s not universal. Everything else mentioned, I either have or don’t need.

If you must buy something please don’t personalise it either with the recipient’s name or the companies, so at least it can be donated rather than landfilled.

Alexa/google home type thing? Easily sold or regifted
Wireless headphones
Fondue set 😂

Bloody hell - we get a bacon butty on the day we break up for Xmas and that's it!

I googled ethical corporate gifts and lots of lovely things came up. This site looks great - I'd like the beeswax wraps kit!

andkeep.com/collections/plastic-free-packs/products/eco-kitchen-starter-kit-by-the-beeswax-wrap-co

Spa and/or treatment sessions?

There's nothing been mentioned that Inwoild really want either. I have a kindle, a good travel mug and chilly water bottle, a dressing gown, prefer to choose my own cosmetics, candles and food, wouldn't go on a spa day, wouldn't use a passport holder or similar, already have a smart watch and airtags. I might use some of the contents of a hamper but I prefer making my own preserves, Christmas pudding etc and posh snacks are overrated IMO (I'd prefer a tube of Pringles).

An extra day of holiday to use next year would be nice if it can't be vouchers.

https://www.diptyqueparis.com/en_uk/p/carousel-set-with-baies-berries-190g-candle-limited-edition.html

Sorry don't know how to do a proper link
I would be over the moon with this Diptyque carousel candle set. £99.

As mentioned by a pp how about listing a few different things and asking your employees to choose.

It's so wasteful giving gifts that people want like and it's actually annoying to receive something you don't actually want.

How about,

Dab radio
Nice Towels
Blue tooth speaker
Gardening set (nice secutures? )
La crueset pans or coffee press or something

All available from John Lewis. Nothing too personal.

Wow. I want to work where you do!

I work for the NHS and all we get is Covid.

DH and I both used to get corporate gifts each year. Every year it's a competition to see who is the most disappointed. It seems so ungrateful of us but it's such a waste of money. My employer did get huge brownie points from me when they changed it so that, rather than giving staff £100 or so of stuff they wouldn't use, they asked us to choose between five charities and they donated to that charity in your behalf.
The only gifts which are used are the unbranded massive umbrella, the AirTags and, just before they were everyone, the chilly's water bottle.
Other than that, it's just a waste of money. The person who organises the harvest festival at the kid's primary school jokes each September whether they will be some Fortnums items heading their way. There always are - well, apart from the year when DH's employer swapped from F&M to Harrods.

Donation to charity?

I'd love a velvetiser from hotel Chocolat!

My dd had to arrange team gifts one year and she organised 5 things - for each of the 5 senses so people chose the sense they wanted and then got the gift. So for smell they got a scented candle for example. I can’t remember what they all were but they were reasonably obvious so people could choose something they would likely want whilst retaining some element of surprise. Might something like that work?

Heated throw

A nice pen or stationary set

🤣🤣 my boss did one leave a box of Celebrations to be shared out between the 23 team members.

We did this during Covid instead of a Christmas party. Admin sent out an email just asking what "snack" was preferred (chocolate/sweets/ nuts/ fruit) and what beverage.
I ended up with hotel chocolat chocolates and a gin gift set, both of which were very much appreciated. Someone else had a basket of fruit and wine (which would have disappointed me!) so it suited us all.

Hotel Chocolat does good corp
Gifts. I had one and it was a mix of edible and other stuff. Everything in it was
Lovely