What’s the etiquette here?

[Stickworm]

If you are an assistant, do you buy your boss gifts? My exec team always buy me lovely birthday and Christmas gifts, and they also contribute towards gifts for each other. However I never contribute and I’m wondering if I should feel bad about this 🙈 I’m not part of a team as I’m the only PA so generally all other teams rally together to buy team member gifts - I’ve never been asked to contribute but just wondering if this is the done thing! I’ve been a PA for a long time and used to buy my own Christmas gifts from my boss at his request 😂 but at the company I’m with now they always send me such lovely things and I don’t want to appear thoughtless.

Are you a shared PA for several execs?

I am yes

It doesn't sound as though they mind your non-contribution, but if you want to join in, could you ask to be included in the collections? I am guessing if they are exec level, they earn a lot more than you, so it might be they don't feel comfortable assuming you would want to contribute or feel awkward asking.

It sounds to me as though you are the support to the team and gifts for you are them thanking you for your work. They're probably all higher earners than you. If you've not been asked to contribute to any whip round then I'd say there's no expectation you should.