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AIBU?

To expect Christmas pressie from work when on maternity leave?

92 replies

Stilldreamingofsun · 16/12/2016 07:27

Currently on maternity leave. My company pass around a list before Christmas with a list of gifts e.g. Vouchers, cases of wine. I seem to have been left off the email chain. WWYD? I am thinking of emailing and saying that I would like the department store voucher please!!!

OP posts:

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 16/12/2016 12:20

From what the op has written it would appear that the annual gifting, while usual for many firms, is custom and practice at hers and would likely constitute an employment benefit user.

It might not be written down but that doesn't mean it doesn't form part of the op's employment contract.

user1480946351 · 16/12/2016 12:22

What part of "gift" do you not understand?

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 16/12/2016 12:24

Why so rude and aggressive? I understand gift perfectly well. I also understand the law.

user1480946351 · 16/12/2016 12:25

Where are you getting rude and aggressive in one short sentence? Chill.

Christmas gifts are not covered by employment law, you should know that then.

ninenicknames · 16/12/2016 12:29

Yes you should email and ask.

I got all my perks whilst on mat leave.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 16/12/2016 12:29

From what the op has said they are very likely to be covered. I know I am repeating myself but I find your absolutist position bizarre.

user1480946351 · 16/12/2016 12:34

I find it bizarre that anyone thinks its acceptable to demand a present, under any circumstances, but there you go. Just basic manners I guess.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 16/12/2016 12:39

Now that might be where we agree. I probably wouldn't ask for it. Doesn't stop the op being legally entitled to it in the same way she would be to health insurance, gym membership, personal use of a mobile phone and other benefits that continue throughout maternity leave.

The key bit is whether it is a discretionary gift or an employment benefit. The fact it happens every year, all employees are included and they are invited to choose a gift from a list strongly suggests this is the latter.

gillybeanz · 16/12/2016 12:44

If its discretionary and not part of the contract then surely your cover will get the present.
I'd be too embarrassed to ask, it does sound grabby.

VintagePerfumista · 16/12/2016 14:07

On one of her other threads, the OP says she is a teacher on maternity leave and lives in Italy. She does not intend going back to her job after her maternity leave as they are leaving the country.

As a teacher in Italy, with a contract, I can confirm that we do not receive Christmas presents from the state. Our schools don't even have money for loo rolls.

I am somewhat confused though as in this OP, she speaks about working for a company, so maybe she works for a private educational organisation whose contracts do offer Christmas gifts. In which case Moving's hypothesis would be accurate I suppose.

Bit odd that after living in Italy for such a short time, the OP is entitled to a whole year of maternity leave though. Maybe the OP's maternity leave is from a UK school/company and she moved to Italy for this year just to have the baby. Who knows?

It's mighty confusing, that's for sure.

Maybe she will come back and explain.

(apologies for excess of maybes there...)

Katy07 · 16/12/2016 14:51

You 'expect' it?
Perhaps they're giving it to your maternity cover?

lasttimeround · 16/12/2016 15:18

Gift. Look it up.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 16/12/2016 16:22

On the face of it I think yanbu and should be entitled to the same as everyone else. As you're not in at the moment you probably just got missed off the email, an oversight.

I'm surprised by the number of responses with the opinion that if you're not there you shouldn't get anything- are these from women, mothers?

Katy07 · 16/12/2016 16:32

It's supposed to be a gift. A (presumably) non-contractual nice-thing-to-do idea. Not something that everyone is entitled to receive. Yes it would have been lovely to be included but to feel like it's okay to email and say what you want is, in my opinion, grabby and entitled. And not what Christmas is about

user1480946351 · 16/12/2016 22:12

I'm surprised by the number of responses with the opinion that if you're not there you shouldn't get anything- are these from women, mothers?

Yes. Do you think women, mothers, don't know what a gift is? Why would that be?

thecatsarecrazy · 17/12/2016 13:59

We don't get a Christmas bonus at work just a voucher to get money off in store. I went on m.l early this month and didn't even get that.

lasttimeround · 17/12/2016 15:34

Yes even mothers understand what gift means.

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