Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does your manager get you a gift a Christmas?

166 replies

Angrybird345 · 01/12/2018 18:08

Just wondering if anybody gets a Christmas gift from their (very well paid) manager? I go above and beyond and have saved managers arse so many times....never get a thing. Maybe he should get me a mug, cuz that’s what I am!

OP posts:
theatrelady · 01/12/2018 23:47

I never buy presents for those I line manage, but I've always bought my secretary a gift.

I've just moved jobs and don't have an allocated secretary, so I'm not sure what to do. Rather than having one person who helps me a lot, I have a few people who help me a little. I'm also not sure whether the big boss intends to get them a gift and it would definitely be weird if I got them presents and the big boss didn't.

Such a minefield!

CherryPavlova · 01/12/2018 23:50

Bottle of champagne from my manager. I buy for my team - usually a bottle but this year I’ve gone a candle in a tin, a Christmas tree decoration, a bottle homemade sloe gin and some chocolates all in a gift bag.

CherryPavlova · 01/12/2018 23:51

My husband buys a case of wine for his 12 Directors, champagne, chocolates and flowers for his PA and diary manager and then a tie and a bottle of wine for his office manager.

Cuzcothellama · 01/12/2018 23:55

We used to get chocs and easter eggs at easter (private sector.) Now NHS and we get nothing.

Hwory · 01/12/2018 23:57

I once had a manager that was so tight that she actively tried to get out of paying for things for herself never mind buying her staff anything.

She didn’t pay her contribution to the Xmas party after being reminded about 5 times. The staff member that organised it ended up giving up and paying it herself.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 02/12/2018 00:01

I always buy small gifts for the people I manage. I'm struggling for inspiration this year - it's a new team who I don't know very well yet (only been in job 2 weeks).

Two are Muslim so alcohol is out, I always feel chocolates are a bit dull (plus I am allergic and so am conscious that they may not be welcomed), and I worry that smellies may offend. Any suggestions?

whenwillthetwitchstrike · 02/12/2018 00:20

Until my current job, I've always worked at places where everyone gets a Christmas gift from the company and then my manager would usually get me a gift too. I've been in this job a few years now but still find it a bit off that my manager doesn't even bother to say Merry Christmas some years, let alone give me anything. I'm not sure Christmas is really on his radar though as I have a feeling his wife probably deals with all of it.
This made me realise my DH is a bit like my boss and suddenly gets this look of horror on his face on Christmas Eve and asks if we have anything in the house he can give his team. We always have spare chocolates & wine in the house but I have now added them to my list and they get presents which have been actually bought for them - although as I've never met any of them, they're still quite generic.

Bluerussian · 02/12/2018 00:23

I always bought Christmas and birthday gifts for my team and received from my bosses. I'd have thought that was the norm.

VanGoghsDog · 02/12/2018 00:27

I managed I've person in my last job and took her for lunch instead of Christmas gift and she usually bought me a small box of chocs. I always have her a birthday gift. My manager didn't give me anything

New job, not sure what will happen, the wider team does secret Santa. I have something for that and a spare Seche Vite just in case! But I have no reports in this job, I always buy for my direct reports. In one job I got a £1k bonus for a project so I bought my direct report a £100 voucher for a shoe shop.

Noone has 100 direct reports by the way.

VanGoghsDog · 02/12/2018 00:32

Lambrini (whatever that is) can't be £15 cheaper than Prosecco when Prosecco is £6!

augustboymummy17 · 02/12/2018 00:41

No but they always join in with ss and buy sweets and buffet food for last day of business before Xmas ☺️

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 02/12/2018 09:20

I do think managers with a lot of people under them could still get something. Some tubs of Quality Street, Roses and Celebrations would hardly break the bank.

Most of DHs team aren’t actually based in the same location as him. I was thinking of actual individual gifts. He and the other senior staff each put between £50 and £100 (depending on seniority) behind the bar at the office party though.

Fluffymullet · 02/12/2018 09:25

I work in the NHS so no bonuses/presents expected. However, I have always really appreciated when managers write a card saying thank you for your hard work. It means a lot and costs very little.

FrumpyKnickers · 02/12/2018 09:40

My manager is bringing us all for dinner and drinks in a lovely restaurant. I'm only working there a month.

45redballoons · 02/12/2018 09:42

Arg I hate this! My managers have always got me something and it makes me feel a bit awkward because I don’t get them anything. Now I manage a team of 6 I’m guessing I better get them something.

45redballoons · 02/12/2018 09:45

Wait, people buy birthday presents? Oh god I hope my team didn’t expect that from me! I generally do minimum presents anyway so this is a difficult concept for me

Pixel99 · 02/12/2018 09:47

My manager lives and works in America (I'm in the UK), so no!

Stompythedinosaur · 02/12/2018 09:50

I have from one manager (who was the best manager I've worked with). Just something small.

I know get something for my admin person and my small team.

I8toys · 02/12/2018 09:50

I get £300 in vouchers from 1 and Molton Brown stuff from the other. I buy them things aleo. We've known each other a long time

PiperPublickOccurrences · 02/12/2018 09:54

I'm self employed so don't have a manager to get me anything.

DH gets a gift from his manager - usually a small hamper or similar. He in turn is also a manager of a large team. He doesn't get each one a present. There is a group of about 5 PAs who support the 8 senior managers so they all club together and it's usually DH (or more likely me) who shops for them. Molton Brown last year. Year before that it was Jo Malone candles.

littlebillie · 02/12/2018 09:57

I don't get anything from my manager but I do get my team gifts and my assistant a special gift every year. They all work hard and deserve a thank you

Polarbearflavour · 02/12/2018 09:57

When I was an exec assistant in the City, I used to get champagne from my boss! Those were the days!

Rainbowcolours1 · 02/12/2018 09:59

I'm a headteacher. I buy something for all staff, small box of chocolates type thing and then something more specific for people I work more closely with, SLT, office manager, site manager etc. I have 60 staff. I pay as there is no budget in school to cover this but I feel it's the right thing to do. I also write a card to each person and make sure that it is personal. I rarely get anything from them though!

nanatotwo · 02/12/2018 10:02

I manage a team of 23 and every year buy each of them a little something but I'm not on a high salary so it's normally been a token gift. This year I have done something different and bought one of the beauty advent calendars and added a scratchcard and mini gin bottle to each 'window'. Each staff member picked a number from a hat and on that day they will open the corresponding windows for their present. It's gone down a storm so far (although only a couple of days in).

SimplyPut · 02/12/2018 10:05

I buy my PA a small bottle of Jo Malone and a matching bath oil. I also take her for lunch on the last day before Christmas.

Swipe left for the next trending thread