Secret Santa. Serious or jokey present at your workplace?

[MoonlightBringsSanity]

My colleague was mortified that I got a vibrator as my secret Santa gift. Says she has never heard that secret Santa was for jokey things. I thought a vibrator was really funny.

Bloody hell. Do you work at the Playboy Mansion?

It’s always been up to the purchaser to decide what you of gift to buy.

Personally, I steer away from jokey gifts because I think its just future landfil, so I try and get something serious.

Depends on the workplace and a colleague. Read the most awful Christmas gifts thread where a MIL bought her DIL a lifelike chocolate cock to open in front of family. Apparently it went like .... well a chocolate cock opened in front of the family.

We always did it properly or not at all and often on a theme, so everyone got a mug or stationery etc or set a £5 budget. Much nicer!

It used to be fairly jokey. The first year I was there someone got a penis cake mould which I was a bit pearl clutchy about (on the inside!).

I really resented wasting money on novelty items and luckily a few years ago we went digital with SS. You register and get given a name and you can ask for hints about what your recipient would like. Since then the standard has significantly gone up and I was delighted with what I received this year and my recipient seemed genuinely surprised and pleased too.

I would have been so offended and embarrassed if I’d been given a vibrator. I’d wonder what on earth people thought of me at work.

But why would you want to receive an item that you stick up your hooha from an anonymous work colleague, that's just minging.

Our rule is that we buy from charity shops - it makes it a bit more meaningful than just buying brand new tat for the sake of it. Humorous gifts are fine as long as the giver is certain the recipient would find it funny, and we’re a very open, easygoing and close workforce; but I still genuinely can’t imagine any of my colleagues finding it funny to give or receive sex toys. Just feels a little bit inappropriate.

It was all fun and games until Bald Pete threw his brand new wig across the office and stormed out. We don't do secret Santa any more.

We had a similar situation at my old work place, a guy who has fairly new bought a colleague a vibrator and she was mortified. Rightly so in my opinion, I would be at work - I’d be happy to recieve one from friends / DP but a colleague who barely knew me.

This was brought to HRs attention (I work in HR) and he was eventually dismissed due to conduct as his behaviour got progressively worse. I don’t think I’ll ever forgot that, what goes through people’s minds?!

I’d probably go for something nice and safe!