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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss birthday card

19 replies

Gerri29 · 31/05/2019 02:23

I was asked to get my boss a birthday card today (I am a PA). I am new at the company and felt a bit awkward about doing it. My boss can be tricky. Some people are private when it comes to birthdays at work. So I asked what the general protocol is around birthdays and they said it was fine. So I got a card I thought was appropriate and everyone signed it. However, I wasn't offered any money. It cost £3. Not being tight but I don't think I should have been expected to pay for the card well as get it, especially when I wasn't keen on the idea in the first place. Should I ask for the money from the person who asked me to get it? In fairness they earn a lot more than me. I wouldn't mind if it was for a friend but on this occasion I think it was a bit cheeky.

OP posts:
InKneeDeep · 31/05/2019 02:50

If you didnt want to do it, you should have said no. Let it go. Don't be petty. If you start going around asking for people's share of £3, you'll be labelled a tight arse and not liked very much.

ChillaxingInMyKimono · 31/05/2019 02:53

Yeah, you can't ask for contributions towards £3.

Next time, just tell the person to feel free to organise it themselves, if they want to.

Isitrainingihadntnoticed · 31/05/2019 02:53

Go to accounts with the receipt and get the money back through petty cash

Original poster
Gerri29 · 31/05/2019 02:58

Thanks all, I didn't mean individual contributions towards the card, I meant asking the person who asked me to pay for it. However, I think it's something I will put down to experience for next time. It's not so much about the money, I'm just not into the birthdays at work thing and I don't expect anything for mine either.

OP posts:
Lakefront · 31/05/2019 03:09

I would just chalk it up to experience & take the £3 hit. Also it was reallly nice of you to do that. It was my birthday last week and I got a card signed from all at work. I was really touched and it made my day.

KTheGrey · 31/05/2019 05:01

Ask about petty cash. That's where I would pay for that from.

herculepoirot2 · 31/05/2019 06:14

Next time: “Does the money come from petty cash or would you like to give it to me now?”

Don’t argue about the £3 retrospectively.

Namechangedzzz · 31/05/2019 06:38

Hi. This one the you will just need to let it go

But you need to practice your response now so this does not become what always happens (you bring the card buyer for the office).

I speak from experience. You do not want the expectation to be that Gerri buys the cards (without reimbursement). Something along herculepoirot2 's response is good but make sure you practice it for when you are put on the spot

Namechangedzzz · 31/05/2019 06:39

*being the card buyer (not bring the card buyer)

bloatedbird · 31/05/2019 06:56

Expense it!

EmpressJewel · 31/05/2019 07:13

In places where I have worked, everyone gets a card on their birthday. There is no petty cash, so it's up to the staff to sort it out. Normally the line manager buys cards for their reports. The boss' card is bought by one of their reports. The PA is often the person who does this.

I always have a couple of cards from Card Factory to hand, as you can get a card for under £1, which is much better than £3.

OP, this is just unspoken office etiquette. Whilst I don't think you should have to buy all of the cards, buying one card a year isn't a battle worth fighting over.

PutyourtoponTrevor · 31/05/2019 07:49

It's £3. Unless you are totally broke then let it go

ANewDawn10 · 31/05/2019 08:19

There usually is a petty cash fund for these things.
You just started, dont embarrass yourself by showing how tight you are. Let it go

CathyorClaire · 31/05/2019 08:29

Card Factory. 10 cards for a quid. If the person who asked you to do it whines they're tacky/cheap/unsuitable tell them the job's theirs from now on.

BedraggledBlitz · 31/05/2019 08:46

This used to piss me off when I was an office administrator. I'd have to sort out cards, , etc. The lowest paid person in the office footing the bill for other people's good intentions. Yes you look like a tight arse asking for money back, hence the annoyance. At the time I was on a tight budget and £3 was a meal.

OP make sure it doesn't become a habit.

boringbertha · 31/05/2019 08:52

Same thing happened to me, new dept, everyone gets a card on their birthday. Panic one day when boss realised the were no cards left for birthday boy. I was despatched to nearest shop (M&S) to get card. Asked if i should use my company credit card to pay, boss says no then doesn't cough up any money!

I chalked that one up but now I buy in bulk and claim it back through expenses. Agree you should ask about petty cash or reclaiming. Flipping cheek isn't it.

Newbie29 · 01/06/2019 08:52

I don't think it's being tight asking for the money to pay for the cards. This is work, these people are colleagues, not your friends and you shouldn't be expected to buy their birthday cards. The person who is tight, is the person who asks you to buy the card but doesn't give you the money to pay for it. It's amazing how many of these top bods with the big salaries are actually the tight fisted ones.

Isitrainingihadntnoticed · 02/06/2019 18:27

And I actually hate this. My birthdays new years day so I actually never get a card as the office is closed and everyone else does! Pffftt

fargo123 · 03/06/2019 03:33

I would expect something like this to be paid for out of petty cash, so I would ask colleague for reimbursement that way as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

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