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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if your manager gets you a Christmas present

99 replies

Merryoldgoat · 09/12/2021 16:16

and if so, what is it?

I’ve only got 2 direct reports so it’s not extravagant.

Wine and chocolates - bit naff?
Nice toiletries?
Candle? I like them but there’s a limit…

Bah. I’m thinking option 1 might be best. But that’s what the company are buying us so it’s a bit boring to get it twice.

£20 in an envelope?

OP posts:
Yellow85 · 09/12/2021 16:18

Usually a bottle of wine. Typically picks a good bottle of red though. Sent a nice wooden case of half bottles before too. All very appreciated.

ChangeChingyChange · 09/12/2021 16:20

Not cash doesn't look professional. Usually it's wine and or chocs. If they're getting that already maybe a nice candle is a good idea.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 09/12/2021 16:20

I suppose at Christmas wine is always useful, you can regift if that suits too 🤔

OP posts:
OlivePenderghast · 09/12/2021 16:20

Voucher for a coffee shop?

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 09/12/2021 16:20

@ChangeChingyChange

I wouldn’t really put cash in an envelope!

OP posts:
MintJulia · 09/12/2021 16:21

No, he takes the whole company out for lunch.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 09/12/2021 16:23

@MintJulia

We’re getting that already.

OP posts:
Guineapiggiesmalls · 09/12/2021 16:23

A favourite manager used to get us all an M&S voucher - was always nice to pick up some snacks and wine and be able to thank her for treating us.

BiddyPop · 09/12/2021 16:29

It really depends. It used to be nothing at all (I'm public sector), but a few years ago one manager gave us all a chocolate reindeer after a particularly busy year (he had driven us into the ground so he really owed us big time! But given his complete lack of social skills, this was a big acknowledgement of our efforts, small though it was).

The past few years, we have tended to be given a bottle of wine (common now across 3 managers in past 5 years), but due to lockdown last year, manager could only send things to our houses and not everyone gave their addresses. This year, manager has already organised individually named wooden reindeers that have a hole to put a Lindt chocolate ball into (red wrapper) and a box of chocs each, so is leaving them on everyone's desks for when we are allowed back in. (And plans to insist on addresses for her senior staff as apparently we were getting something different and all really deserve it).

I have been giving a decent bottle of wine in recent years to my own team members. Not sure how to make it work this year with WFH rules again - I'll figure something out. (I didn't have any staff last year due to changes around that time).

Sunsetsupernova · 09/12/2021 16:36

In my old company no. He was the tightest man alive. To the point where I organised a big collection for the local foodbank, everyone transferred me money and then I put in a Tesco order. Except he didn’t contribute but still posted about it on social media Hmm

I used to have a lovely manager who would buy each of us an individual present. So for example, I always drank peppermint tea in the afternoons so he bought me a lovely tin of it from Fortnum & Mason

fishonabicycle · 09/12/2021 16:38

My old boss used to get me a bottle of champagne. New place got me a hamper of local cheese etc and a £100 John Lewis voucher

89redballoons · 09/12/2021 16:40

Our team get John Lewis vouchers normally. Last year we got nice hampers as well (cheese and biscuits, wine, chocolates) because we couldn't have a Christmas party in person.

SarahProblem · 09/12/2021 16:40

My manager (public sector) gets us a bottle of nice gin and a card.

Fluffy40 · 09/12/2021 16:46

We used to get a choice of chocs or wine from our manager in NHS

GiltEdges · 09/12/2021 16:50

Last year I think I got chocolates from my head of department and gin from my line manager... because she knows be better Grin

RoseMartha · 09/12/2021 16:54

We get nothing at work.

livingthegoodlife · 09/12/2021 16:58

Shopping voucher, really generous and really appreciated.

TuftyMarmoset · 09/12/2021 17:01

No I’ve never had a Christmas present from a manager. We usually have a meal out as a team though and usually the manager will buy the drinks.

Kitfish · 09/12/2021 17:06

I take my team out for Christmas lunch and foot the bill. If I can't do that (lockdown), I send them a bottle of wine each.

SymbollocksInteractionism · 09/12/2021 17:09

We have a large staff team and individual presents would cost too much (I'm not rich 😄)
We will instead put a hamper together with different sweets, biscuits, chocs, savouries, nice teas and coffees, hot choc, box of satsumas, crates of popular fizzy juice etc for everyone to help themselves to at work.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 09/12/2021 17:09

Bottle of champs and pays for Xmas meal

SymbollocksInteractionism · 09/12/2021 17:10

If it was just a couple of people I would give them individual gifts

Run4it2 · 09/12/2021 17:10

Senior management buy everyone a bottle of wine. I give my team a selection box and a Christmas tree decoration

BoudecaBains · 09/12/2021 17:12

No. Nothing.

sunshineandshowers40 · 09/12/2021 17:13

Wine. Had a Christmas bauble before, which was lovely.