Tone deaf nursery gifts

[grassverge]

A mum at our nursery arranged a collection for the 10 staff members. She collected £400. All of the workers are on Minimum wage. She spent the money on gift vouchers to a local restaurant that charges £9 for a starter and £20 for a main. Considering the cost of living, am I wrong to be cross about this? She should have just given them £40 each.

Yup I’d go boots, M&S, John Lewis

this fancy restaurant is not a good idea for a gift

Why gift at all, make them cards or bake for them. All this teacher/nursery gifting is utterly out of hand.

i can see that cash can feel awkward and can not be allowed in some places, but I think it’s best to get something with as much broad appeal as possible. I don’t like eating out so I would never use the restaurant vouchers. Those multi-use gift cards are so much better.

I'm not anti gift card, but I don't want one for a restaurant I haven't chosen that I can only use (without spending more) if I go out and spend my free time with the very same people I already see all day every day at work.
They're nice an all, but I don't want my precious little time off decided for me!

under £20 per main is not fancy. It’s nice enough to be a treat, nicer than harvester or frankie and bennies etc.
honestly I work in a role with a similar wage to this and am a bit insulted at the insinuation they won’t enjoy it and would prefer cash due to the cost of living. They deserve a treat and I bet they’ll love it.

Maybe they never have money for a treat and can go for a meal with an excuse now, on something they never expected?

You might not want a night out with your colleagues. Plenty wouldn't!

Also a night out might mean you need extra money for taxis, outfit, drinks, childcare, tip etc. It's likely it will end up costing them more money.

I really don't understand what is wrong with cash. Gift vouchers are like an inconvenient approximation of cash.

Yep, Bank of England (or Scotland/NI) Gift Vouchers are always the most versatile!

I suppose the thinking is that it's a special treat for them all that they wouldn't normally afford/justify; but how do you know that they all like to socialise together, just because they work together? £40 sounds great for two courses and a drink or two, but if they preferred to enjoy their special treat with a spouse/partner instead, as is pretty common, they'd have to find the same amount again themselves to be able to do so.

I think it sounds like a nice idea. If I got a voucher for a shop I’d feel obliged to spend it on something I needed or more likely, my family
needed. This way it’s more of a treat. It’s always hard to buy gifts for people you don’t know well.

Why gift at all, make them cards or bake for them. All this teacher/nursery gifting is utterly out of hand.

"Hello, is that the novelty mug shop? Do you do 'World's Best Nursery Worker' ones? Excellent - can I order 10 of them, please; no all in one box and delivered to the same place is fine, thanks!"

Tone deaf and shit.

It’s a nice idea. It’s a present not a tip

Most people even those on minimum wage manage the odd night out every now and again. So they won't have to go as a big group they could quite easily go with their partners. And it won't cost any more because instead of spending £40 between them one spends the voucher one spends the £40.

And even people on minimum wage usually have a suitable outfit to wear for meal.

Minimum wage doesn't mean you wear threadbare clothes and live on bread and water ffs.

@sweeneytoddsrazor exactly! This thread is fucking gross.

I'd not be too happy if I'd contributed to this as I think there's a good chance quite a few of the vouchers would go un-used. All the staff MIGHT decided to go our together for a meal but even then there may be a few that can't make it that night/can't get child care etc. If not, some might not be able to afford to take a partner/friend, some might not be able to afford/find child care for a night out, some might not like the sort of food they serve and some will undoubtedly just forget they have the voucher until after it's expired.

Having said that I know that when you are the person organising this sort of thing it's pretty common for no-one to offer any ideas when asked, but criticise whatever decision is made.

I think it's ok. Our nursery team used to socialise together and if they have enough for a meal and some drinks each then what's not to like?

It's just nice that she organised something really. If you don't like it, volunteer to organise the next one.

Fantastic.

Next year OP and everyone agreeing with OP organises the gifts next year

Job done and everybody wins

I'd have gone with M&S or Waitrose/John Lewis vouchers - they can be used for groceries or treat items.

Groceries? That’s incredibly patronising.

I don’t know why people are insisting all the staff have to go out together?

Because otherwise they have to go with someone who does not have a voucher, and this means that it costs their companion money to enable them to use the gift.

I think a lot of the vouchers will go unused too. I really struggled with childcare so an evening out isnt easy for me and lots of people are similiar.

Its not. It simply means if there is no luxury item in M&S the person wants to put the money towards, it doesnt get wasted. Even if they then spend the equivelent in the pub that night as it freed up some cash.

I agree the money could have been spent on Costa vouchers or something instead, but it would be really odd to just gift the money.

Never been asked to get involved in a collection but think I'd say no and explain that I was sorting my own card/gift from my child. It doesn't sit well with me for one or two parents to dictate what everyone should gift to the teachers, even if they mean well.

Is it her cousin’s restaurant?