To have been honest about my feelings re Christmas presents at work

[Icefoot]

We had a team meeting. I'm new to the business.

Someone asked what we should do about presents for each other and the wider staff. I said personally I wouldn't bother, it's all a bit of a nonsense, just passing round parcels of things no one wants. I'm not good at present buying and I don't care about presents for me, which makes me hard to give the emotional energy required to get my staff decent gifts. I'd rather buy people a drink after work, although appreciate that doesn't suit everyone either, but the offer's there.

I was asked and I gave an honest answer...

If you're a manager then a small gift for your team members shows appreciation. Suppose it depends what your predecessor did, you'll look a tight twat if they did gifts and it could also create bad feeling amongst the team. Up to you though...

It may have been better to say I am happy to go for drinks, and not swap gifts but if swapping gifts is, something people want to do then it's up to them.

Is this as a gift from the company for staff, or for staff to all buy each other? I don’t think staff should be having to buy each other and buying tat for the sake of a secret santa, but if it’s a token gift from management then I think it should continue.