Page 13 | To think this is a strange way to do Secret Santa?

Fancylike · 2023-12-05T10:44:16+00:00

My office has announced a Secret Santa but has set a minimum price of £40. There’s no maximum but you have to spend over £40 on a single gift. I’m new to the company but every SS I’ve done previously had a maximum spend, not a minimum and it’s always been £5-10. This just seems like a lot of money to spend on coworkers you may not know well (I work in a different department to the name I pulled so have to research them) and also having a minimum doesn’t sit well with me given the disparity in salaries across the office. I’m new so I don’t want to rock the boat by asking if the organiser got mixed up but it’s also been made clear we all need to participate.

scottishGirl · 10/12/2023 21:34

Calliopespa · 10/12/2023 18:54

Yes I wouldn’t mind myself. But I just wondered if some might mutter a bit if it happened to them. It’s just too much for someone you don’t know full stop.

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To clarify , I think £40 spent on anyone you don't know is madness, no matter what it is purchased! The donation idea was just an idea of something that could be purchased that would hopefully do some good for a charity rather than buying something not wanted since the OP doesn't know the recipient.
I fully agree this whole £40 situation is bizarre.

Calliopespa · 10/12/2023 22:44

scottishGirl · 10/12/2023 21:34

To clarify , I think £40 spent on anyone you don't know is madness, no matter what it is purchased! The donation idea was just an idea of something that could be purchased that would hopefully do some good for a charity rather than buying something not wanted since the OP doesn't know the recipient.
I fully agree this whole £40 situation is bizarre.

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Sorry yes, didn’t mean to imply you agreed with the 40! I think we are all aghast! And I get the donation idea as an offshoot of that absurdity. I just worried OP might hit the wrong recipient .

Kirstk · 11/12/2023 04:25

I dont even spend £40 on nieces and nephews we all have a £20 limit.

Luckypom · 11/12/2023 04:44

Never heard such nonsense (unless you’re all millionaires??) £5 - 10 max and you didn’t need to spend that either. It’s hard because you are new to the company but I have never heard of this! Maybe on housewives of (fill in the city)

Original poster

Fancylike · 11/12/2023 11:12

Thanks for all the thoughts and I feel like I’m not being as unreasonable in thinking it’s a lot.

Update from this morning. I nosed into a water cooler conversation where other people were complaining that it should be a lower maximum spend instead of this high minimum. Yes it is definitely £40. No we are not making well paid salaries (before Covid I made double but have struggled to find work after losing that job) but live in a high cost of living area.
Also it appears the different teams are quite separate and don’t mix much (I haven’t been here long enough to work this out yet) so people have pulled names they aren’t even personally familiar with.

Another message went out saying each gift needs to be given out with a little presentation on why the gift is perfect for the receiver. So not so secret. Feeling quite anxious now not so much about spending, but how on earth will I know what a random guy I’ve never even met will like and have to talk about it.

OP posts:

PrimitivePerson · 11/12/2023 11:15

Someone needs to be brave enough to stand up and say "sorry, this is ridiculous, I'm out". Appreciate it's far from easy to be that person, though.

It's really stupid and crass.

McrWife · 11/12/2023 11:19

That’s ridiculous.

flyingant · 11/12/2023 12:04

Oh, come on, after the latest additional rule, this has got to be a wind-up!

Jackfrostnippingatmynose · 11/12/2023 12:30

Saw your last update OP - the organiser of this is absolutely bonkers!
Tell the organiser that you're sadly unable to comply.

Headband · 11/12/2023 12:31

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Calliopespa · 11/12/2023 13:34

Fancylike · 11/12/2023 11:12

Thanks for all the thoughts and I feel like I’m not being as unreasonable in thinking it’s a lot.

Update from this morning. I nosed into a water cooler conversation where other people were complaining that it should be a lower maximum spend instead of this high minimum. Yes it is definitely £40. No we are not making well paid salaries (before Covid I made double but have struggled to find work after losing that job) but live in a high cost of living area.
Also it appears the different teams are quite separate and don’t mix much (I haven’t been here long enough to work this out yet) so people have pulled names they aren’t even personally familiar with.

Another message went out saying each gift needs to be given out with a little presentation on why the gift is perfect for the receiver. So not so secret. Feeling quite anxious now not so much about spending, but how on earth will I know what a random guy I’ve never even met will like and have to talk about it.

😳 It gets more and more bonkers!! At least you can say you are new. And if you said “ I have no idea as we’ve never met “ you will probably be echoing the thoughts of many others ! Good luck!

RampantIvy · 11/12/2023 13:43

Feeling quite anxious now not so much about spending, but how on earth will I know what a random guy I’ve never even met will like and have to talk about it.

But then it isn't a secret Santa. It is enforced gift giving to a stranger.

"I'm new here. I hope you like my gift."

Or pull a sickie. This is utterly ridiculous. If other people are complaining they should make a stand.

theDudesmummy · 11/12/2023 13:47

If this is true (and I have my doubts) then I would certainly be refusing. They can't enforce that you have a social interaction with someone you don't even know (or, for all they know, you may know and have reason to dislike).

OVienna · 11/12/2023 14:03

Fancylike · 11/12/2023 11:12

Thanks for all the thoughts and I feel like I’m not being as unreasonable in thinking it’s a lot.

Update from this morning. I nosed into a water cooler conversation where other people were complaining that it should be a lower maximum spend instead of this high minimum. Yes it is definitely £40. No we are not making well paid salaries (before Covid I made double but have struggled to find work after losing that job) but live in a high cost of living area.
Also it appears the different teams are quite separate and don’t mix much (I haven’t been here long enough to work this out yet) so people have pulled names they aren’t even personally familiar with.

Another message went out saying each gift needs to be given out with a little presentation on why the gift is perfect for the receiver. So not so secret. Feeling quite anxious now not so much about spending, but how on earth will I know what a random guy I’ve never even met will like and have to talk about it.

This is all absolutely ridiculous. Whoever set this up is some sort of sadist.

OVienna · 11/12/2023 14:05

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TheCatfordCat · 11/12/2023 14:19

Fuck that noise. I'd be looking for a job in the New Year. It says a lot about the culture of the company OP works for, I think.

Our SS was £15 max. I spent about £10-15 on each child in my circle. It's enough.

willWillSmithsmith · 11/12/2023 14:23

Fancylike · 11/12/2023 11:12

Thanks for all the thoughts and I feel like I’m not being as unreasonable in thinking it’s a lot.

Update from this morning. I nosed into a water cooler conversation where other people were complaining that it should be a lower maximum spend instead of this high minimum. Yes it is definitely £40. No we are not making well paid salaries (before Covid I made double but have struggled to find work after losing that job) but live in a high cost of living area.
Also it appears the different teams are quite separate and don’t mix much (I haven’t been here long enough to work this out yet) so people have pulled names they aren’t even personally familiar with.

Another message went out saying each gift needs to be given out with a little presentation on why the gift is perfect for the receiver. So not so secret. Feeling quite anxious now not so much about spending, but how on earth will I know what a random guy I’ve never even met will like and have to talk about it.

Good Lord what nonsense is this! Who on earth does this company think it is!

I’d not have a thing to do with this utter nonsense.

EvilElsa · 11/12/2023 14:26

A presentation -for secret santa?! I'd be "sick" that day. What utter bullshit. On top of the £40 bombshell I'd be actively looking for a new job.

willWillSmithsmith · 11/12/2023 14:26

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Headband · 11/12/2023 14:28

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willWillSmithsmith · 11/12/2023 14:30

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PrimitivePerson · 11/12/2023 17:51

If they get away with this, you can guarantee more awful and expensive stuff will follow.

Pluviophile1 · 11/12/2023 19:35

Fancylike · 11/12/2023 11:12

Thanks for all the thoughts and I feel like I’m not being as unreasonable in thinking it’s a lot.

Update from this morning. I nosed into a water cooler conversation where other people were complaining that it should be a lower maximum spend instead of this high minimum. Yes it is definitely £40. No we are not making well paid salaries (before Covid I made double but have struggled to find work after losing that job) but live in a high cost of living area.
Also it appears the different teams are quite separate and don’t mix much (I haven’t been here long enough to work this out yet) so people have pulled names they aren’t even personally familiar with.

Another message went out saying each gift needs to be given out with a little presentation on why the gift is perfect for the receiver. So not so secret. Feeling quite anxious now not so much about spending, but how on earth will I know what a random guy I’ve never even met will like and have to talk about it.

Utterly ridiculous.

"I've bought this ridiculously expensive gift for you because I have been forced to. I have no idea if you will like it because I don't know you (or anyone else in this company, for that matter)."

Ilovecleaning · 12/12/2023 09:30

flyingant · 11/12/2023 12:04

Oh, come on, after the latest additional rule, this has got to be a wind-up!

Exactly my thoughts now. It’s possible we are being taken for a ride.

clingingtosanity · 13/12/2023 13:56

"Here is my Resignation Letter, accompanied by a £40 donation voucher to a local food bank. I chose this for you because I thought you were probably in agreement with me that this whole idea was batshit crazy, especially within the current Cost of Living crisis, and you might, like me, be completely rethinking your employment here. Feel free to use my letter as a template for your own."