AIBU about Christmas presents from work?

[Merryoldgoat]

I work for a company that treats employees well imo - good pay, holiday, sickness, decent pensions. Paid for Christmas party, free lunches and we work 40 hour weeks but lunch is paid so it’s a standard 8-4 or 9-5

We don’t have a big budget for Christmas gifts - just a little token of £15 ish each.

We get a bottle of fizz and some Belgian chocolates.

The real gift is the party - three courses and booze for the whole lunch which is a nice evening, not compulsory, not ridiculously boozy and no daft enforced fun.

A lot of preamble for the main subject.

EVERY year someone complains how ‘boring’ wine and chocolates are, but has no better idea for 50 odd very mixed staff.

It’s Christmas - it’s easy to give them away if you don’t want them. It’s a token - not a symbol of value - that’s what we’re well paid for!

Full disclosure: I’m lumbered with buying. No one else wants to. I’m not buying personalised gifts for 50 people!

So

YABU - crap gift better to have nothing

YANBU - it’s not very exciting but as a small token it’s fine.

NB: non drinkers have an alcohol free option of course.

@Hont1986 why is that only relevant to "Muslims"? If you are bringing a persons religion into it many Christians don't drink alcohol.
Anyway the OP said there is a non alcoholic alternative for those who don't drink alcohol for whatever reason.

Not sure why you had quote Muslims, it's not a dirty word. It's not only relevant to them but they are by far the largest religious group in the UK that doesn't permit alcohol. There is no significant Christian denomination in the UK that doesn't allow alcohol at all, the biggest is the Mormons and there are less than 200k in the UK.

@Hont1986 ok correct - I had no reason to use "quote" marks. Apologies.
I know several practicing Christians who do not drink alcohol. Traditional Baptists and Methodists generally don't drink alcohol. My friend belongs to a non denominational charismatic church and most members of her church don't drink alcohol.
I know several people who belong to African churches (apologies I don't know the official denomination name) - no alcohol.

@Hont1986

As said before there is a non alcoholic option.

This thread has cemented that there really isn’t anything you can do to please everyone, and that 80% being pleased is pretty good odds.

The remaining 20% can decide to decline their gift if there are no suitable options going forward.

I'd prefer the wine and chocolate over a voucher.

Just to add to the differing opinions. Apologies 😂

@JustFrustrated but if you get a fairly generic voucher like M+S or John Lewis you could just spend it on wine and chocolate 🤔

John Lewis is over 50 miles away, so useless to me.

M&S I'd like, but would end up going on stuff for the house/others

But love2shop actually awful. Restrictive and difficult.

@JustFrustrated well hopefully the company giving the vouchers would make sure the retailer they choose does have branches nearby.
I think the OP said they are in London - so JL would be ok.
Plus you can use them online. I'd spend a JL voucher on Lego 🤣

I agree about Love to Shop and the other similar one.
They are a bit of a pain to use.

I’d much prefer the wine and choccies. I’d prob end up using an Amazon voucher to buy boring everyday stuff for the family (or lose it or forget to redeem it and then kick myself for doing so!) whereas the bottle of bubbly or chocolates would be a lovely treat!

People who drink alcohol often (not always) seem quite put-out by the suggestion that alcohol isn't for everyone; like they think non-drinkers are judging them. They're usually not, but having it assumed that wine is always a welcome gift is just inaccurate, these days.
My ex is an actual alcoholic, it put me off drinking at home for life. My closest colleague is East-Asian he didn't grow up in a drinking culture, and he doesn't really like it. 2/3 of the rest of the team are Hindu, and don't touch alcohol. Giving us all wine would be like gifting hockey sticks to fish.

We get one of those rubbish hampers... Ive looked online and they actually cost a lot (probably 35-50+posting). The previous team used to get some good ones with local British produces, but now the quality is so bad that we end up throwing away most of it as it's inedible.

I would much rather get £15 worth of chocolate and wine!

Vouchers? Might as well give cash. I don't drink but I find that wine is like currency - you can always gift it to someone as a thank you or take it with you to a dinner party. So wine and chocs for me, please! I hope your colleagues appreciate it more this year.

This is a ZOMBIE thread.
From LAST CHRISTMAS 🧑‍🎄

Oh sorry, think that was my fault - it popped up in my ‘similar threads’ and I woke up the zombie!

Glad the range of opinions is the same this year!

Consensus was there is no appetite for vouchers so we’ve got cremant or nice non alcoholic cocktails and Christmas biscuits.