Managers opting out of secret Santa

[spanieleyes22]

Just to say I really don't care about this but just wanted some opinions. I have 4 joint managers- I know def top heavy. One of them said today in our weekly meeting that the top boss had said would we like to do the usual secret Santa. Did it last year. 3 out of the 4 managers said no they didn't want to be involved. Morale is pretty low at the moment anyway and I just thought it was a bit grinch like. I suppose on one way I admire them for just saying no lol. I'm not mad on it either but take part to show willing and try and be a friendly team member iukwim .

I hate workplace secret santa, I would be relieved.

I'd prefer that they shouted morning tea or drinks TBH

Yeh I know what you mean. There's an awful culture where I work with the managers never socializing with the "underlings". I thought it might change after the restructure but it seems endemic. We were asked to all come in last Tuesday so the new team could get to know each other. Managers never came near us for the whole day. Sat at a separate table as dar away from us as possible. There's a little seating area in the kitchen now. The 4 of them were sitting there having lunch laughing and roaring . I went in to get a spoon for my own lunch but they just ignored me. Then on our meeting today they were saying what a great day it was for the team. Anyway. Just gives me the ick tbh!!!

I hate secret Santa so not out. I’m not a Grinch but it’s always shit and is another task for me and money out of a tight budget.

I think a larger group of people I wouldn't want to do it (I can't actually recall ever doing it myself). But I've only worked in large departments.
My son works at a very small firm, the owner. two managing assistants, about three other sales staff and three admin plus my son, by far the youngest (by decades). They do secret Santa every year and as they are so small they all know each other well. They are taken out for a nice dinner and do the gifts. My son really enjoys buying a special something and it makes him feel part of the group. He always ups the budget should he get the boss though!

I'd be relieved. My office is small & at the Christmas party they do a themed secret Santa. I've opted out of attending this year (for other reasons) and feel great relief at not having to buy four more gifts (it's per person & all family attend).

Great. I would take it as a cue that I was allowed to opt out too.

I’m a manager and I don’t participate in secret Santa. I don’t like random shit in my house so don’t get into situations where I need that

i also spend money to buy my team actual gifts and contribute over and above to the office pot luck (as do most managers)

Office secret Santa's are the worst, especially when the managers are in them! It's defo not grinch like to want to opt out. I love Christmas, I love giving presents, I bloody hate work secret santa.

I went in to get a spoon for my own lunch but they just ignored me.
Did you acknowledge them? If I was mid convo and someone walked in to grab a spoon, it wouldn't dawn on me to stop our convo for each of us to say hello to that person.

Exactly this. It relieves everyone of yet another shit job/expense at an already fraught time of year. If you feel really strongly about it get a tin of sweets for the break room/other communal area.

I’m a bit confused as to why secret Santa is taking up so much headspace for British people right now. According to mumsnet people are worried about mother in laws at Xmas, secret Santa, and being wiped out in world war 3

Same. Office Secret Santa is the pits.

I'd be pleased the opted out, it's super awkward trying to buy a secret santa gift for a manager you don't particularly know (in terms of gift ideas) or like.

Secret sznta is tedious i usually opt out myself

That’s a good decision, I don’t blame them. I hate Secret Santas!

Office Secret Santa is awful. In fact, any Secret Santa is. Just another excuse for spending money on shit that no-one wants.

Hate it. Totally waste of money. Either it's crap junk, generic chocolates or at worst humiliating or insulting

These things need to be just dropped. If people want to buy a gift for a particular colleague then fine. This enforced gift buying is a bloody nuisance.

I am a manger and opt out of secret Santa as ….i get on great with my team and we socialise together a lot… but I remember how much I hated pulling the managers name out the draw and overthinking what to buy them / was it a joke to far etc so don’t want others to feel like that .

The issue at your workplace isn’t secret Santa, it’s managers who have poor leadership skills.

I never do it. You might as well just give the money to charity.

There's no increasing morale just by spending £20 on some plastic tat that gets thrown in the bin by the 28th. I'd prefer they take action to empower the staff and improve the working conditions than participate in shit like secret Santa.

Surely nobody wants to do Secret Santa. It's just creating more tat for landfill.

So long as everyone can opt out, it sounds a good thing. I hate Secret Santa. Got a joke beard and moustache two years running..

Secret Santa is a Christmas tax. I'd find a way to opt out too.