If you are a manager, do you buy/treat your team at Christmas?

[newtonupontheheath]

As the title really...
I have 3 separate teams totalling 11 people. We're pretty skint so I've really cut down on gifts for friends etc. But it seems harsh not to buy anything. Not sure what to do... What do you do? Any ideas that are cheap?

My boss has always bought everyone an advent calendar - always just discovered on our desks, and normally buys some bubbly at the xmas party to help get things going too

I manage 70 people so can't afford to but will get a group gift paid for by company like Xmas drinks or something.

I've never been bought a personal gift by my managers (again in the public sector). It's always been things like chocolates or biscuits to share as a team, and, if we're having an office meal out, they pay for the wine while we pay for the food. However a card from my direct line manager has always been appreciated.

I have 15 members of staff and I buy them each a big tub of Xmas chocolates. They don't expect it, but I think it is a good time to say thank you and I do appreciate all their hard work. As someone else said up thread, they earn a lot less than me.

I tell them not to get me anything, which most of the time they adhere to! Occasionally a couple of them will club together and get me. £5 Starbucks card.

I don't do anything else the rest of the year for them, birthdays etc as it does just become too costly and time consuming.

My manager buys us all an advent calendar and then a bottle of wine. I don't expect anything at all though and really appreciate it.

Public sector here! Tbh a Christmas card with a nice message in is lovely!
You sound like a lovely manager, but actually things like arranging fair Christmas cover and getting the last travel expense run in before Christmas mean loads and are very much appreciated!
We have a bring and share lunch that everyone brings their signature dish to.
As for gifts, box of biscuits is the biggest thing I've had.

When I had a team I would take them for lunch at local Chinese (cheap set meal), then back to office and after the dreaded secret santa give them a wee great year/achieved lots/happy xmas speech and tell them to help themselves to a bottle of wine. Company used to pay for the meal, but when they stopped I picked up the tab. Team never bigger than 5 members so reasonably affordable (box of 6 bottles of wine for less than £25 at wholesalers).

Our local Sainsbury's does trays of 12 iced Do nuts for £2.50 or £5 -cakes always go down well and it is thought that counts!

In public sector and I've never had a gift or given one. I give my team Christmas cards if they celebrate it. Normally management team would cover the drinks at Xmas meal putting into a kitty proportionate to their grade. I think if you want to do anything write them each a card and take each team a load of mince pies or cake.

Public Sector here too. I buy everyone something at about £5 per head. Team of 10.

We have a kitty we pay into for our Chrustmas night out otherwise I'd buy a round of drinks.

I don't think anyone would expect it if they thought it was too expensive for me though.

My manager bought us an advent calendar each. I think that's plenty.

As the wife of a manager all team gifts seem to be deflected to me. Every year I send in edible treats for the last week of work. This year they are getting pannetone, florentines, shortbread and gingerbread hearts with sachets of hot chocolate, latte and a few bottles of fizz for when the finish on the 23rd.

I always bought my team small gifts, wine etc. The most popular one I ever did was just cheap selection boxes! You can get them for £1 each. I always bought drinks when out as well, unless there was a more senior manager there. I've never had a manager who didn't buy drinks!

I still have and use daily in winter, a pair of leather gloves a boss gave me c.15 years ago but for a team of 11, I'd get some big tins of biscuits/chocs for the office.

I'm a teacher and manage 4 TAs. I usually get them something like a mug or toiletries set each. If it was 11 people I think I would just bake something or do big tins of chocolates.

Last year I hot a perfume (nice one as well) from my manager

Not wanting to make you feel bad, in previous jobs always got either a small box of chocolates or nothing.

I've just come back to this thread- thank you for taking the time to add your thoughts, it's really helped.

I think the main issue is that the vast majority of my team are older (than me) men and everything I think of seems a bit...meh. Plus one of the chaps has a small business in the side and his wife makes amazing cakes, chocolates etc that are sold in their shop so anything I could make would be rubbish

Maybe a card each with a scratch card would go down well. A bit of a giggle if nothing else.

Thank you lovely people

Public sector team of 8, I buy everyone a small gift try to limit it to less than £5 and a nice message on the gift tag thanking them for their hard work.
The organisation may send a global email out thanking the workforce

Managed to find some yankee candle voitive and a glass holder each on offer this year

I have worked in public and private sectors, and would be perfectly happy with nice tin of chocs / biscuits for the office.

Currently working for a small company, some years the owner has given me a bottle of champagne, other years nothing. It really is just the thought that counts IMO.