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Original poster

My Secret Santa recipient could not have looked more pissed off at her present today

273 replies

Hassled · 14/12/2016 20:13

I thought it was quite nice - some Occitane hand cream. I don't know her very well but she's always highly groomed, dresses well, seems very pleasant - I thought hand cream would be safe. She has no way of knowing it was me, at least. But seriously - a room of 30+ people opening their gifts, everyone going "Yay! Thanks, Secret Santa!" and generally being cheery, and she just sat and stared at the hand cream like it was a glittery turd or something. I feel bad about it. Anyone else got their Secret Santa present so drastically wrong?

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 15/12/2016 19:38

Maybe she was thinking hard about who to re-gift it to?

Watch out for it in next year's Secret Santa. Grin

Ceaser1981 · 15/12/2016 20:23

I only went along with secret santa to please everyone else. Probably always looked pissed off as i got drink, wine, drinking games etc and i dont drink alcohol. It always annoys me that the company give us a bottle at christmas, my manager knows i dont drink but instead of a box of chocs or a fiver voucher i still get a bottle. Im sure they would make more effort if it was against my religion.

Hand cream id be more than happy with too!

daisypond · 15/12/2016 20:45

I think hand cream is fine, too. I've never used hand cream - but I'd be happy to give it a go if I got it as a gift.

ErnesttheBavarian · 15/12/2016 21:04

Oh God, I thought this was about me! Shock Blush. I got my SS gift, and I must have look really pissed off. The couple of people near me oohed over it, but I just shrugged. I guess I was just disinterested in it, maybe a bit disappointed, but more just thinking the person doesn't know me that well, cos all my closest colleagues know I hate the body shop stuff, and highly fragranced creams etc.

Then about half an hour later people started guessing who was who's SS, and I looked with utter mortification at the lovely lady next to me, and asked if she was my SS and she was! I was so ashamed that she had seen my unimpressed reaction. I hadn't slated it or anything, but I guess my face and lack of response spoke volumes.

So, what do I do now? I really like my colleague, and I know people find me difficult to buy for Sad and I don't want her to feel bad or offended or like she has failed . yikes. I am not good at hiding my feelings. I would never make a poker player.

EBearhug · 15/12/2016 21:24

most people would see it as a joke wouldn't they?

A lot wouldn't, and if someone's really offended and went to HR, it could result in job loss. I wouldn't want to take the risk.

theconstantinoplegardener · 15/12/2016 21:35

One of my colleagues got a novelty vibrator as her secret santa gift one year. Not surprisingly, she was less than ecstatic. We never did find out who bought it for her.

CountFosco · 15/12/2016 22:17

Sex jokes only really work between people who have worked together a long time and are the recipient should be in a position of some power. The most junior member of a team should never get a dodgy sex SS, in that situation it does constitute bullying as can be seen by some of the comments above.

On the other hand I have a colleague who has worked for the company for years, and terrifies the junior members of staff 364 days of the year because she demands high standards of work from everyone. She regularly gets jokey presents from those of us who have worked with her a long time, she's got a great sense of humour and I think it probably does the juniors some good to see that she is approachable and can laugh at herself.

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 15/12/2016 23:41

My mate (who's also a colleague) called me tonight all upset because her SS gave her a bottle of water and a crunchie bar.

Pretty mean.

Our company is small and the SS wasn't massively secret so everyone knows the giver.

The giver of the shit gift was the same person who organised the SS, FFS.

Anyway, my mate is upset.

Astro55 · 15/12/2016 23:53

I wouldn't be impressed with hand cream lacks thought! Something you'd dump in a supermarket trolley.

And I'm allergic to lots of it - so never buy it.

Sao many more interesting things to buy

StewieGMum · 16/12/2016 00:12

Anyone who claims that no one under 85 uses hand cream is either so incredibly narcissistic they've no idea that other people might be different or have never been to a nice/ posh restaurant where the posh hand cream is located next to the soap dispenser by the sinks.

The sex toy secret Santa gifts are just cruel and unpleasant. It's not appropriate in the workplace - even if your best mates outside work and know the giftee would love it. Men, especially those in positions of power, giving them to female colleagues deserve to be sacked for sexual harassment and gross misconduct.

Moreisnnogedag · 16/12/2016 00:13

I'd be mightily unimpressed with a sex toy and I wouldn't see it as a joke. I am the only female at my level and none of the bosses are female. It's completely inappropriate and I'm glad the pp took it to HR.

Hand cream? I'd like it.

EBearhug · 16/12/2016 02:29

We've had a load of mails reminding us about the festive season and gifts, but I think it's mostly about giving and receiving with customers and making sure there's no bribery and corruption. Not very relevant to my role. Might reread tomorrow, to check the rules on sectors.

EBearhug · 16/12/2016 02:29

For sectors, read sextoys. Stupid phone.

iamadaftcoo · 16/12/2016 03:07

honestly do not know a single person under 80 who uses hand cream. Actually under 85.

27 here. Use it. Mum is 50. She uses it. Sisters 25 and 22. All use it.

lizzieoak · 16/12/2016 03:13

I really dislike Secret Santa. I worked in an office mostly populated by evil bitches and had to spend my tiny scrap of spare money on them when I would have preferred to spend it on my kids.

Just call me Scrooge!

SelfCleaningVagina · 16/12/2016 03:43

I think the world is neatly divided into people who use hand cream and body lotion as regularly as they use face moisturiser, and people who never use it.

She is obviously in the latter category.

lizzieoak · 16/12/2016 06:11

I've been using various creams since I was 23 - I'm a bit mystified at the thought it could be for old ladies only. Some scents perhaps (my mum always smelled of atrixo), but cream is - I think - rather sexy. Making your skin soft to touch. Having your lover rub it in ...

Cream-rejecting lady is a pill, ignore her (though I still diapprove of Secret Santa).

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/12/2016 07:38

So glad we don't have this to contend with. Buying gifts for people you know really well is a minefield, so who thought it would be a good idea to set up this dreadful opportunity for public humiliation and disappointment? There's enough money wasted on tat at Christmas as it is. Having a food bank collection instead seems like a far better idea. Alternatively, cut out the middle stage and just bring something in to donate to a local charity shop. Grin

If I did have to take part, wine, good quality chocolate (or anything decent that's edible, frankly), mug and tea/coffee, phone charger, notebook, decent pen, bath foam - I'd have been happy with any of those, but I loathe scented candles and I never use hand cream. I'm clueless about brands so would have no idea if L'Occitane was any good. I would, however, have tried to look pleased. When the giver has made an effort and the gift is sensible but just not exactly what I would have chosen I think that's just good manners.

I would have been utterly mortified to get a sex-related gift, especially publicly. As for a blow-up boyfriend! Words fail me. Shock In those circumstances, good manners go out of the window and I think I too would have made a formal complaint.

ToEarlyForDecorations · 16/12/2016 08:04

I struck it lucky, got my desk neighbour. Initial plan was a deciem the ordinaries selection; ordered the Buffet, Advanced Retinoid 2% and Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Please repeat that in English.

sleepwhenidie · 16/12/2016 08:35

To all the posters saying hand cream lacks thought and says 'you don't know me very well at all' - what the hell would you come up with for a person you really don't know and with a very small budget Xmas Confused[Xmas Hmm? It's a pretty impossible brief and recipients should be aware of this when they get something slightly off the mark - there's a huge difference between hand cream not being your thing and getting a giant dildo or unusual handbag!

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 16/12/2016 08:45

Hmph.

My work SS have all been given out and I don't have anything.

They were even discussing in handover how awful it was if someone is left out. I felt like saying 'helloooooo?'

I didn't. I contained my emotions.

happychristmasbum · 16/12/2016 08:54

Joff maybe the person was off?

I will send you a present!

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 16/12/2016 08:56

It's cool. I'm not hugely bothered.

Cantstopeatingchocolate · 16/12/2016 09:36

I work for a posh bath and body company and now use hand cream all the time. Helpful that I can have my pick of all the testers in the store.
Anti aging shouldn't be a bad word for anyone over 30. Your hands age terribly and if you spend time and money moisturising your face then you should also do the same for your hands. the earlier you start, the better. I never get dry hands so that means I just need to use a little less than other people.
I don't work for l'Occitane but, sshhh, I still use a couple of their hand creams.

EBearhug · 16/12/2016 11:30

I think the world is neatly divided into people who use hand cream and body lotion as regularly as they use face moisturiser, and people who never use it.

I use it sometimes, but I can go weeks without touching it, too. So I am not very neat, but caught in the divide.

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