If your employer was to get you a Christmas gift what would you like to receive?

[Thatsnotmine]

A bit of background, for the past couple of years I have bought Christmas gifts on behalf of a small family firm to give to their two team members as a thank you for their hard work over the year. The members of the team are male and ages are early thirties and early fifties. As its a family firm I have generally bought a bottle of Whisky for the employees and for their families I have bought posh biscuits, hotel chocolate hamper, last year was a Italian food hamper. I'm needing a bit of inspiration this year, so what would you like your family to receive? Budget is approx £30/40

Voucher, card saying they are appreciated. Like the day/half day off either shopping or surprise by not counting annual leave they might take for a school play/nativity if the have children or family visit

@Jumpingintosummer

In my previous role I gave the staff a day off to go Christmas shopping around the 15th of December and a £50 JL gift voucher to treat themselves when they were out.

This is my idea of a perfect gift. Except not JL because I’m still boycotting...But one of those prepaid Visa cards would be great.

I got £100 voucher

M&S voucher and a half day off for shopping in December?

@Duetorain

Voucher, card saying they are appreciated. Like the day/half day off either shopping or surprise by not counting annual leave they might take for a school play/nativity if the have children or family visit

Get them all a voucher for your nearest cafe?

Oops didn't mean to quote you sorry!

Cash or a voucher for somewhere like M&S or John Lewis.

Cash or a voucher.

Hampers I find most goes in the bin due to the various dietary requirements in our house. None of us drink, we have cupboarda full of wine and spirits unopened from previous Christmases

Hi @HalzTangz I could definitely help you out with that.

My employer (bigger than this though) gives us an option. I chose Majestic Wine vouchers.

I used to do hampers but now have a team with a lot a variation in what they eat/drink. I either pay for dinner when we go out before Christmas or do M&S vouchers now.

Again thanks for the replies can definitely see what most people would prefer.

Definitely voucher, not alcohol for sure.

How many are you buying for.
I work for a County Council teams don't get gifts as routine but our manager buys us a birthday and Christmas present out of her own money. She buys for 17 of us! The present is usually a box of chocolates, a bottle of something and a small present indvidual to each person. I got new cycling gloves included in my birthday presents this year. Another colleague got a latest vegetarian cook book ( she is veggie and loved it)

JL/Waitrose voucher for me please!

Last year my boss sent us all vouchers for Just Eat. We used it for our New Year’s Eve takeaway. Hoping we get another this year!

@mam0918

Vouchers are an useless cop out, if your going that route just give straight up cash. Vouchers are just cash someone can only use in a place they usually dont shop. Even Amazon vouchers are crap, I dispise Amazon and have had nothing but trouble from them (biggest scam company going).

Hampers only work if you know what that person likes, a generic hamper will likely end up never getting used.

I agree with above that extra time off is the most useful gift for an employee.

The problem with giving cash is that is (should be) subject to tax and NI.

Whereas you can give a voucher upto £50 under the trivial benefits rules and not have to account for tax or NI.

My employer did £50 for both Christmas and New Year last year as they wanted to give £100 bit couldn't give it in one go.

You can't just give cash out so it's not a cop out.

I'd give them a day off

The reason employers may prefer not to give cash bonuses is because of the tax implications for the employee.

www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-christmas-bonuses/what-to-report-and-pay

Something festive and consumable. Personally, I don't drink, so I would prefer food. Hampers can have lots of silly little bits that are no use to anyone, but if you know them well, maybe that is the most suitable option.

Last year, my employer gave everyone in our small company a £100 voucher for the supermarket. It might not sound very glamorous, but i was thrilled as my dh was unemployed at the time and it meant we could put it towards feeding the family. I know others used it to buy their Christmas drink.

Honestly?

I’d love to be ‘gifted’ a day off, probably Christmas Eve (if your place works on Christmas Eve). Gets around the cash bonus/tax issue too.

Time, a day off while kids are at school / nursery to clear out old stuff and wrap / hide new things.

Avoids all BIK tax implications.

I love the idea of a Christmas organising day or the day off and a John Lewis voucher.

If not that then a bottle of whisky is an excellent idea - but only if they like whisky. It's about 50/50 amongst my male friends whether they do or not. I'd also really enjoy one of those occasional subscriptions where a box of e.g. hotel Chocolat pops through the door every so often, even just once or twice. I know you said £30/40 but whisky plus a hamper sounds like it would be more than that?

Something that shows you know who they are outside of work.

What do you know about their hobbies / likes / dislikes?

I'd appreciate something that had a personal touch... but I understand that's not necessarily right for a whole family!

@penguinwithasuitcase

Something that shows you know who they are outside of work.

What do you know about their hobbies / likes / dislikes?

I'd appreciate something that had a personal touch... but I understand that's not necessarily right for a whole family!

That's a nice idea but could backfire if someone gets a "better" gift than someone else. I'd stick to the same gift or a choice from a set list.

Thank you all again for the ideas and reasons for why you would prefer vouchers, a day off mid December etc. Have decided to go with a £100 voucher for John Lewis instead of the whisky and a family present. Will make my Christmas shopping easier too