OK, OH earns 125k, his secretary probably earns 35ish, how much should he spend on her Christmas present?

[DontWantToLookTight]

Just that really.
Hev namechanged cos don't want you to all think I'm minted!

very true banana, that's about it really!

My boss bought me an electrical thing I wanted 150pounds and a four hundred bonus . Yay Me . LOL

ooh you are rich.

ooh you are kind and generous to dh's poor little secretary

ooh what a special person you must be to feel the need to tell us all that.

sorry but you sound rather tossy telling us just how very much dh earns.

Why do that?

What exactly do you want anyone to say?

I'm in accountancy and usually the partners are pretty generous. In fact, it is the standing joke from professional staff that the secretaries are far better looked after than they are!

"Far better looked after"? That is, paid far less, but patronised with crap presents that resentful wives have bought? Oh FFS get real.

DH is in similar position, he spent £25 this year. More last year when he had a secretary he'd had for quite a while - this one's new.

Sounds stingy when compared to some of the suggestions here but I think it's more or less in line with what his colleagues do. Some of the really big earners where he works buy diamond jewellery and the like...!

I got my secretary a £42 box of Jo Malone bath oils.

You're not minted? I would just be happy earning what his secretary earns and big mortage = big house not a 2 bed first floor flat

I suppose it depends on how much you feel they are worth to you.

I've just given the nanny a one week's bonus and the cleaner Molton Brown and £100 - so by comparison, to be miserly to my secretary would seem to understate her importance!

Bananabox - I was professional staff in accountancy in top 4 and I think some secretaries got great pressies but others didn't. But then as prof staff we got nothing .

ooh yes, I really did want you to know who I am too so you could all say ooh aren't you rich, ooh aren't you special, ooh aren't you tossy!!! [fhmm}
that's why I changed my sodding name. did you really think I would think anyone would think I was special or generous?? Are you mad???

Shimmy, you sound really jealous.

seriously though, what kind of job earns that kind of money? - just nosey curious...

£30-£40. Molton Brown stuff or a bottle of good champagne.

Bluestocking - who said we were resentful ? I think my DH's secretary does a sterling job hence why I go out of my way to get her a present which DH would otherwise forget. I dont' think anyone was saying anything else were they ?

shimmy, that's just plain nasty .

I worried a LOT about what to buy my secretary- not to seem too stingy, but not to be too flash. My male colleagues all get their wives to do their shopping, and some of their secs get crap gifts.

Agrre relative salaries are not relevant, but OP is trying to make sure that secreatry does not feel undervalued

Bluestocking - no that's not the case - a partners PA is paid about the same as a 1 or 2 year qualified accountant. The 'better looked after' ranges through all things, e.g. more likely to be allowed to work flexibly, taken out for nice lunches, nice presents etc. Just treated more thoughtfully, in general.

I don't think PAs and secretaries put up with being patronised any more these days, ime!

shimmy that does sound v jealous.

Dontwant mentioned her OH's salary and that of his secretary in case people thought it would/should make a difference as to how much he should spend. Some people thought it did make a difference, some didn't, but it was relevant. And she did it discreetly not show-offy by name-changing.

Find out what wine she likes and get her a case (or a half case if it's expensive stuff)

(That's what I'd have preferred...)

loads of benefit products and champagne

I agree banana, they just leave and get something else, if they're any good they're like gold. DHs secretary very good, really nice, puts up with him admirably which is exactly why I want her to feel valued

Merrytissmas - I think thats probably the difference between having a female (I assume you are !) and a male boss. As a female you would worry far more than a male would in general about these things and you also probably know more what she likes. As a mere wife () I can only guess at what she might like and buy something that I think is nice.