What would you like your manager to buy you?

[EmmaStone]

Just thinking about what to get my team for Christmas. They work really hard, I've got 4 (soon to be 5) reports, so I don't think I want to spend more than about £20 a head (is that really stingy??).

Would you prefer to get say a voucher for a coffee shop, some chocolate, some booze, something else??

A nice bottle of fizz & posh chocolates would be well received by me!
I don’t like vouchers much as I always end up spending them on the kids but everyone is different.

A voucher.
…. And if it’s within your power: an extra half a day’s paid leave to do Christmas shopping. My friend’s work does this and I think it’s genius. Automatic goodwill.

I would love a Costa voucher, but you will of course know if they enjoy coffee or not

Goodness - that takes me back. I worked for the Pru many years ago and they gave us a day off for Christmas shopping. It was a lovely idea but I should think very few would offer it in today’s climate.

A good quality biro.

Great, thank you!

I can't grant any additional time off (they do alright in this area, and I'm very flexible around their needs).

A good quality biro...not a bad idea.

Presumably you know them all quite well. Could you give them a personalised voucher for something you know each of them would enjoy (a particular shop or activity). Much more meaningful than an item they might not value or a voucher for coffee.

I used to hate it when a boss gave out standard boxes of chocolate, wine, key rings or something - like they'd bought it in a cash and carry to tick a box.

I'd love a voucher, a plant, or nice chocs.

I dont mind a voucher for chocolates. Boss usually gives chocolate. First year was mince pies which half the team don't like 🤣.

I hate alcohol gifts. I don't drink and 2 other members don't for religious reasons so I would stay away from fizz.

Ooh I like the idea of a plant (one in my team is a very keen gardener). Maybe winter bulbs?

Honestly nothing. Personal gifts from bosses can be really awkward, especially for younger team members.

But if you really want to then something based on their personal likes. I don't think many non-keen-gardeners would appreciate bulbs. I don't drink so if a boss bought be a bottle of wine it'd feel quite thoughtless.

We all get a voucher for a beauty salon and an afternoon off when we want to use it so we can go during work hours

actual bliss

When I say bulbs, I mean like an indoor amaryllis in a nice glass vase or something - nothing they'd need to plant or do anything with (unless they wanted to).

That sounds lovely @Fupoffyagrasshole , but I think more than my budget (and leave giving ability) allows. I'd personally love a voucher for a massage, but that's not everyone's cup of tea either.

We got pens with xx ward nurse/housekeeper/support worker on. We loved them. Only cost a couple of £ each, but there are a lot of us.

My manager last year bought me a lovely double walled coffee cup (I wfh) it’s really pretty and the nicest cup I own - I use it every single day

I also used to work for Pru. I loved our shopping day. Pretty sure we got our birthday off too.

We got Yeti bottles last year as an office re-opening present after refurbishment, they are great, I use mine constantly. Bit pricey but there are lots of brands.

If your team still writes a lot, good pens. Notebook/Calendar? I personally hardly use pen and paper anymore so my run of them mill stuff is good enough.

Are you self employed op or do you all work for a bigger company?

I wouldn’t want my manager to spend their own money on me unless it was being covered by the business. It’s a nice gesture of you though!

nice bottle of fizz & posh chocolates

See, I would hate this. I don't like fizzy wine or 'posh' chocolates (and often get loads of both from parents at school at Christmas).

A bottle of dry white and a bar of Dairy Milk, on the other hand, would go down a treat!

As a manager one very successful present for the staff of about 6 was personalised mugs - these actually were made by a local pottery and you could select an animal and the name was written on a plaque below the animal. Went to a lot of trouble to pick the right animal eg lady with the cats had a cute lion, the one whose family lived on a farm had a sheep, the outrageously colourfully dressed one (this was as punk was fading) got a flamingo. Suddenly we all knew a) where the cups were and b) whose cup it was left on the side/not washed up.
(They then bought mine for my birthday, which had a very cute dragon on it. I wonder why dragon though, surely I wasn't THAT bad)

I assume you actually know your team? Try and personalise the gift. I would hate been bought a plant, but my colleague would love it. I drink pink wine, my colleague doesn’t drink at all. Neither of us drink coffee but I could get lunch and and a tea from Costa one day etc.

I may have misunderstood OP, but its suggests its a small team. If so, a thoughtful personal gift to show you know your team members.

A manager of 45 staff then a gift card as staff can get whatever they want and something that lasts. Whereas alcohol/chocolate is quite standard and does look like much thought has gone into it,

Maybe you can let us know the things your staff like and we could help with ideas.
The staff member who likes plants you could get a plan pot, or fun plant pot with a smiley face with legs, some you can get personalised.

personalised plant pot
dangling legs plant pot

I've always spent my own money on my staff. Last year I bought calendars. Year before tea towels. Nice ones, not B and M

An extra day's holiday

Hotel Chocolat advent calendar