Small presents for colleagues

[Wheelskeepturning]

Ive recently started a new job so don't know the etiquette around presents for colleagues (I have asked but everyone seems to give a different answer!)

I don't want to be caught with nothing if I'm given a gift so I'm looking for something a bit different (ie not candles, chocolate or hand cream) for women aged between 20s-60s. Looking at about £5.

Anyone have any inspiration please?

I have never known a workplace where people give Christmas presents to colleagues! And at £5 a head, all you would get is junk, which nobody would want.
OP, I know you mean well, but please don't embarrass yourself by giving these people presents.

Oh most places I know don’t do that - but if you’re not sure you could just bring a box of chocolates for the team. If it turns out they do gift presents then you will get away with just bringing chocs since you’re new. And most of the don’t the chocolates are not too excessive and will just be appreciated.
however - guess it depends on the type of job you have ?!

when I was a nanny there was other staff in the house and we did gift each other because we became close friends. Or I did have the same job I have now but in a different place and the team was so small we became close and did gift each other.
but in a bigger team for a while now and that doesn’t happen - sometimes secret Santa is suggested.

Chocolates or mince pies I think

Make sweets or cookies and pack in tiny festive plastic bags

That's interesting, we've always swapped small presents were I've worked (maybe its a school thing)

I wasn't going to give first, just to reciprocate if need be.

It’s completely unnecessary to but for colleagues.

Ask if they tend to do anything like Secret Santa, that should get the conversation going and hopefully they'll volunteer information about general gift etiquette.

I buy presents for my team members but mostly because we're public sector, so no bonuses - this is my chance as their manager to give them a personal 'I appreciate what you do'... In the past I've gone with:

Wheat bags the year the office heating was on the blink 🤣
M&S cookie tins
Hand cream sets
Tote bags
Books
Large mugs (bunch of tea junkies)

This year I've knitted them a scarf each but only because I've had quite a lot of long train and bus journeys to amuse myself on...

I tend to go hunting in TK Maxx, Boots and Superdrug 3 for 2 deals, Flying Tiger, Tesco, and The Works.

Never heard of anyone getting gifts for colleagues. You could bring chocolates or biscuits in for everyone.

I've never worked anywhere when colleagues bought gifts for each other. As a manager I always buy my staff chocolates, a bottle of wine, a card and a gift voucher for a supermarket, but would never expect anything back.

I’d stick to a bottle of Prosecco

I think it is a school thing. I’m a teacher and every school I have worked at people have swapped gifts. I would go for chocolates of bottles of Prosecco: )

Another idea is little ‘treat bag’ cocktail in a can/mini wine, choc and face mask/bath bomb. Cost effective but always popular

Maybe a primary school - never done this at secondary. Some places do Secret Santa though.

Brilliant. That's the plan. Thank you.

Take in a fine piece for everyone.

we don’t buy gifts for colleagues but £5 would buy a nice hyacinth in a pot, always a pleasant low maintenance gift.

Perfume atomiser

Only presents we've ever done in work were Secret Santa

For my class team, I always get something like a nice hand cream, some chocolates and sometimes a little plant i.e hyacinth pot or a succulent.

Unless there’s a secret Santa type thing I’ve never worked in an office where people exchanged gifts. Someone may make some mince pies or similar and bring them in but that’s not a gift and nothing is expected in return. I wouldn’t waste your money. But if you think it’s a possibility and they are mostly women maybe cute bath bombs? Can’t think of anything else that’s £5, and please no one needs another novelty mug.

I have just issued some delightful small Xmas bags with the following to my team of seven. I bought from Sainsbury’s some packs of miniature port bottles, miniature Xmas bayliss and Harding shower gels (women) and small tins of Vaseline for the fellas each with a Lindt choc teddy and a coconut suet bird feeder (£6 for 7) Xmas tree dec. for those with dogs I slipped in a single item from a multi pack of toys and treats. Plus a card with note of gratitude. Went down VERY well! I got a LOT of hugs 🥰

Unless there is a Secret Santa, I have never been in a workplace where we give each other gifts.

Maybe just bring in a tub of chocs for everyone to share?

Maybe some treats for the kitchen and a card each.

No gifts and definitely not ones that cost £5. As others have said a tub of chocolates for the team and if they is some sort of weird day where people exchange presents (unlikely) you can say you weren’t sure so just got chocolates for everyone (which they may have eaten by then,

In an office there might be a formal secret Santa but if you haven’t signed up nobody will expect you to get involved. Otherwise you might only buy presents for anyone you are close to at work…