Didn't get a thing for Christmas from my boss

[Miffed52]

He has cleared off now for Christmas so no time left for a last minute pressie! It's my second year working for him and last year he didn't bother either. I feel I'm being treated differently, as my predecessor (who has now retired) used to get loads from him at Christmas and throughout the year. I feel disappointed that he obviously doesn't like me or something. Am I wrong to feel this way? I feel embarrassed too I've been left out. I office share with four other secretaries and their bosses have got them £50 vouchers each from various stores and I'm left out 😓. I think it might be best to get a new job.

Bribery and corruption isn’t colleagues buying eachother gifts.

Plus the OP hasn't said she's a PA.....

I think private sector is very much like that. EAs are expected to be "on call" at all times, booking flights, itineraries etc (and dealing with a ton of stuff that you are expected to pick up. A gift from your boss is a token of their appreciation, you don't give a gift back (that would be weird).

It's a reasonable inference I think, the OP states that she shares an office with 4 other secretaries. I don't really know though, is a secretary the same as a PA 🧐.

I know being offended by everything is how life seems to be in 2023, but this is particularly silly to get your knickers in a twist over.

Some people do it, some don’t - but it’s really not worth throwing your toys out of the pram over.

It's a reasonable inference I think, the OP states that she shares an office with 4 other secretaries. I don't really know though, is a secretary the same as a PA 🧐.

It depends on the sector tbh.
Secretary is a bit of an outdated term though. Many sectors have moved away from the term and use administrator as the role generally focuses on admin tasks.

Gifting colleagues things isn’t covered by bribery and corruption. But we also know that isn’t the case here so it’s irrelevant.

@ElaineMBenes well, yes. My PA work isn't supposed to involve personal work, I do it out of goodwill, which is why it's appropriate to show appreciation. I could have ignored the midnight call, let the children run around the office when manager was unexpectedly called into a meeting, let her limp around with a broken shoe. No-one would have pulled me up for not fulfilling my role if I had done so. It was goodwill.

Then yes, you deserve a token of appreciation for helping someone out in a personal capacity. You've done them a massive favour.......I'd expect a thank you in those circumstances. That's different to expecting a present for just doing the job your are paid to do 🤷🏼‍♀️

There is nothing in the OP that suggests she's had to do the things you describe. My husband's PA has never, ever had to do any of those things! Although he does buy her and his direct reports a token gift but nothing extravagant- chocolates/wine that sort of thing.

Your boss is not obliged to spend his own money on you (I bet his boss doesn't get him a present) - I suspect he was waiting for his old secretary to go in order to 'break' the ridiculous habit/expectation around a gift.

And @Brird I absolutely would be ignoring the call a midnight. That's so unreasonable unless you're in a role that involves being on call.

I have never got a present in all the workplaces I have ever worked for and I have had heaps of jobs

Actually the giving of gifts is specifically covered in the UK Bribery Act 2010, so it is totally relevant. Additionally any gifts valued at more than a ‘trifle’ (see attached link) must also be declared on your P11D as they are taxable. The Op works in a company that, seemingly, has at least 4 secretaries so it sizeable. It is likely, therefore, that it has very strict Compliance protocols to protect both it and its employees from falling foul of the law. OP needs to focus on whether her manager is supportive and puts her forward for bonuses/pay increases, not whether he bought her a bottle of bubbly for Christmas.

https://www.hawsons.co.uk/christmas-tax-guide/#:~:text=Seasonal%20gifts&text=Provided%20the%20cost%20of%20the,P11D%20or%20through%20a%20PSA.

I can see why you would feel put out.
My DH got his PA a voucher for her favourite restaurant and a magnum of champagne. Generally the norm in his firm. They also pay for the meal/Christmas night out.

Well, I class my manager as a friend, so I knew it must be an emergency. A manager who showed no appreciation and didn't really treat me as an actual human (some bosses haven't), I wouldn't have picked up the phone. Which brings us full circle to the goodwill.

I agree I'm probably getting away from the OP's point though. If it's the culture that PA's get a small gift, she's not unreasonable to be miffed. Though if it's standard 9-5 admin, less reason for any of the secretaries to expect a gift. Though they probably do all the nice general office extras as well - organising xmas party, leaving gifts etc, so that is worth acknowledging.

this type of gift is not covered by the uk bribery act.

The tax thing is entirely different. And very unlikely to apply here.

You're not bribing anyone with a cheap box of chocs, it's called showing appreciation, shows you how little most of you know about what it is a PA does, and she most certainly sounds like she is one

It’s hilarious to me that anyone thinks an employer buying a staff member something to say thanks is precluded against via bribery legislation. Talk about missing the point 🙄

Completely agree, are you bribing your child's teacher with your end of year gifts?

Different matter if there's a ludicrously expensive gift involved, but a £20 box of chocs is just a polite way of saying I see you

I thinks it’s different it you are a PA. I always bet my PA a personal gift around £50 because she performs tasks specifically for me and makes my life a lot easier.

its unusual for someone not to get a Christmas gift for their PA/secretary.

Were you a PA/secretary?

I was on a similar thread this time last year because my boss had finished up for Christmas without sending so much as a happy Christmas email, let alone a gift, for the second year in a row. I handed my notice in as soon as I returned from the Christmas holidays as there's no way I'm putting in that much effort and doing personal favours all year for someone who can't be bothered to buy me a box of chocolates once a year. Yes I do get paid but only for 35 hours a week and not for the additional hours worked or extra effort put in.

You quit over a box of chocolates? Were you the only person who worked for this boss?

I can’t imagine quitting over a slip in manners.

I manage a team of about thirty. I pay for drinks at the Christmas lunch but don’t buy them individual presents - I couldn’t afford it!

the only person I buy for is my PA

I buy my direct reports small gifts, usually under £50. I try to pick things I know they will like and are aligned to their interests rather than generic vouchers / chocolates / alcohol.

At a company I worked at previously the tradition was for the senior management team to give their PAs personal cheques in their Christmas card. And they were very substantial amounts. There was always grief when a VP had joined the company mid year and didn't realize the tradition, and got their PA a bottle of champagne or similar instead of money in the card. I saw PAs crying over it. Normally word got back to another manager and a cheque would then appear. I thought it a bit ridiculous to be honest, as while the managers could afford it given their salary, it was far more than a token gift. Fortunately the rest of us were not expected to dole out cash, but we did give our teams small gifts.

What matters is what the corporate policy states. My husband’s company now expressly prohibits gifts from individuals - it can be perceived as conferring favouritism that brings appraisal feedback and recommendations for promotions/benefits under scrutiny. Under current employment law, managers should not be asking staff to do tasks that deviate from their employment contract (work outside contracted hours or personal work) and then personally compensate them for doing so. It puts both parties at risk.

My DH cannot even invite them to accompany him to a, official corporate entertainment event without first applying to HR who monitors that such perks are equally shared amongst staff. In fact, it is so difficult to just ‘offer’ spare Wimbledon tickets or footie tickets he’s been given by clients to staff that he thinks would appreciate/deserve them, that he tends to raffle them and have HR manage the process.

And re tax - depends upon the value of the gift. I used to be given Hermes scarves and designer handbags from my bosses, given in the workplace, all worth well over £50. Only found out later that I should have declared them as, regardless of them being a ‘thank you’ for personal jobs I’d done, they are still viewed as a form of remuneration for services given (hubs is a tax specialist).

So, the point I am making is that depending upon corporate policy, the nature of the work carried out at OP’s company and the background of her manager (eg. is he a lawyer?) he may have very valid reasons for not gifting people who work for him. It’s nothing personal. She should in stead be looking to whether he supports her in appraisals etc.