Christmas Gifting As A Line Manager

[1319Mummy]

I am a Band 3 line manager in NHS. I always by my staff gifts at Christmas time. This year my team has grown slightly and with times being hard, I simply cannot afford to gift them all.

I have a family of my own and this money needs to spend on them as a priority.

I know my team will feel let down and they will feel like they haven’t got anything because they don’t deserve it. I really don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to tell the real reason (that money is tight). I usually spend £5 each on them so not much but when it’s multipled it’s around £50. The culture in my workplace is that line managers buy their staff individual gifts so getting a shared gift is not really an option. I guess I am just asking for suggestions of something that’s thoughtful, shows appreciation but very inexpensive! I really can’t spend anymore that £25 TOTAL this is between 10 members of staff. Please help.

As a band 3 you aren’t really earning a high wage nevermind one that’s for a line manager! I’m band 4 on just £15 an hour.

I work in the NHS my band 5 line manager used to buy a team of 8 gifts but it was a small token and never expected.

Current trust the consultants and management club together and everyone got a voucher last year. But they are on much more money than you are!

I’d go Christmas scratch card/lucky dip in a card mentioning team work/ appreciation etc.

Can you ask nhs charities for a small amount of money? Wellbeing/moral

I think it’s a terrible culture as you are not on a high salary yourself. I’m afraid I would be popping sweets or something in the break room to share at a push.

DH is the head of a large department, he stopped Christmas gifts last year as it was £10 an head so over £200 and only one thank you. He now brings in doughnuts from a local artisan place - 24 for about £60 and writes everyone a card expressing his thanks.

No that’s not what charities are for. They have very strict criteria and buying staff gifts is defo not on it!!

To be honest I am in this position. Not because I am struggling financially but times are hard and my team too have grown.
Last year with gifts and treats I spent £50 plus.
I buy them treats all the time and I’m a bit fed up of it all really.
A couple of them act quite ungrateful like I’ve stopped buying as many treats and then one said where are our treats ? Cheek of it ! So I’ve decided not to this year.

Managing a team as a Band 3!!! Surely this is a typo?

Once had a manager who bought an Xmas bauble in the first letter of each person's name for them which I thought was nice. Or fluffy slipper socks and some sweets one year. Everyone in our team celebrated christmas though. I think if it's leaving you tight then there's no reason not to just provide a selection of nibbly bits or similar and have a little team party instead. You might find other managers breathe a sigh of relief.

I think a small selection box and a really thoughtful message in a card is fine , I’m sure I’m a COL crisis people will understand.

get them all a cheap tin of cookies and a scratchcard each. It’s the thought at the end of the day. Or look at these options https://www.google.com/search?q=team+of+10+what+cheap+christmas+gift+under+four+pound&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

20 Sets Thank you Gift... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D2T1Q7SX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

12PCS Christmas Candles Scented... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DBV7QGWZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I got these last year and wrote a message on the card. The candle and pen fit inside the bag with a small chocolate santa or coin

I’m horrified that as a Band 3 you are managing a team! Not because you shouldn’t be a manager, but that banding
managing people is absolutely taking the piss from a salary perspective.

But nothing shocks me about this he NHS’s ability to take the piss out of lower banded staff especially when a GP partner would never accept a request to carry out a service without getting the funding first.

One of my colleagues once bought everyone a bauble in tissue paper in a gift bag. It was lovely.

I just looked up what a Band 3 earns - less than 30K. Just buy a box of good quality Christmas cards and write a heartfelt personal message. Perhaps buy a box of biscuits or sweets if you have somewhere to leave them for people to share.

Where we are, people earning approx 75-150K used to foot the drinks bill at Christmas lunch, staff paid for their own food, but we no longer go out to lunch and towards the end some of the younger staff on 75-90K slightly grumbled at contributing because of their high mortgages and childcare costs (some lower paid staff probably had more disposable income).

Homemade Christmas cookies, or similar would be more than adequate imo.

A cake and wine for your team would suffice. If they want any more send them to the pub or byob.

I get my team a can of Snowball each from Aldi (which we all crack open as soon as we close on the last day) and one of those hot chocolate bombs, also from Aldi.

But I really like the gift bag idea with a personal message

as pp have said, its more about showing you care than spending a lot - anything homemade will do that (people who don't like it can give it to someone else - thats their problem) or a mini prosecco (about £2.50 if you check supermarkets). selection box, single posh chocolate, or their favourite biscuits and a nice message in a card all show you've taken the time to do something nice and/or specific to them

Homemade fudge in nice little bags, maybe some homemade chutney or jam. Then you get to keep any extra you make.

A small panetone is usually £2.50 and nice and Christmassy - no need to wrap as they usually come in festive boxes with a carry ribbon.

Personally, I hate receiving cheap generic tat. I have way too many mugs and pens and sented candles give me a migraine so that would go straight into the rubbish bin. I've never expected my manager to give me a Christmas present and perfectly understand the COL crisis, so I would really be fine with nothing. I would appreciate, though, a Christmas card with a hand written note and chocolates/ fudges to be shared with others.

You're band 3 NHS and managing people? Is that right? Honestly no-one should expect anything from you, and If your team has grown, you definitely need a pay rise!

Thank you for all your replies. I ended up putting some pieces together and spend around £40! Appreciate all your comments saying I don’t need get anything but unfortunately that’s not how it goes where I work, it is an expectation and I would rather keep the peace than have a year of sulking which would be the sad truth. As the team I line manage is growing it will be more next Christmas.

No typo I am afraid, I am a B3 and have 10 staff (going up to more in coming months) that I line manage

Take home after all deductions is less than £20k a year! It’s disgusting and like most people a financial struggle. Next to no promotional opportunities unless you are a “it’s who you know”.

So am I! With no consultation my team grows and workload piles on and expectation to get on with it continues. You would be thinking why am I still there? Truth is, there is next to no promotional opportunities unless ‘you know someone’ or unless you are ‘in the smokers group’. Moving out of the NHS would be the best option but with bills to pay and mouths to feed it’s easier said than done.