I just had to take a five-minute break to post this.
The other first-year associates at my (very large, very successful, absurdly well-paying) law firm have an email thread going around about what we are giving our assistants for the holidays so we are all consistent. I had already asked around and heard that $100 x your class year is expected, either in cash or some kind of gift card. I think this is pretty generous but our assistants are extremely helpful to us, so that's what I was planning on. The first handful of people in the email thread all said the same thing. I also asked a more senior associate, who also said $100 x your year. Seems standard.
Then "That Guy" posts that we've only been here two months, and $100/year is $8/month, so that works out to $16. And he thinks $100 is too much money.
Seriously, dude. You are brand new and already make multiples of your assistant's salary. Don't be That Guy.
I know we always say other people's money is not our business. But I feel really bad for his assistant. I hope he gives her more than $16.
Are holiday gifts a normal thing in your office? Who does the giving and who does the receiving? Do you think people try to standardize like law firms generally do, or do you give something more personal?
"I'm not a rude bitch. I'm ten rude bitches in a large coat."