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 $16.
Are holiday gifts a normal thing in your office? Who does the giving and who does the receiving? Do you think people try to standardize like law firms generally do, or do you give something more personal?
"I'm not a rude bitch. I'm ten rude bitches in a large coat."
Re: NWR: Office Holiday Gifts/ Annoyed
I've never heard of that, but it's interesting. I started my job in Feb, so I'm not sure the gift giving 'rules'. I will probably get something for my boss, but probably just something small, 30-50$. I haven't decided if I will or not, and I obviously haven't found anything suitable lol.
At my old job we would bring in cookies and cards for everyone, and you would give small gifts to the people you were close to. For example, my previous boss(she was like, half a step above me)/her boss both got me ~$25 gifts. Which is the same I got for them. They gave each other slightly more expensive gifts, but they were closer.
We don't give gifts to one another or the boss- at least not in an "organized' manner. If people do give gifts I'm assuming they do it quietly on their own because they are friends outside of work.
Last year I wrote out a holiday card to each person, and I'll probably do that again this year, just because I have extra cards and it doesn't take much time / effort but is still a nice gesture. There are only about 12 of us in the department.
ETA: Sometimes I will bring in something I baked or bought to share w/ the group, but we do that all year long, so no diff.
I'm a legal assistant at a one man law firm, and last year my boss and his wife gave all 3 of us a $50.00 gift card to the Keg, as well as a $400.00 bonus. I had been working here for jut over a year, one girl 8 years and the other 25.
I typically exchange gifts with two of my coworkers as we are close friends and hang out outside of work. I got them each very small gifts this year but I know they will both like them.
. I'd much rather people privately give presents to those they have personal relationships with. And workplace bonuses should not be tied to Christmas. Annual bonuses are earned and not gifts.
Last year my team of managers chipped in $5 each toward a gift for our director.
I'll probably send him out with his wife for dinner when she gets back from helping their daughter with her new baby that's coming this week (!!!). I'm sure they would both appreciate that.
I don't think gifts happen too often in the office in general though; there are five total (three attorneys and two secretaries, myself included) and the other secretary told me she doesn't do anything for her attorneys.
in the non executive area, we all bring in goodies to share. Awesome coworker is getting a lot of stuff in her office, but she's coordinating gifts and treats for the family our office adopted.
We used to do a nice lunch out and gift cards for the support staff but that's apparently been thrown out the window