Waste on joke Christmas gifts at work

[thekarens]

I don't participate in any of the Christmas exchanges or activities at our office. I've worked there 12 years.

Our company used to treat us to lunch at company each year, but progressively over the years with cut backs we've been reduced to pot luck, which we have to bring our self.

[shootingstar]

I've worked for over 8 different other employers. The best staff Christmas celebrations -were the potlucks with 2-3 employer sponsored dishes/coffee or a performance skits by some employees themselves. Yes, I've also gone to dreary formal tuxedo dinner evenings for the Christmas staff appreciation dinner. Dearie nearly refused to wear a tux (and he didn't have a suit that fitted at that time in life because of his weight loss) so I ended up chipping in over half of the tux rental. Fine by me since he was such a wonderful sport and equally clumsy dance partner for the evening.

Aside from this small BBQ restaurant lunch, last year on a different week, there was a fantastic, huge potluck lunch last year which covered 6 divisions of staff with over 200 employees at our work site. (I work within a small group of 15 employees.) Some people really did make a great effort to bring a crockpot of stew, bake bread. I appreciate such efforts from other employees at this time of year.

In the spirit of Christmas, regardless of whether or not one likes the work peers, I do believe in DIY type of celebrations. It's the closest in spirit to the original meaning of Christmas. And I'm not even religious.

As for the restaurant meal, there have been better meals... It was based on some of our guys who pull in the bulk of the revenue. And I work for govn't. Yea, you heard me. Not a choice by other employees in the dept. Anyway, I'm being humbuggish already.

I just started to think about this...when I have a budget limit of $30.00 per family member...because I have a lot of family members to buy stuff.

[BikeDutchess]

I work from home and all my team members are located in other states. While I'm not that big on work-related social obligations, I do miss an annual holiday get-together.

[Pax]

I decline any activities outside of regular work hours, and never join in on the gift stuff. My honey and I don't even exchange gifts so I'm sure not going to buy for co-workers.

[Blueberry]

So skip the luncheon (or bring your own food you prefer to eat) and opt out of the gift exchange. I don't like those sorts of things, but many people do - and employers seem to do them to raise morale. I don't see why it's an issue if you aren't required to participate!

[shootingstar]

So skip the luncheon (or bring your own food you prefer to eat) and opt out of the gift exchange. I don't like those sorts of things, but many people do - and employers seem to do them to raise morale. I don't see why it's an issue if you aren't required to participate!

I think I will go to whatever Christmas luncheon is organized: it is an expression of thx by employer since the organization pays for it. As for opting out of the expensive "joke" gift exchange, I probably will opt out but it will be misinterpreted by some folks. We're a small workgroup and work closely. As I said earlier, I like most of the people who I work with ..they are customer-focused and reliable folks but I don't love them.

I understand this morale boosting stuff...since I was a manager for other former jobs and know from a manager's perspective what it means to have some social activities that express appreciation for effort. I know people say they want bonuses....well, it doesn't work in our place because we're govn't and under the taxpayers' radar.

Also though people may grumble about the office Christmas stuff, I actually think a lot of people want some token socially acceptable gesture of appreciation from employer in December. I've seen the remarks across the Internet in other forums over the years.

Come to think of it, I can barely remember all the people I've worked with daily for my other former jobs. I can't even remember some names and faces...fades over time.

[Pax]

When I mentor someone and am trying to teach them work boundaries I always tell them "every job you ever have will some day be a dim memory, be engaged when you are at work but always remember 'work is not life, work pays for life'"

[Crankin]

When I was teaching, we either had a catered appetizer/drinks party at a local restaurant (we paid for the drinks) or someone volunteered to host the party and it was pot luck. I had the holiday party at my house once or twice and it was fun. No one minded that I didn't celebrate THE holiday. We all were looking forward to vacation!
I didn't participate in the party at my last employer, as it was at my bosses house, way up near the office. I was not about to drive back up there at rush hour, as I always ended my day at a client who lived close to home. She gave us some kind of pitiful hand made gift and some chocolate. The chocolate was nice. No stupid exchanges, though. I do remember one year, when I was new at the second school district I worked at in MA. We had a department Secret Santa and the last gift we opened up, was in front of the group. Someone gave me a box of "Condom-mints," from the condom store on Newbury St in Boston. I was mortified! I later found out it was the mild mannered intern (male)... since I was around 40, I don't think he had a crush on me, as he was young.
I used to exchange gifts with my teammates. It will be interesting to see what they do at my new clinic. The director is Jewish, and more religious than me. At least 50%, maybe 75% of the clinicians are Jewish, too. I would be happy to not have any reminders of being the "other," but I have seen some Xmas decorations in a storage area. My take is that the admin people would go through the roof if she said no celebration.
DH's company no longer has the fancy party in town, with a band, etc. Last time, it was at the JFK Museum, overlooking the waterfront. That was years ago. They now have something just for employees, in January. I didn't mind buying a dress for it, and we had to go, because of DH's position. It was fine.