Today's Pet Peeve 14 Dec 09 (best, buy, employee, places)

[AliceT]

When a small group of people - usually coworkers - decide to exchange gifts and not to spend more than a certain amount per gift - and someone goes way over the limit but swears they didn't.

[wisconsin woman]

I dont participate in gift exchanges for work, or go to whatever holiday parties they throw. Not like Lowes does them anyway. Problem solved.

[SATX56]

Meh......

[Northwoods Voyager]

Yep, and I was never the one to get that over priced 'gift'... lol. Yes, I have seen this happen more than once. Makes for one of the reasons for not having gift exchanges at places of employment. Someone always has to 'show off'. Or moat gifts will be things fairly useful or 'nice' and you get the one that is a 'gag' type gift that may be totally inappropriate....

[LaceyEx]

Yep do not miss the dreaded obligatory office gift exchange. Tho I did have an employee once who gave me a beautiful Lenox vase-and when I thanked her and told her it was "over the top" she said no problem I got it from the dumpster behind Macy's.

[Dbl-r]

I have seen over the years that a lot of people work from paycheck to paycheck and when that time comes I watch them cringe just knowing they don't have that extra Ten bucks to throw someone's way.

[Sudcaro]

Never been part of a gift exchange at work, but I would hate it if that happened. One has to play by the rules!

[2goldens]

The office gifts were easy- anything for the desk; picture frames = best gift for male or female.

[Thursday007]

It was the weekly hit up for money for people's kid's school stuff - wrapping paper sales, girlscout cookies...I buy this stuff from my neighborhood kids if I buy it. Or the weekly hit up for someone's baby gift, birthday present, anniversary gift - I was even chastized once for not going to a co worker's significant other's grandmother's funeral - it's insane.

[MistyVT]

We're doing it on Friday! I rather enjoy the tradition myself because it breaks up the work place monotony. However, we buy a gift for $10 or less, wrap it and we do a Yankee Gift exchange, where they are randomly selected. (explanation would be best for another thread)