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I always did, no big deal. All my former bosses have always done good things for me. Usually it would be something I knew they needed or could use all the time, rather than the typical fruit box or after shave...
All the employees at my small company contribute what they can (and if they can't, so be it) and we purchase a gift certificate for him and his wife to eat out at a nice local restaurant. I usually add a nice bottle of wine and a box of home-baked goodies, but it's signed from everyone. I also bring in baked goodies for the twelve days before Christmas, a different treat each day. It just adds to holidays, plus gives me a chance to cook since I'm single.
The boss likes to eat. I get him a gift certificate to a different upscale restaurant each year. Don't know what else to do for him. He already has everything on the face of the planet.
I think a good rule of thumb is if you associate outside of work it is okay to swap gifts away from work but at the office I would just take something in for everyone like cookies or chocolates. It is very uncomfortable for employees to give you gifts especially at the office in front of other employees. It makes the others feel like you are "sucking up" or like they should give the boss a gift also. It is a really nice thought but it puts your boss in an uncomfortable position unless you socialize outside of work. I have always tried to keep gifts limited to secret santa and put a $10 limit on the gifts. I have given cash bonuses for Christmas but they are secret (hopefully) and based on position and longevity. It is also nice to DO something nice for everyone without spending money. I use to have a warehouse guy who would wash and detail all the personal cars for Christmas and that was really nice. He didn't have a lot of money but wanted to do something nice for everyone. We have also had a receptionist who made ornaments for everyone to hang in their office. That was always nice as well. I think the key is to do something (cheap) for everyone or do something special AWAY from work for the people you are really friends with. I also tell the Vendors who bring in gifts just for me that I appreciate the thought but would rather they bring something for the whole office or have food brought in for lunch etc, than to bring a gift just for me. That is really uncomfortable when you have little hungry faces lined up at your office window and they bring a box of six rum balls or one bottle of booze.
I think a good rule of thumb is if you associate outside of work it is okay to swap gifts away from work but at the office I would just take something in for everyone like cookies or chocolates. It is very uncomfortable for employees to give you gifts especially at the office in front of other employees. It makes the others feel like you are "sucking up" or like they should give the boss a gift also. It is a really nice thought but it puts your boss in an uncomfortable position unless you socialize outside of work. I have always tried to keep gifts limited to secret santa and put a $10 limit on the gifts. I have given cash bonuses for Christmas but they are secret (hopefully) and based on position and longevity. It is also nice to DO something nice for everyone without spending money. I use to have a warehouse guy who would wash and detail all the personal cars for Christmas and that was really nice. He didn't have a lot of money but wanted to do something nice for everyone. We have also had a receptionist who made ornaments for everyone to hang in their office. That was always nice as well. I think the key is to do something (cheap) for everyone or do something special AWAY from work for the people you are really friends with. I also tell the Vendors who bring in gifts just for me that I appreciate the thought but would rather they bring something for the whole office or have food brought in for lunch etc, than to bring a gift just for me. That is really uncomfortable when you have little hungry faces lined up at your office window and they bring a box of six rum balls or one bottle of booze.
That bottle of booze could come in mighty handy around the office!
My boss (and she's a really great one) gives us savings bonds for our children. She has asked us not to get her anything, but we usually take up a collection and make a donation in her name to an organization she's interested in.
I find a Christmas ornament each year at a garage sale and give that. This year it is a new in box silver angel that was originally $18 at the airport and I got for $2.
Got some handpainted magnets for my cubicle mate and if I give to others it will be dipped pretzel sticks that I handmake.
In our dept, we draw names and have a $$ limit. That way we just have to purchase one gift (our boss is included).
Yes, This is what we are doing at the buffet restuarant among all employees. When it was my turn to draw out a name out of envelope, the person that I got, just happened to be sitting next to me and saw her name on the paper. Immediately she starts telling me everything she wanted including a temp/pay as you go cell phone! Forget surprises! All I heard for the rest of the day was "I want ... I need ... I like ..." YIKES! Now Im just too conscience to shop for her!
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or like they should give the boss a gift also. It is a really nice thought but it puts your boss in an uncomfortable position unless you socialize outside of work. I have always tried to keep gifts limited to secret santa and put a $10 limit on the gifts. I have given cash bonuses for Christmas but they are secret (hopefully) and based on position and longevity. It is also nice to DO something nice for everyone without spending money. I use to have a warehouse guy who would wash and detail all the personal cars for Christmas and that was really nice. He didn't have a lot of money but wanted to do something nice for everyone. We have also had a receptionist who made ornaments for everyone to hang in their office. That was always nice as well. I think the key is to do something (cheap) for everyone or do something special AWAY from work for the people you are really friends with. I also tell the Vendors who bring in gifts just for me that I appreciate the thought but would rather they bring something for the whole office or have food brought in for lunch etc, than to bring a gift just for me. That is really uncomfortable when you have little hungry faces lined up at your office window and they bring a box of six rum balls or one bottle of booze. 
