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Personally I'd tell them I didn't want to participate. I've done that once and while it didn't turn out badly for me (most people got others gift cards), it's not worth the hassle.
$25-$40 is completely ridiculous - especially for someone who doesn't make much. Ours was never over $10.
In regards to pitching in to get the manager a gift card - I might give $5 if I really liked my manager. Otherwise no way. They make tons more money than me. Why should I spend my piddly income on them?
Personally I'd tell them I didn't want to participate. I've done that once and while it didn't turn out badly for me (most people got others gift cards), it's not worth the hassle.
$25-$40 is completely ridiculous - especially for someone who doesn't make much. Ours was never over $10.
In regards to pitching in to get the manager a gift card - I might give $5 if I really liked my manager. Otherwise no way. They make tons more money than me. Why should I spend my piddly income on them?
Maybe I'm just a scrooge.
There is actually an "etiquette law" about gift giving in the workplace.
I work with a small group of folks in a call center. All of us are hired through a temporary agency, with the expectation of being permanently hired by the company after 90 days. Not a sure thing, so our jobs theoretically could end early next year. None of us are making more than $11 an hour. One girl from our group decided to start a Secret Santa and randomly passed out little folded slips of paper with co-workers names on them. I asked her what the price range was, and she said she'd get back to me. A few days later she told me it was 25-40 dollars. YIKES!
I don't want to be cheap, but it's not like we are making big bucks, and I have kids and grandkids to buy for this year. Plus, with the name I was given, I'm wondering just what do you get a 22 year old guy? I'm thinking a bottle since I overheard he was going drinking a few weekends ago, but that seems kind of inappropriate.
All the other office jobs I worked at the Secret Santa was $5 - $10. This is just another reason why I hate this extracurricular stuff in the workplace. If it's not the potluck, it's the begging for a donation for someone's birthday, Secret Santa, etc.
Do you think the price range is ridiculously high?? Is this the norm now?
It's not mandatory especially if you are still a temp so I would not worry about it too much.
Just opt out. They certainly cannot require you to participate as it isn't a job function. I'd bet most of them would rather opt out as well. I'm sure they'd rather save $40, than receive a $40 gift from someone who has no clue what to get them anyway.
Shouldn't a manager lead by example and set the ground rules for gift giving in the workplace around the holidays?
Too many don't and it just leads to conflict, IMO.
I like my manager, but not enough to give $10 for a gift card. Plus, my team wants to do a white elephant so here I am trying to figure out something. Will probably just use an old coffee mug and fill it with chocolate candy like I did last year.
God I hate this stuff.
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