Buying birthday presents for the boss (employees, secretary, employer, work)
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One of my co-workers is asking me and our other co-worker if we would like to pitch in to buy nice flowers and a Starbucks gift card for our boss's birthday.
I would really rather not pitch in. First, it just seems strange to give presents to a boss and I am not sure it is the norm at this company (have been working here a year and have not seen more than an occasional cake). But also, with such a small department, I would have to pitch in at least $10 if not $25, and I really don't want to do that for each birthday.
We recently re-organized, so this co-worker is a new co-worker (and so far seems difficult and bossy to work with). In my old department, we did not do anything for birthdays, and I have only been asked to contribute to a baby shower present and a wedding shower present so far (and those were less pressure because everyone was asked to pitch in, and yes, I did pitch in).
Is buying the boss a present the norm? Would you pitch in even if you did not want to? If so, how much would you pitch in, and if not, how would you say no? Other thoughts? Thanks!
The only way to deal with this is to talk to this coworker and the other one and pretty much say what you've said here. That you've been working with the company for a year, it's not been the custom to buy birthday gifts for the boss or anyone else and you don't feel comfortable doing so. BUT, a birthday card would be a nice gesture and you'd be happy to go along with that. See what they say and good luck!
The only way to deal with this is to talk to this coworker and the other one and pretty much say what you've said here. That you've been working with the company for a year, it's not been the custom to buy birthday gifts for the boss or anyone else and you don't feel comfortable doing so. BUT, a birthday card would be a nice gesture and you'd be happy to go along with that. See what they say and good luck!
Good advice! I will try to follow it, although my co-worker is very demanding, so it will be tricky to be that direct (and my other co-worker goes along with most things with a smile on her face, even if she doesn't to).
I do think it's brown nosing when employees give a Birthday gift to their employers. Especially when they weren't invited to a private Birthday party outside of work with their family. This new co-worker knows if it's not normally done with this employer then this employer will likely know or somehow find out he/she is now receiving a Birthday gift from the office because of this new co-worker. It's indirectly brown nosing.
A Christmas or Hanukkah gift I could see with both employers and employees giving to each other.
Where I use to work we all chipped in and bought a nice gift for our employer and one for our immediate supervisor. We also received a gift of being taken out to dinner, not too expensive, by our employer and either individual gifts or catered food in the office, again not too expensive, from our immediate supervisor.
I notice that usually when it's a large office the employer will have ordered fancy cookies or cake and cookies, edible fruit arrangements as an office gift.
I do think it's brown nosing when employees give a Birthday gift to their employers. Especially when they weren't invited to a private Birthday party outside of work with their family. This new co-worker knows if it's not normally done with this employer then this employer will likely know or somehow find out he/she is now receiving a Birthday gift from the office because of this new co-worker. It's indirectly brown nosing.
A Christmas or Hanukkah gift I could see with both employers and employees giving to each other.
Where I use to work we all chipped in and bought a nice gift for our employer and one for our immediate supervisor. We also received a gift of being taken out to dinner, not too expensive, by our employer and either individual gifts or catered food in the office, again not too expensive, from our immediate supervisor.
I notice that usually when it's a large office the employer will have ordered fancy cookies or cake and cookies, edible fruit arrangements as an office gift.
This co-worker is the brown nosing type for sure! She acts completely different in front of the boss than she does when the boss is not around.
Just to clarify, she is not new to the company, in fact she's been there longer than most. However, we were all in different departments before this new one, and she hated her last department and is happy to have this boss and job.
No, I don't buy bosses gifts. One year I gave my boss a book for Christmas, "How to work with A$$h@le's"...he thought it was pretty funny. It was a bonding moment, just sort of a gag gift.
Last edited by jasper12; 08-13-2011 at 09:25 AM..
Reason: edit
Cut flowers from your home garden, veggies from your home garden or homemade anything.... that's the full extent I would go to as far as gifting a boss.....
I would never give my boss a birthday gift, but then again he won't tell when his birthday is (I know because I was walking out of his office one day and another secretary walked in and said Happy Birthday).
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