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Topic: 'Tis the season to give...or else
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 02 December 2004 08:18 AM
That's obnoxious! I mean, if a colleague is having a baby, often the hat will be passed to get them something, but an amount is never specified, and no one is pressured to give - in fact, I think the way it's usually done in my office is that an envelope is passed from one mailbox to the next, so usually no one knows who gave what, and then everyone signs the card. Yeah, that means that one might, if they wanted to, give nothing and then sign the card as though they did give something. But that sort of thing isn't worried about so much. But no, I haven't worked somewhere that everyone is expected to give cash in order to buy the person who earns the most money in the organization an expensive gift for Christmas. That's really obnoxious. [ 02 December 2004: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478
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posted 02 December 2004 09:11 AM
The last time I was on staff anywhere, the only standard gift-giving was farewell gifts, usually given to long-serving staff at a pleasant party for everyone.Traditionally, because those gifts were supposed to represent the company's gratitude to someone who had contributed much, the company shelled out for both the gifts, usually substantial and useful things, too (a fax machine for an employee turning freelancer, eg), and the party. It was a real marker of a nasty change in regime, I thought, when suddenly people trying to organize yet another of those affairs, for a very long-serving worker, were informed that we had to raise the money ourselves for everything from the retiring workers' colleagues. We did as well as we could, but I still remember the obvious shock on her face when she unwrapped the token we'd been able to afford and saw the mingy refreshments. Hers was the first party to be "right-sized," as we were only learning to say at the time (late 80s). In a few years, it would be a lot more than parties that got that treatment.
From: gone | Registered: May 2001
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Mr. Magoo
guilty-pleasure
Babbler # 3469
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posted 02 December 2004 10:18 AM
All of our parties, gifts, etc., come out of employee pockets. I asked about this once and was told it's just a matter of optics. We aren't given any base funding by the university proper, but since we still carry the name it just doesn't look so good if our employer is paying for a party, or our employer is footing the bill for a going-away gift. People would talk, etc.Meanwhile, we do it much like Michelle's office: pass around the envelope and the card, write what you wish, give what you wish. Nobody stands there watching.
From: ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø, | Registered: Dec 2002
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