Gift Giving Madness
Rockie
2,136 Posts
How do you guys address gift giving for all these different "days" that seem to crop up all the time...."Administrative Professionals Day", "Bosses Day", "Nurses Day", etc. and so on...
For the last several years, we have held a staff appreciation day to recognize everyone, because we feel all employees are important whether they have a "day" assigned to them or not. Some people choose not to get into all this commercialism and some people just can't afford to buy four or five gifts (or more) for people in their departments.
Now...for the problem. I asked that people not give things to individuals on these individuals "days" but let's recognize everyone on the Staff Appreciation Day. Darn if I didn't come in and find flowers on some secretaries (or admin assts) desks and not others. Of course this resulted in hurt feelings and totally negated what we are trying to accomplish on the Staff Appreciation Day.
How would you guys handle this type of situation. I don't mind someone giving a gift to a person of their choice....just do it off site.
For the last several years, we have held a staff appreciation day to recognize everyone, because we feel all employees are important whether they have a "day" assigned to them or not. Some people choose not to get into all this commercialism and some people just can't afford to buy four or five gifts (or more) for people in their departments.
Now...for the problem. I asked that people not give things to individuals on these individuals "days" but let's recognize everyone on the Staff Appreciation Day. Darn if I didn't come in and find flowers on some secretaries (or admin assts) desks and not others. Of course this resulted in hurt feelings and totally negated what we are trying to accomplish on the Staff Appreciation Day.
How would you guys handle this type of situation. I don't mind someone giving a gift to a person of their choice....just do it off site.
Comments
You will have similar success trying to control the tides. Fact is, is someone works for me, like an administrative assistant, I am going to recognize them on that day. Regardless of what you want. I do other things throughout the year, but plain and simple that day is touted and those that have that type of position would most likely be offended or hurt if there is not something to recognize their efforts.
As for bosses day, I am all for that, especially when I have lots of people working for me :-D
You are picking a battle I don't think you can win. If someone told me I could not or should not do anything for my admin assistant on that day I would just laugh.
My $0.02 worth!
DJ The Balloonman
>controlling the tides. I think not only can you
>not control the giving of such tokens of
>appreciation, but, it is also totally out of the
>venue of Human Resources to even attempt to
>affect it. You did send out a generic memo
>asking that everyone recognize the company's
>group recognition days. That was enough. I
>suggest you move on. I know you're an
>intelligent cat; and, you really don't want your
>tail slammed in this door.
MEOWWWWWWWWWW. Thanks for the comments. One of these days I will figure out how to "opt" out of the stuff that HR can't control.
My $0.02 worth!
DJ The Balloonman
x:)
My $0.02 worth!
DJ The Balloonman