Secret Santa/holiday gift exchanges at work -- yea or nay?

CassandraW · Dec 13, 2015

Time for a festive holiday poll.

I despise office gift exchanges. I don't want to pick out a gift for a random colleague nor do I want to receive a gift from a random colleague. I don't like feeling pressured to participate. Yes, I'm a grinch, but I should not have to declare myself so at work.

That's my take. What's yours? Do you like work gift exchanges? If not, do you feel comfortable saying no?

ETA:

by the way, by "gift exchange", I am not referring to bosses giving their assistants and subordinates gifts. That generally is not an exchange, for one thing, and I don't have any problem with that custom. For the record, my assistants have always received generous gifts from me. I'm a grinch, yes, but not in that way.

ETA:

I probably should have included "I don't care one way or the other" options. Alas, I cannot edit the options. But I'm guessing most lean at least slightly in the direction of liking or not liking such exchanges.

Fruitbat · Dec 13, 2015

I'm not working now but when I do, I go along with the friendly stuff like that, whether it's the yearly holiday gift exchange or contributing a dessert and/or gift or whatever to the endless bridal and baby showers and retirement parties. It's not much time or money and I think refusing can make you stand out as difficult, which is not what I'd want at work. Also, sometimes I even enjoy myself.

ETA: My feelings about it generally go along with my feelings about that particular workplace or the person of honor, when there is one. I like to do friendly extras for people I like but not for people I don't like.

mrsmig · Dec 14, 2015

I enjoy Secret Santa exchanges, and I'd like to think I'm pretty good at them. However, I know many others who hate them, and I think those people shouldn't be pressured to participate, or have to provide some sort of rationale for opting out.

My "day job" is acting, and I'm usually involved in a show during the holidays (this year is a rare exception). That means there's a fresh crop of people to give to every year. Since show folk rarely have a lot of folding green, it's fun to see just how creative everyone gets with their gifts. One of the nicest I ever got was from a stagehand who was fresh out of college and living a pretty hand-to-mouth existence, but she took the time to find out what kind of music I like and put together a CD for me. Shades of the old mix tapes, I know, but years later, I still listen to that CD and think of her.

auzerais · Dec 14, 2015

I work in a pharmacy with a grand total of about 10 people. We've always done a secret santa, and I've always participated in it (some years it was the only Christmas gift that I would get because I didn't otherwise celebrate.) I've always found it enjoyable because there are only 10 of us, we all work very closely with one another, and I know everybody reasonably well. For a larger or less tight-knit group, I would hate it.

cray · Dec 14, 2015

now i'm expecting the other mods to give me gifts.

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

auzerais said:
I work in a pharmacy with a grand total of about 10 people. We've always done a secret santa, and I've always participated in it (some years it was the only Christmas gift that I would get because I didn't otherwise celebrate.) I've always found it enjoyable because there are only 10 of us, we all work very closely with one another, and I know everybody reasonably well. For a larger or less tight-knit group, I would hate it.

If you have a very little group where you all know one another and everyone gets along well, I can see it being enjoyable. (Work would probably also be more enjoyable.)

Alas, everywhere I've been is a lot less close-knit, and "celebratory" functions are enforced fake corporate joy where you spend your precious time (and money) on colleagues you may not care for instead of on people you do.

The couple of times I participated, way back when, I invariably pulled someone out of the hat I barely knew, or once, someone I downright despised.

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

cray said:
now i'm expecting the other mods to give me gifts.

*thrusts wreath of thorns on cray's head*

*nails him to cross*

ho ho ho

regdog · Dec 14, 2015

I worked in a small office and we always exchanged gifts.

cray · Dec 14, 2015

*expects a gift from reg*

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

she'll just give you another sparkly pink pony or an anime cat girl. you know that.

cray · Dec 14, 2015

...as long as it matches my wreath.

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

I think thorn wreaths are one of those neutral accessories that go with everything.

Tazlima · Dec 14, 2015

My chorus used to do a big Secret Santa thing every year, but a few years ago they decided to skip it. Instead, they put up a collection for some folks who lost their homes in a really nasty winter storm, sending them the money we would otherwise have spent on gifts. We've made it a regular thing now, picking a different recipient each year.

It's worked out well. The folks who hate Secret Santa are happy, and there's always someone, somewhere, who needs cash a lot more than we need scented candles or potholders or whatever.

T Robinson · Dec 14, 2015

Work is work. Home is home. And the two are not designed to meet. In my world.

regdog · Dec 14, 2015

cray said:
*expects a gift from reg*

CassandraW said:
she'll just give you another sparkly pink pony or an anime cat girl. you know that.

cray said:
...as long as it matches my wreath.

It does. You're welcome

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

Oh, reg. Thank you. That was the best holiday gift ever.

regdog · Dec 14, 2015

You're welcome I'm glad to know you are so approving of Christmas ponying.

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

I think it looks better on cray.

Kylabelle · Dec 14, 2015

You do realize, don't you, that this is yet another thread that is *all about cray*?

Kylabelle · Dec 14, 2015

Tazlima said:
My chorus used to do a big Secret Santa thing every year, but a few years ago they decided to skip it. Instead, they put up a collection for some folks who lost their homes in a really nasty winter storm, sending them the money we would otherwise have spent on gifts. We've made it a regular thing now, picking a different recipient each year.

It's worked out well. The folks who hate Secret Santa are happy, and there's always someone, somewhere, who needs cash a lot more than we need scented candles or potholders or whatever.

That's a great story! And I hope to high heaven and holy hell no one gives me scented candles. Or potholders.

*tries to save thread from decomposing crayness*

Lavern08 · Dec 14, 2015

Here ya go, Cray ---> :eggplant - Merry Christmas, Dumpling! :Hug2:

CassandraW · Dec 14, 2015

Kylabelle said:
You do realize, don't you, that this is yet another thread that is *all about cray*?

damn it. I'm telling you, every thread I'm in ends up taking some kind of perverse, twisted turn.

T Robinson · Dec 14, 2015

CassandraW said:
damn it. I'm telling you, every thread I'm in ends up taking some kind of perverse, twisted turn.

Tiptoes in quietly.......................Uh, what is the common denominator?....Tiptoes back out with a snicker.

Lavern08 · Dec 14, 2015

T Robinson said:
.......................Uh, what is the common denominator?

Took the words right outta my mouth - ROFL :ROFL:

jjdebenedictis · Dec 14, 2015

I adore my coworkers, but I don't love them, and I think Christmas gifts should be for people you love -- friends and family. If I was arm-twisted into bringing gifts for coworkers, it would be baked goods or candy canes, not much more.

Secret Santa/holiday gift exchanges at work -- yea or nay?

work secret santa/holiday gift exchanges -- yea or nay

I like work holiday gift exchanges. I happily participate.

I like work holiday gift exchanges, but do not participate for reasons I may or may not explain in a

I do NOT like work holiday gift exchanges, and refuse to participate.

I do NOT like work holiday gift exchanges, but participate anyway for reasons I may or may not expla

eggplant would make a fine office holiday secret santa gift

I wish Orlando Bloom worked in my office.

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