Do you put in for coworker's presents?

Liz3yy

j.e.j. wrote: »

My job and co-workers were not my cup of tea to say the least, and I decided I was only going to be with them if I was actually paid to be there :rotfl: so if they wanted to socialise and they wanted me to go along it had to be within working hours. I didn't go to meals out of an evening and resented the pressure on people to do so.

It's not just me then?!

I like my work colleagues but don't like them enough to socialise with. I will happily join them for lunch most weeks but draw the line at evenings out. The pressure to join in can be immense, for instance recently a colleague emailed an invitation to us all to join her for dinner and clubbing to celebrate her birthday. The invite screamed "no excuses!" Which immediately irritated me so I declined. Those who went had a good time and I'm pleased for them but it certainly ain't for me.

Buzzybee90

I can't imagine going on a night out with my colleagues, I really can't.

Just give if you want, don't if you don't! As long as you don't expect anything yourself.

kingfisherblue

I don't work now, as I am a carer, but when I did work it was in a small shop. Staff have always been close and I am still fond of them now, but the only time we socialised was a Christmas meal or occasional 'big' events such as my wedding. We did buy each other birthday and Christmas gifts, but with only five staff (and all close), it wasn't too expensive. Gifts tended to be small and inexpensive, but well thought out - a book by a favourite author, for example (working in a bookshop, everyone knew each others tastes and I was always delighted when one of the others offered to buy me the latest book by someone I enjoyed reading).


I think that in a larger company, although gifts might be more expensive, they are less likely to be thought out and based upon what the recipient actually wants. I'd rather receive a book than a bottle of wine and chocolates any day.

VfM4meplse

lulu_92 wrote: »

It is quite refreshing to read this.

Believe me, I've tried the house thing and they don't budge. They say "oh well when you move you will have more money!"

This is just so wrong. What right do people have to pressurise in this way? You're not expectng anything yourself, but this kind of presumption is sickening.

AubreyMac

One time when I was an agency temp, a collection came round on my first day in the job. As I was put on the spot and didn't want to offend, I chipped in £1.

There was a pre arranged lunch where everyone brings in a (home made or shop brought) dish and share it but because it was my first day I obviously didn't know about this. I wasn't invited to this and felt quite upset especially as I had chipped in to the collection.

Another things I hate is being asked for sponsor money!

Anatidaephobia

I happily chip in money for special occasions and cards etc but it's not a problem at all because I only have to do this for about ten people. We don't even really do birthdays unless it's a big one. So it doesn't add up much - and the people collecting the money are very understanding and don't put you under any pressure to donate more than you can afford.

I work at a big company and am so glad it isn't like some of the posts on this thread. It's ridiculous to be expected to chip in for potentially hundreds of other people that you don't even know! We only have to chip in for the number of people that we work closely with, not the rest of the office.

onlyroz

We have collections for leavers, marriages and babies - but as there are a few hundred people in my building I only put in for people I know.

Cath_Ster

There are about 80 people in my company and 20 in my department, we have a birthday club at work so if people don't want to contibute or have a collection for them then they can opt out which works quite well.

Leavers, weddings and babies though are a whole other ball game! Sometimes the collection is sent round the whole company, sometimes just departments - it seems to pretty much be a decision made by whoevers initiated the collection. We had one leavers collection from another department come round the other day, I didn't contibute as I don't think I've spoken one word to the person. Next thing you know there's an email from the person organising the collection telling us we had to contibute by the end of the day!!!

Needless to say I didn't! Blooming cheek.

bugslet

I don't accept gifts for birthdays and christmas, so no-one would do a collection for me, so I wouldn't contribute. I just hate the whole present thing.

I don't mind bringing cakes in - or eating others, but CBA with the rest of it.

Worry_Wart

Our company seems to get it right. There are only about 20 of us - no one gets birthday presents, but a gift is bought from petty cash for babies, weddings, etc, and last year we were all given a nice bottle of bordeaux for christmas. As it comes from management, no one is out of pocket, and there's no element of popularity involved.