Do you put in for coworker's presents?

DKLS

Am happy to donate, £10-20 for people i like and 1-5p for people I don't like.

fierystormcloud

bugslet wrote: »

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.

This. ^

I won't give anything at work, and made this decision about 15 months ago. Also, I will not accept anything back. (There are 25 of us in total.)

A few people pulled a face when I made my choice to say I am abstaining now, and called me a grumpy curmudgeon. However, another 4 have followed suit since. I don't think it will be long before a few more join in with us.

lulu_92

I like baking and a few of us take it in turns to bring stuff in.

I didn't mind at my old work as they were (still are) my friends and I would probably buy something anyway, but we would stick to maternity and leaving presents. Half the time my boss would take money from petty cash for it (like on my 21st birthday she bought loads of cake)

Randomjargon

Tell them to sod off...I tell people to sod off all the time and it's great. I don't have go to nights out, Xmas dos or after work drinks. I'm a MSE advocate

redvision95

No. why should I? especially if I don't know or like them.
that and everyone at both of the companies work for know how much I dislike spending money on stupid things. if its a sad occasion yeah a card and a little if there's anything I can do just call, if its a birthday or anything like that I just tell them to p 1 5 5 off.
however we did wrap my new managers car in 10 rolls of cling film the other day when we found out it was his 40th.

AmyTurtle

There are about 70 people in the building I work in. People bring cakes on their own birthdays, those that don't want to just keep quiet. We don't do birthday cards or presents.

Leaving/babies/weddings there tends to be one card and an envelope that is sent round, you can either sign and donate, just sign or ignore it - if I like the person I will sign and donate. If I don't like or know them I'll normally just pass it on to the next person. I don't feel obligated.

AmyTurtle

kingfisherblue wrote: »

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.

A manager who'd worked here a long time retired last year and is going into property development. The management bought him a circular saw, tarpaulins and other tools with our collection and were a bit put out when he asked for the receipt to get a refund. He is project managing but employing tradesmen and certainly not the type to get his hands dirty - any of us could have told the management that if they'd asked :rotfl:

minimacka

I work with 17 people (all men) so what we do is each buy cakes on our birthday it works out about £20 or less each a year. Each January we all say shall we continue to do it because it is getting more and more expensive but we still carry on. If there is a wedding, birth or leaving do we usually chip in about £5.00 but non of them are of an age for weddings or birth anymore lol

pinkjets

In our office we bring in cake/buns on our OWN birthday - that means we are only out of pocket once a year but have the benefit of having treats once or twice a month - everyone in our office (@20) seem happy with this arrangement.
As for work nights out, people go/don't go, it's their preference and nobody pressures them either way :-)

lulu_92

The worst one was the Christmas party. it was another 20 miles from my work which is 30 miles away so it's not like I could drink, plus I had a very genuine reason for not wanting to go. I told someone I wasn't going and it was like I'd kicked their dog. I could have told them the reason which I know would have made them feel bad but why should I have to? I just wish I worked in an environment where you can say "no thanks" and not have to justify it.