Comments on: Holidays in the Office http://www.countingmypennies.com/2009/12/16/holidays-in-the-office/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:06:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Red http://www.countingmypennies.com/2009/12/16/holidays-in-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-13174 Red Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:36:03 +0000 http://www.countingmypennies.com/?p=1522#comment-13174 Yes! Anytime an employee within our company has a baby, graduates, gets married, has a birthday we're expected to give something. Most recently, a woman who works at another location WHOM I'VE NEVER EVEN MET had a baby. My boss asked everyone to contribute for a basket of goodies. I felt like such a grinch, but I didn't give anything. If it had been a person in our corporate office, someone I actually know, I would have felt differently. But that money has a more important purpose to me than being given away. Yes! Anytime an employee within our company has a baby, graduates, gets married, has a birthday we’re expected to give something. Most recently, a woman who works at another location WHOM I’VE NEVER EVEN MET had a baby. My boss asked everyone to contribute for a basket of goodies. I felt like such a grinch, but I didn’t give anything. If it had been a person in our corporate office, someone I actually know, I would have felt differently. But that money has a more important purpose to me than being given away.

]]> By: Dylan http://www.countingmypennies.com/2009/12/16/holidays-in-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-7377 Dylan Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:56:14 +0000 http://www.countingmypennies.com/?p=1522#comment-7377 Two years ago, I was forced into a Secret Santa gift exchange. I was in a very tough financial situation at the time, and the extra expense was going to be a burden. I'd cut expenses at home drastically, just so I could pay my rent. It was *supposed* to be optional. I told a few of my coworkers that I wasn't going to participate, which they were fine with. Then, I happened to be away from the office on the day (in mid November) that the names were drawn. When a coworker told boss that I didn't want to do it, she told everyone there that I could "get over it." When I returned to the office the next day, guess who's name I pulled? That's right. Boss. I put it back, and got a different name. Later that day, I ended up in a meeting with boss, where she tried to shame me for my decision not to participate. Then I reminded her than not everyone celebrates Christmas for religious reasons. Now, I do happen to celebrate it, but that's not the point. She realized her error, and backed off, but the damage was done. Rather than make a huge deal about tracking down who pulled my name, I opted to take part - reluctantly. As expected, it was a financial burden, but I tried to make the best of it, and gave a gift equal to the budget we were told. The gift I received? Less than 1/3 of the budget. That was the last Secret Santa I took part in. Two years ago, I was forced into a Secret Santa gift exchange. I was in a very tough financial situation at the time, and the extra expense was going to be a burden. I’d cut expenses at home drastically, just so I could pay my rent. It was *supposed* to be optional. I told a few of my coworkers that I wasn’t going to participate, which they were fine with. Then, I happened to be away from the office on the day (in mid November) that the names were drawn. When a coworker told boss that I didn’t want to do it, she told everyone there that I could “get over it.”

When I returned to the office the next day, guess who’s name I pulled? That’s right. Boss. I put it back, and got a different name. Later that day, I ended up in a meeting with boss, where she tried to shame me for my decision not to participate. Then I reminded her than not everyone celebrates Christmas for religious reasons. Now, I do happen to celebrate it, but that’s not the point. She realized her error, and backed off, but the damage was done.

Rather than make a huge deal about tracking down who pulled my name, I opted to take part – reluctantly. As expected, it was a financial burden, but I tried to make the best of it, and gave a gift equal to the budget we were told. The gift I received? Less than 1/3 of the budget.

That was the last Secret Santa I took part in.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.countingmypennies.com/2009/12/16/holidays-in-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-7371 Sarah Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:16:41 +0000 http://www.countingmypennies.com/?p=1522#comment-7371 I sure have. Two years ago, I was asked to pony up $40.00 for the boss's gift (an iPod). I do like my boss, but $40.00! I was annoyed because this is more $$ than I spend on many of my family memebers. Furthermore, the funds were requsted last minute and I had already given the boss a basket of homemade cookies. They wanted everyone to contribute more, until I complained that there needs to be a *reasonable* cap. I was the sole complainer too. I think a few others just didn't want to look bad. I sure have. Two years ago, I was asked to pony up $40.00 for the boss’s gift (an iPod). I do like my boss, but $40.00! I was annoyed because this is more $$ than I spend on many of my family memebers. Furthermore, the funds were requsted last minute and I had already given the boss a basket of homemade cookies. They wanted everyone to contribute more, until I complained that there needs to be a *reasonable* cap. I was the sole complainer too. I think a few others just didn’t want to look bad.

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