ATTN: Bosses re: gifts and holiday parties

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amother

OP ↓

Today at 3:35 pm

I by no means speak for every working person. This post is however representative of most employees.

We work for money. Not gifts. Not parties. Not party entertainment.

I keep seeing threads every year around chanukah time re this topic. Bosses asking for entertainment ideas, gift ideas, etc.

Unless one’s workplace is her main source of socialization, no one wants to be forced or heavily pressured to attend a holiday party. For sure not after hours, likely also not during work hours. ESPECIALLY if raises are not even COL.

I have friends who are forced to go on work trips to the Bahamas. Fun, right? But she has to worry about her kids. Spend on babysitters. Night at the HASC concert in a private suite with catering? Awesome, right? No! Again, babysitting. Forced merriment.

It’s painful for us employees to enjoy a night out knowing our bosses spend tens of thousands on the trips but deny us raises. 20 employees, a 20k night. It hurts.

We work because we have to. We spend time away from home because we have to. Please don’t make us leave home at night.

Do we say we love the tsachkies and gifts and parties? Yeah we do. We pretend we love it because you are our boss.

As useful as a company branded whatever may be, once I’m no longer with the company, out it goes.

Please. Give a card and cash to express thanks and appreciation.

amother

Chicory ↓

Today at 3:40 pm

And this is why I give my employees good, old fashioned money. Last year, everyone got checks at chanukah. This year, iyh - bigger checks. But yes, you will be forced to eat sushi with me and have donuts that were stupidly expensive and pretend merriment if you want your big check. I won't make you stay late or inconvenience you but work will officially end at 1pm and we will party till 3.30, when you can go home early. Why? Because I enjoy getting to know my employees and spending some time playing stupid games like a white elephant gift exchange. And I like feeding you yummy treats you may not indulge in otherwise. Then off you go, with a nice bonus to spend on your family and an extra day off.

amother

Pink

Today at 3:43 pm

amother Chicory wrote:

You sound like a good boss. I’m happy for your employees

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 3:47 pm

amother Chicory wrote:

Donuts and sushi is not what I mean and it was pretty clear. I’m talking about the holiday bashes people ask about on here.

amother

Hotpink

Today at 3:49 pm

I actually do enjoy a little chanukah brunch. I don't splurge on bought food often so a nice salad or sushi is double treat. Yes, I enjoy sitting a few minutes eating on worktime.

I do work in a small little place.

amother

Cyan

Today at 4:01 pm

These parties are good for building a sense of community in a workplace. It's a little bit about appreciation and a lot about making people feel like they are part of something.
There are studies about this.

amother

↑ Chicory ↓

Today at 4:04 pm

amother OP wrote:

Donuts and sushi is not what I mean and it was pretty clear. I’m talking about the holiday bashes people ask about on here.

Except some years I've had larger bashes and they're important for business. I've read on here about all sorts of ideas and often pared it down based on the consensus being that most employees don't care or want any of it. I hope my employees are happy and our retention rate is high so I like to think I handle things like holidays well. But if we're putting on a show for business and everyone has to attend, you know well in advance and yes, I cover extras like babysitters and give additional time off to make up for taking your night. We hosted a big firm party a few years ago and everyone had to attend. I made sure to have $300 petty cash handed out to everyone for incidentals like a Uber home or babysitter and everyone had the next two days off. Also, bonuses were given earlier that week so everyone was in a pretty good mood. But posts like this tell me that no matter how hard I try, employees just don't appreciate the effort unless there's enough cash involved. I tell my people all the time that they are doing a good job or how much I appreciate their efforts. I literally can't think of anything more I can do to make a work environment pleasant. Sometimes employees have to do things that aren't all fun and games. If a business floudners, their jobs are at risk. I really don't agree with the attitude that it's just a place you go to earn a paycheck. For me, it's my career and I work with people who I respect, talent I want to foster and people I continually learn from. It's not just a paycheck. So your OP makes me sad that this is your job and how you view where you spend so much of your day. I'm sorry, OP. Perhaps you should look for a different environment or position that makes you feel valued and well compensated.

amother

Nectarine ↓

Today at 4:08 pm

I enjoy parties during work hours!

amother

Tomato

Today at 4:12 pm

Having worked in places that can't afford raises, even COL raises, can't afford bonuses...
Yeah the special lunches are nice as they are during work hours and allow us to socialize.

We have a rotation of interns that come through and they do a going away dinner once a year to say goodbye (they tend to leave around the same point in the year). It really is nice. Builds comradery for those us permanent employees, shows appreciation and is a good meal. (We have enough employees who are kosher keeping so they go to a kosher place. )

Be glad it is a frum event. My husband once had a work holiday party that wasn't on Saturday so he couldn't get out. Not only couldn't we eat (diet coke for dinner) we had to sit and be bored... pretended to be social but when it got into mixed dancing we excused ourselves with a "babysitting emergency".

amother

Yarrow

Today at 4:14 pm

I completely don't agree. We love having work get togethers. We are going out next week. Out to eat and to a fun place and everyone is counting down the days. We always do a Chanukah party and everyone comes.

Maybe it depends on your work environment.

amother

Banana

Today at 4:16 pm

I like the parties during work hours! I’m basically getting paid to sit and shmooze and eat donuts. Sounds good to me.

amother

Brass ↓

Today at 4:16 pm

Team building is super important too. And when you don’t have it the whole work atmosphere is not great and people are unhappy. It’s not a big deal to figure out a babysitting situation once or twice a year.

amother

↑ Brass

Today at 4:17 pm

amother Yarrow wrote:

This is how it is in a healthy work environment. The whole come to work be unhappy get your paycheck and go home, doesn’t lead to productivity and it’s a terrible business model.

gr82no

Today at 4:24 pm

I think op is talking about the completely over tge top parties after work hours not your average staff appreciation lunch

amother

↑ Nectarine

Today at 4:27 pm

gr82no wrote:

I think op is talking about the completely over tge top parties after work hours not your average staff appreciation lunch

She said even during work hours

amother

Apricot

Today at 4:36 pm

Gifts can be a write off. Bonuses aren't. They're also taxed on both employer and employee end if done legally.
That being said, I agree 100%. I prefer the cash or Amazon gift card over the physical gift any day. I can handle the after hours party once a year. But more than that should not be an expectation.
A party during work hours is fine. I'm expected to be working and if my boss rather I socialize than work I'm OK with that. But I can see it being an issue for someone who's work may pile up or may cause stress nearing a deadline. I don't have time sensitive work so if I take 2 hours out of my day it won't really set me back

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 4:37 pm

gr82no wrote:

I think op is talking about the completely over tge top parties after work hours not your average staff appreciation lunch

Correct.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 4:41 pm

amother Nectarine wrote:

She said even during work hours

Yes. To over the top parties even during work hours.

To an employee who is really struggling, these over the top gatherings are painful!

I’m not referring to salad, sushi, sandwiches. I was clear on that I thought. So I’m saying it again.

Even $300 from petty cash to hand over to an uber driver and babysitter - it’s screaming “my company has so much excess, we can throw it at uber for a splashy party”.

Lunches to get to know your employees? Great!
Over the top events that rub the boss’s huge wallets in the employees faces? No thanks.

amother

Plum

Today at 4:41 pm

Working in a hospital, someone has to be on the ward at all times. I generously volunteer to remain on duty, and let my more socially minded colleagues party.

Genius

Today at 4:44 pm

amother OP wrote:

Even $300 from petty cash to hand over to an uber driver and babysitter - it’s screaming “my company has so much excess, we can throw it at uber for a splashy party”.
Lunches to get to know your employees? Great!
Over the top events that rub the boss’s huge wallets in the employees faces?

So your problem is that the business is successful and the boss earns money?
Or do you just need a raise?
I don’t think that the party is your problem whichever way you spin the dreidel.

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