VeraBlue
Executive Chef
Where is Miss Manners or Tina Lee when you need her?? I work for a huge company so it's possible I'll be at one unit for a year, and then move to another and stay there 2 years, or only 6 months... I've had more changes to my business cards than someone in witness protection.
I never know what to do about gift giving. Several years ago I received several gifts from co-workers (some subordinate, some not). To my chagrin, I hadn't planned on giving. No one talked about it, prior...yet they all seemed in on the gig. Colour me red, indeed. The next year, still at that location, we all exhanged appropriately. Fast forward to the next christmas and I'm at a new location. Again, no discussion, but I go ahead and make a few purchases. The only one who reciprocated was my boss. What a great bottle of booze, too!
Okay, mayhaps I don't have this down as well as I thought. I always assumed you didn't prewarn a person regarding an intended gift. The joy is in the giving, not the giving them enough notice to go get you something too, yes?
Which brings me to this year. Another new location, but I've been firmly entrenched here for just short of a year. Quick math will tell you I got here in early January. First, I decide to make a purchase for my immediate superior and my administrative assistant. Then I realize I don't really like them well enough to want to spend any hard earned cash on them when a girl like me can just as easily save it for Mardi Gras. Uncharitable, to say the least....so I think perhaps just a small token gift. Finally, I decided to add them to the honoured list of people who receive my homemade treasured cookies. A tray from me has no less than 16 different varieties of cookies and candies, all homemade. Wrapped in a lovely platter with silver and gold lamé ribbons, they are magnificent. I brought them in today because my superior is leaving for vacation this evening.
The trays were a huge success, well received and deeply appreciated. Unfortunately, I've got to seriously rethink this whole co-worker gift giving thing....I got two nice 'thank yous' and a big bowl of air. .... I'm not upset or anything like that...just chagrined, once again.
Either you have to discuss it in advance, which effectively spoils the festive mood for the ladies....or you take your chances like the rest of the fish in the barrel.
Or, perish the thought....mayhaps it's just ME?????
I never know what to do about gift giving. Several years ago I received several gifts from co-workers (some subordinate, some not). To my chagrin, I hadn't planned on giving. No one talked about it, prior...yet they all seemed in on the gig. Colour me red, indeed. The next year, still at that location, we all exhanged appropriately. Fast forward to the next christmas and I'm at a new location. Again, no discussion, but I go ahead and make a few purchases. The only one who reciprocated was my boss. What a great bottle of booze, too!
Okay, mayhaps I don't have this down as well as I thought. I always assumed you didn't prewarn a person regarding an intended gift. The joy is in the giving, not the giving them enough notice to go get you something too, yes?
Which brings me to this year. Another new location, but I've been firmly entrenched here for just short of a year. Quick math will tell you I got here in early January. First, I decide to make a purchase for my immediate superior and my administrative assistant. Then I realize I don't really like them well enough to want to spend any hard earned cash on them when a girl like me can just as easily save it for Mardi Gras. Uncharitable, to say the least....so I think perhaps just a small token gift. Finally, I decided to add them to the honoured list of people who receive my homemade treasured cookies. A tray from me has no less than 16 different varieties of cookies and candies, all homemade. Wrapped in a lovely platter with silver and gold lamé ribbons, they are magnificent. I brought them in today because my superior is leaving for vacation this evening.
The trays were a huge success, well received and deeply appreciated. Unfortunately, I've got to seriously rethink this whole co-worker gift giving thing....I got two nice 'thank yous' and a big bowl of air. .... I'm not upset or anything like that...just chagrined, once again.
Either you have to discuss it in advance, which effectively spoils the festive mood for the ladies....or you take your chances like the rest of the fish in the barrel.
Or, perish the thought....mayhaps it's just ME?????