At my LTC facility, I am the supervisor for approx 60 employees. This is my first Christmas working here. I was going to try to organize a gift exchange for my shift (11-7) but found out that the staff on each hall buys gifts for eachother. That's fine and dandy, but then also each one buys ME a present which means I need to buy something for them as well. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY! I need ideas for inexpensive presents that don't seem like a cheap copout. what to do, what to do, what to do!
At my LTC facility, I am the supervisor for approx 60 employees. This is my first Christmas working here. I was going to try to organize a gift exchange for my shift (11-7) but found out that the staff on each hall buys gifts for eachother. That's fine and dandy, but then also each one buys ME a present which means I need to buy something for them as well. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY! I need ideas for inexpensive presents that don't seem like a cheap copout. what to do, what to do, what to do!
HELP!
Lori
Am I the only one who thinks this is a tad ridiculous? How many presents do you have to buy? I mean, how many presents are you being guilt-tripped into buying? Why do you, as a supervisor, have to give everyone a present? You're not the employer.
Is this just an excuse for an all out "gimme" grab-fest? Why wasn't a gift-exchange acceptable? Why do you have to get anyone anything?
The only things I expect from my employer are to be paid for the time I worked and to get the benefits I've earned/paid for (e.g. health insurance, vacation time, etc.). Anything beyond that is up to my employer, but I certainly don't "expect" more.
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Are the nurses all female? Last year, I found some lipstick holders at Pier 1 Imports for only $1! I didn't do quite as well this year, but over the summer, Kohl's had a 70% sale on those cute little photo holders that are for one picture. They come in a bunch of cute shapes and colors. With the discount, lots of them were only $2.
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Am I the only one who thinks this is a tad ridiculous? How many presents do you have to buy? I mean, how many presents are you being guilt-tripped into buying? Why do you, as a supervisor, have to give everyone a present? You're not the employer.
Is this just an excuse for an all out "gimme" grab-fest? Why wasn't a gift-exchange acceptable? Why do you have to get anyone anything?
Nope, you're not the only one who thinks it is ridiculous. Threads like this pop up every year at Christmas time, it seems. I started one earlier this year, and I don't think there was a single response that said they like this kind of excess.
Are the nurses all female? Last year, I found some lipstick holders at Pier 1 Imports for only $1! I didn't do quite as well this year, but over the summer, Kohl's had a 70% sale on those cute little photo holders that are for one picture. They come in a bunch of cute shapes and colors. With the discount, lots of them were only $2.
2 x 60= $120...just on co-workers?
That's a lot of money, at least to me. I like the people I work with, but sheesh.
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I agree; that's not a cheap thing to make, then you have all the time you have to sink into it, too.
I'm sorry, and maybe I'm just dense, but shouldn't people give gifts because they want to, not because they're obligated to?
Yes, they should. I think what ends up happening is that over time, friendships develop and people feel like they can't buy for their friend without buying for this or that person, and before you know it, a tradition has formed and everyone is loathe to break the "T word". I am a member of two different work teams- one has between 8-10 people each year, and we do all buy for each other, plus do an exchange for a bigger gift for just one person. Yes, it's ridiculous. I guess no one is willing to be the one to say enough already, though. Apparently, one year before I was on the team, an argument erupted over who got which flavor of See's candy You'd think that would have been enough to squash the tradition! The other team I'm part of decided not to have a gift exchange this year, hoorayhooray, but then I got included in one for the whole office because I wasn't there to opt out on the day they drew names. I'd just as soon not participate, but there didn't seem to be any sporting way of saying that once they'd made the decision to include me. What confuses me is that I make a total budget for the holiday, and it has to stretch to include everything. That $15 I'm spending for a gift exchange has to come from somewhere else in the budget. We have staff that only earn $10 an hour working for us, I can't imagine how they're affording this!
I found something! When I was in a family-owned pharmacy the other day, I found 8oz tubs of Vitamin E Lotion (white tubs with gold trim, very classy) that works and smells wonderful, for a dollar a tub. Spoke with the owner and he ordered a case of 60 for me at cost (94cents each!). I'm getting red and green saran wrap, gathering it over the tub and tying it with a bow. It was SUCH a stroke of luck. I was trying to figure cost of cookie ingredients and jars, and couldn't come up with under $100, and this way it's something nice that any healthcare worker should appreciate (I HOPE).
I know it's awful to feel obligated to buy something, but really I wanted to be able to give those that work for me a token of appreciation. I just wanted it to be an APPRECIATED appreciation token!
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You'd think that would have been enough to squash the tradition! The other team I'm part of decided not to have a gift exchange this year, hoorayhooray, but then I got included in one for the whole office because I wasn't there to opt out on the day they drew names. I'd just as soon not participate, but there didn't seem to be any sporting way of saying that once they'd made the decision to include me. What confuses me is that I make a total budget for the holiday, and it has to stretch to include everything. That $15 I'm spending for a gift exchange has to come from somewhere else in the budget. We have staff that only earn $10 an hour working for us, I can't imagine how they're affording this!
LoriAlabamaRN
955 Posts
Thank you! I think I will try to do this!