I work in an office environment, and like it very much. Right now I’m in school and will be beginning an internship in three weeks. I’ll be gone for four months and will return to the office in April. I want to give gifts to the people that I work with before I go; sort of a Merry Christmas/I’ll miss all of you sort of thing.
Does anyone have any suggestions that are unique? (No chocolate dildos, please). There are always food items and plants, but what else would be good? I work with all women. I want to keep the cost below $10 each.
I would be hesitant to start on a rampant gift-giving program personally. What’s the ethos of the office generally? Is present-offering a regular thing? Y’know, after being given a gift, some people feel awfully beholden to reciprocate the process even when they can’t really afford it (or might not want to do it on principle either).
Instead of individual gifts, how about bringing in a lunch for the office? If that’s too much, bring in an afternoon break dessert tray or cookie tray. Even a bag of sausage biscuits from a fast-food joint could be a nice gesture.
I agree with the not starting with presents in an office setting. It makes some people uncomfortable. I for one squirm at the making of birthdays an office event. Cake and all the attention to me is for friends and family in a different setting. I’ve taken days off from work to avoid it when it’s “my turn”. But that’s just me.
If you are adamant, maybe just some quirky fun pen they can use at their desks to remember you by. And inexpensive.
I agree that some food something so everyone can have some would be best. Bagels or muffins for breakfast maybe. I like the afternoon desert idea as well.
Get a bunch of nice, cheap coffee mugs, and a big coffee-can sized container of nuts or bridge mix, and a some tissue paper and ribbon. Wrap up handfuls of the bridge mix in the tissue paper, tie with ribbon, place in cups. If you have access to a Costco or something like that, you should be able to get the nuts cheap enough for this to come in under budget.
Our office did away with gift giving, as everyone was getting tired of getting useless crap. So since about 2001 we pool the money we would have spent (usually limited to a max £10 each, although in recent years we have allowed people to contribute more) and give it either to Médecins Sans Frontières, the Medical Foundation for Care of Victims of Torture or a specific Oxfam appeal. The boss still gives great gifts, but he’s the only one who does it now, and he usually asks that any gift to him is a donation to one of the charities he supports.
I got everyone in my office funky fridge magnets from Retro Planet. They’re less than $5; $3.95 I think. Some of 'em are hysterical: “I childproofed my house but they keep breaking in” with a picture of a 1950s mother talking on the telephone.
