Tiggy, my boss would have a serious sitdown with anyone trying to force even five bucks out of my pocket for a gift for him.

I've always very quiety tucked a bag on his office with a plant for the house or something small like that in it, because he has a weird ethical issue about the underlings buying things for him.

You want I should have my boss call your bosses and explain class?

I'd rather have the bonus, although I did get some thoughtful gifts from my contract company years ago, a nice umbrella one year and a nylon cooler lunch bag the other.

Really, I'd much rather have a bonus from my employers than some random or even thoughtful gift!

I have no idea if we get bonuses. We are getting iPod shuffles with teh company logo on them.

Really, I'd much rather have a bonus from my employers than some random or even thoughtful gift!

Well, yeah, but $20 cash would feel pathetic in a way a $20 gift doesn't.

I've never worked for a place that does bonuses. (Not a big surprise, given my field.) Hell, even the parties are quasi-potluck.

I'm sending Big Boss one of my handmade ornaments this year because she has really gone out of her way to help me through some stuff this year. I've worked here over 16 years and it will be the first time I've sent her anything. She is currently off on disability due to some surgery, but she has still be keeping up with office stuff.

But I'm doing this is cause *I* want to do it. Not cause my intermediate manager suggested it or anyone else has prodded me.

There are times in the office where we will chip in for gifts (birthdays, get well, babies, marriages, new jobs...), but it is always optional and no one keeps track of who puts in how much. Usually we have an envelope circle with a card. Everyone signs and if you want to contribute, you put what you want in the envelope.

because he has a weird ethical issue about the underlings buying things for him.

It's not weird, though, it's right.

Well, yeah, but $20 cash would feel pathetic in a way a $20 gift doesn't.

Yeah, I guess.

Also, I would like to punch tiggy's office manager and bosses in the crotch.

thanks, shrift. wish i could take you up on it and possibly send you a minion to help you carry that 2000 report.

regarding the cell phones thing, i had heard that only the old all analog could trigger a reaction from the gas. that may be a myth too though.

thanks for the Miss Manners, lisa. now i really don't feel like a Wendy Whiner.

Seriously, when's your gift? Do they all chip in $40 for birthdays?

the only time we co-workers exchange gifts is at the company christmas party when we do Dirty Santa and that gift is a $20 limit. we used to have birthday potluck lunches, but people started complaining that they were the ones bringing the dishes of substance every time. even though they signed themselves up to do it each time. @@ so we don't even do that anymore.

annnnnnnnnnyway. how is everyone else's tuesday treating them?

Speaking of X-mas-

you know my crazy office secret X-mas party thing?

Well, it is going to be in Geneva (AmyLiz will know where it is), which is not that near Rochester (50 miles away). And I have costume fittings until after the party starts with a designer who is coming up that day especially. And I have no car in order to come late, and since I am coming late, I can't get a ride.

I know I don't REALLY want to go, but I feel like a jackhole and am considering renting a car. Or asking the designer if I can leave a 4 pm, although that makes me feel like an ass.

Also, I never get my bosses or cow-workers anything, although sometimes they get me things. I have on occasion made cookie baskets. At least I am away from the craxy too large gift buying boss (one year she bought me THREE OUTFITS!)

I just asked another co-worker if i was mis-remembering about the $20 and she said no, i was right. it was $20 last year and all the previous years. a $20 increase in one year?! give me a fucking break, people.

Try, "oh, I only budgeted twenty. There really needs to be some sort of discussion if something like this is going to be doubled." And hand them the twenty?

(oh the this is the place where you can sneer and insert all you contempt for the absurd practice)

I worked for one office where the support staff gave our manager a present at our little holiday party. I thought this was odd but we all really liked her so I went for it. Then one year they couldn't figure out what to get her and decided to just give her a big box of cash. This became the tradition. It was very very weird.

(But at least it wasn't mandatory. There was very strict greeting card regulation, no way you were signing that thing if you hadn't chipped in. Which was also weird -- like any giftee ever is going to read sixty or seventy signatures and figure out who did and did not chip in on her big box o' cash? Odd odd odd.)

The one attorney I work for is getting a book I know he wants. Last year I got him tamales, he and then other attorney got me Chorus Line tickets.

The new other attorney I work for is a partner and notorious for cheap-ass gifts (when she remembers them at all). Like a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. I will probably get her nothing. Or, possibly have at the ready a $30 Barnes & Noble gift card if I see her walking over here with an envelope.