Attorneys - what holiday gift / bonus for support staff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cash is king

!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you really need to give anything - maybe a box of chocolates or a mug set or something.

Well.
Glad you're not my boss.

[Anonymous]

Cash. I go to the bank and get new bills. But I’m Asian so I don’t have a hang up about giving cash. Gift cards suck bc you lose them and/or the Visa ones have fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a legal secretary. I need money. I mean, you could give me a huge Trader Joe's gift card if you want, but that's basically what I'll spend it on - TJ's and the farmer's market.

One of my attorneys gave me a bottle of wine one year, but I don't drink so just gave it to my sibling the next time I got invited over. Two of my attorneys never give me anything. The fourth sometimes gives me $200 to Bloomingdales, or $100 to the Bravo storefront, or sometimes just a happy holidays card. They all like me very much and give me excellent reviews. That just doesn't translate to holiday bonuses for the most part.

Wow they are so cheap. Why don’t you switch firms?

[Anonymous]

I’m a paralegal at a firm that gives generous bonuses every year, 20-30K but in the before times partners usually gave me about $300 each. I’ve had associates give me everything from a bottle of Dom to a really nice and expensive mirror, not usually cash. I think the mirror giver was poking fun at me… but it’s still one of my favs.

I knew a secretary who received a petunia pig tea pot. She was overweight. I don’t think he liked her very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Specifically secretaries.

A 1-year subscription to the Jelly of the Month club. It's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

[Anonymous]

Back in the day -- Partners gave a lot to the secretary --- 5k, 2500k, 1k.

But the world has changed. They do a lot less for a specific attorney. Also not tied to a partner the way they once were. I think those big gifts are actually inappropriate now. Secretary works for the firm not the partner. Possibly less likely to report issues. I think 500 should be the max now. Less is fine also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you really need to give anything - maybe a box of chocolates or a mug set or something.

Nobody wants a box of chocolates or a mug set - the chocolates would be regifted to the copy room guys within half a day. We're all "set' with how many mugs we need. Nobody in the US needs any more mugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a legal secretary. I need money. I mean, you could give me a huge Trader Joe's gift card if you want, but that's basically what I'll spend it on - TJ's and the farmer's market.

One of my attorneys gave me a bottle of wine one year, but I don't drink so just gave it to my sibling the next time I got invited over. Two of my attorneys never give me anything. The fourth sometimes gives me $200 to Bloomingdales, or $100 to the Bravo storefront, or sometimes just a happy holidays card. They all like me very much and give me excellent reviews. That just doesn't translate to holiday bonuses for the most part.

Wow they are so cheap. Why don’t you switch firms?

Because I like all four guys. I never get yelled at or thrown under the bus. They respect my opinions, they give me autonomy, they go to bat for me when needed. All that is worth more than a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you really need to give anything - maybe a box of chocolates or a mug set or something.

Nobody wants a box of chocolates or a mug set - the chocolates would be regifted to the copy room guys within half a day. We're all "set' with how many mugs we need. Nobody in the US needs any more mugs.

Eh. I think the mug set would be appropriate if it’s holiday themed. It’s thoughtful and nice for the holidays. The secretary would use it.

[Anonymous]

Cash is market standard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you really need to give anything - maybe a box of chocolates or a mug set or something.

Nobody wants a box of chocolates or a mug set - the chocolates would be regifted to the copy room guys within half a day. We're all "set' with how many mugs we need. Nobody in the US needs any more mugs.

Eh. I think the mug set would be appropriate if it’s holiday themed. It’s thoughtful and nice for the holidays. The secretary would use it.

Hi, I’m the legal secretary, and I gotta say I wouldn’t use mugs. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you really need to give anything - maybe a box of chocolates or a mug set or something.

Well.
Glad you're not my boss.

+1 horrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you really need to give anything - maybe a box of chocolates or a mug set or something.

Nobody wants a box of chocolates or a mug set - the chocolates would be regifted to the copy room guys within half a day. We're all "set' with how many mugs we need. Nobody in the US needs any more mugs.

Eh. I think the mug set would be appropriate if it’s holiday themed. It’s thoughtful and nice for the holidays. The secretary would use it.

Absolutely not.

$500 is the minimum in my mind. Support staff do a ton of extra work, including nights and weekends, without the large salaries. If you find a good one, treat them right and do everything possible to keep them on your team.

[Anonymous]

If you make $500K to over a million a year, and they are making your life easier, you give them a few thousand, especially given they probably make $70-120K.