Attorneys - what holiday gift / bonus for support staff?

[Anonymous]

Team Mug. Why do people demand bonuses and handouts for doing their job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Playing devils advocate, yes they deserve a nice big cash bonus, but that should come from the firm. I already pay my firm over 50% of collections to cover bloated overhead etc. support staff should be more than covered. The money should generously flow from the top of the pyramid. The partners who are making over $2m should pool together a lot of money for the support staff on behalf of the firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I'm at a small-medium boutique and our support staff moved to a pool post covid. I'm struggling with what/how to give this year. My assistant never did much for me except occasionally making binders, but it was definitely the culture to give so I did.

[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.

Ew are you serious!? Also, not even “I would use that,” but “The secretary would us it.”

NO MUGS. MUGS SUCK. Only possible exceptions are Yetis or leakproof Contigos and only then if you’re absolutely sure they don’t already have one.

[Anonymous]

Cash for secretaries and paralegals. I gave cash to my paralegals and they were super appreciative and said most lawyers at the firm (on K street) didn't.