funny a young 20s guy on my team told everyone specifically anything but gift card for him. everyone's different.

Anonymous wrote:(Not a boomer, and a bit of an ageist response)

Ok Gen X. Time off is silly as it is fake. My daughter company said day after Thanksgiving a day off but work still flows in or has more work the week after. My job I have set work Taking off does not make work go away.

In olden times in person with daily work when out of office literally someone else did my work. I came back to no more work. Time off was a perk. Today, work just piles up. So double work next day.

OP here. Thank you for all these responses!

To be clear, though these are my direct reports, I am not the head of office (so ideas around bonuses, time off, etc. aren't applicable).

I already organize a team lunch 1x a month where we bond/hang out.

I know they drink, but I absolutely understand all the comments about not going with alcohol.

I did very well this year, largely thanks to their support, so I don't mind spending my own money. But given everything I've heard here, think I'll go straight gift card with a nice note.

I have a small team. Last year I got them each a small marble cheese board and gift card to Trader Joe’s.

This year giving each a Le Creuset olive oil cruet (with a gift receipt) and bottle of good olive oil.

I am not in a position to offer up time off, these are gifts out of my own pocket.

I manage a team of 8. I don’t work in a sector where time off in the way suggested here is possible or where bonuses can be given, so whatever I do is out of pocket. That said, I like to do a gift card to some place everyone can find something—aka grocery, Target or Amazon. Are you telling me this is a bad idea??

Anonymous wrote:How about trader Joe's gift card

I think this is a great present. Everyone needs groceries. (And they can buy wine if they want.)

How about trader Joe's gift card

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had a boss who gave us 3 hours off in the middle of the day. Said it was so we could do holiday shopping. There was a certain week ahead of Christmas that he did this, and made sure everyone signed-up for a time slot (middle of the day, not come in late or leave early, that wasn't offered. Which was ok)

Love this!!!

Hate this! I have all my holiday shopping completed before Halloween. I'd be taking three hours off to go see a movie. But it'd suck knowing I had to go back to work afterwards. If you're going to give three hours off, do it at the start and the end of the workdays. Not smack in the middle.

Anonymous wrote:I hate gift cards more than life itself. Just more work from me. Stress, they expire. Why do I need more work from my boss.

You can't throw it in your purse and use it the next time you grocery shop?

Anonymous wrote:And what are they getting you?

Gifts are supposed to flow downwards in work situations.

The young whipper snappers all like boba and matcha. So get them gift cards to places that sell those.

(Not a boomer, and a bit of an ageist response)

Anonymous wrote:Give time off.

that is the funniest thing I have ever heard and most likely a Boomer who suggested it. Maybe 25 years ago when everyone was in person in a suit with Mandatory work hours getting to leave two hours early with pay on xmas eve and New Years eve was a plus.

I hate gift cards more than life itself. Just more work from me. Stress, they expire. Why do I need more work from my boss.

Give time off.