How Many Thank-you's?

Well.....as the wife of someone is sales, I do agree with recognizing those who help you out throughout the year. My husband tries to do that with all of his support team (which is quite large). However, if we ever found out any of those people were disappointed or ungrateful of the gift because it wasn't large or grand enough, I guarantee you that would be the last year they would get one.

Gifts, especially in the workplace, should be simply appreciated and not expected....and certainly shouldn't be looked down upon because you feel it wasn't good enough. Personally, it would mean so much more to me to have this person raving about my abilities and how much they love working with me......some people would love to get that kind of verbal recognition.

To respond to your first question...

If someone is thanking your for something, a quick email or genuine thank you at the time is sufficient. If this is a generous gift, then write the thank you. Your daughter should write a quick thank you for the tokens- it's kind and kids LOVE getting mail!

As for the second part of this... you are paid to provide high-quality service. These folks don't owe you anything at the holidays, so yes I think you are wrong. If you don't need/want their gifts, donate them or toss them. Either way, it is rude to suggest "how much" people should spend on gifts.

You know how much someone makes? Actually, you don't. You have no idea what other expenses that person or company has and you also don't know if that company has a "gifting policy"- some places do.

For what it's worth, my parents own a retail company (family business for 60 years) and they have folks who generate huge revenue for them and they have small accounts who generate small, but steady revenue. Everyone gets a bottle of wine or vodka with a card at Christmas. The point simply being a "thank you for your continued business". My guess is this is the same sentiment trying to be extended to you. I'm just sorry that you aren't open to receiving it.

Yes. You get a paycheck to do the work you do... unless part of your salary structure includes christmas gifts. You are not entitled to a gift, even though it is christmas. To not acknowledge their gift (regardless of if you think it was 'big enough') is selfish and ungrateful.

I have worked for companies with NO gift giving budget, so everything my boss gave was out of their own pocket. $10 on everyone (although not the best gift) may be the budget she has, regardless of how many people you think she has to buy for. The scarf may have also been more than $10. I don't even know where you would buy a scarf for $10 in Chicago. I have also worked for companies where I COULD NOT accept a gift for more than $25 or it was considered "payola".

Your sales lady is cheap, cheap, cheap. Eons ago when my husband worked with a big sales producer, that guy treated my husband like royalty. My husband did half the work for all the large and complicated deals for the whole office, most of which were for this guy. I cant tell you how much overtime my husband put in working on this guy's stuff. I would bring my kids and we'd wait while they worked (we commuted in one car.) He would give us dinners galore at our favorite restaurant, gifts (especially for me) when he traveled, thanked him all the time. He also told the higher ups how great my husband was. When our first son was born, we got the most lavish gift from him. THAT is how a SMART salesperson treats their main support. I wouldn't do anything extra for that woman, I have to say. And DON'T write a thank you note for the scarf. If you do, you are telling her that it was an appropriate thing, and it isn't.

Dawn

Thank you notes are always nice or a quick email. Of course not 100% required if you're getting a ton of little things which people will understand. But email helps with that - it's very quick and then the person knows you got it etc. All these little gifts people are giving add up to $ and time for them too.

In terms of this salesperson, I agree with others that she doesn't owe you a gift at all. And you have no idea how many people in her life she needs to buy presents for. Does her boss buy her an expensive present? I don't know where the idea of buying gifts for people at work even comes from. Are you there bc you're trying to be nice to her or because you get a paycheck? I assume it's the latter so you're doing your job which you're paid for... I don't expect anything from my boss!! I'm not doing him a favor by being here and doing a good job. And if it's so easy to be a multimillion dollar salesperson, why don't you become one yourself instead of in a support role? It must be easy to be in her position so seems like you should take it. Or is it not all the easy, she did a lot to get where she is etc? Or, you can decide she's not worth working so hard for...

I understand how a gift can be insulting. I worked as a home health aide for a while, it was the worst job I ever had....ugh.... Anyway we had a company Christmas party and we were all hoping to get a bonus. We got a cheap blanket throw. They were all the same and you could almost see through them. I was so disappointed. I quite a month or two later. It wasn't because of that but because this one old lady kept sitting on her shower chair and telling me to wash her...when I told her I would help her by washing her back and lower legs she got all pissed off and told me I was just lazy....There was NO WAY I was putting my hands on her private areas. EEEWWWW.

Anyway, I should have gotten a much better gift at Christmas than a cheap blanket. I would have rather had even $10.

just wanted to say yes to your daughter, if it was presented as a present then the kids need to see a "grown up' take the time to write a thank you, I do sometimes think a plate of cookies might not get teh thank you if it was sort of a pass out twenty plates of cookies to everyone you know. but a pen, handcream, stationary, handknit items stuff like that should get a thank you.

not sure what the office protocal would be, anyone else in your field you can ask. The scarft does sound cheap but not worth bringing down your christmas cheer.

I think a thank note for a gift is always appropriate. In regard to the scarf from the salesperson, I don't think she has an obligation to get you anything. This is a job you get paid to do. Do you get a bonus too? If so, that's where your high expectations should be if the company did well and you went above and beyond. The scarf was a token of appreciation. It's the thought that counts.

I received some gifts as a thank you for being a dance teacher. I sent thank you notes for the gifts. It would stress me out to buy thank you gifts. I'm terrible at giving gifts. I can never think of anything. I'd probably really offend you by giving you something edible or baking you cookies with a homemade card...LOL I'm terrible!! I can't even shop for my husband and kids. I usually end up making something. UGH! But I'm not making tons of money off of anyone either.

I can relate with you. You are right in venting because that is the way I feel too over this boss who gives me a $50 certificate every year when I know fully well that he gets more than $200,000 per annum,

Updated

We are on the same boat. Yes, it is very frustrating.

Updated

We are on the same boat. Yes, it is very frustrating.

Because of this time of the year and email or a simple verbal thank you should suffice. If it were for i.e. promotion, birth of child, birthday, anniverary then get the note pad ready. A $10 scarf does seem cheap...unfortunately, you will alwaysy have those kind of people! Best wishes and go with the flow.... arggghhh I know.