'I don't even like them': How much should you give to office gift collections?
Office whip-rounds are a staple of working life but they can raise a lot of awkward questions.
When colleagues come together for birthdays, weddings, or farewells, office gift collections have become a common practice. Deciding how much to contribute can be tricky, especially for those on a tight budget. Lucy, a senior therapist, advises giving only to colleagues you've worked with directly and, if possible, only if you like them.
Former music journalist Layla also only contributes if she really likes the person but often avoids office collections due to their impersonal nature. The amount to give varies, with an average of £11.65 per worker in the first quarter of the year, according to GiftRound. Junior workers often face a dilemma, as they may not have money to contribute, as Felicity, a former car garage worker, experienced.
Most often, it's rank-and-file workers who contribute the most. Senior employees usually don't give, as they may find the expectation overwhelming. As collections move online, it becomes harder to keep track of contributions, and some find it uncomfortable to see individual donation amounts displayed. To avoid feeling like a loan shark, it's advised to send a single email to those who haven't contributed yet, and consider including a card as an alternative gift.
Professor Thomas Roubert recommends prioritizing direct colleagues and close relationships, not chasing people more than once, and choosing a symbolic gift with individual significance.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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