I would like to get my employees (6) something nice for the holidays. Yah I could do Starbucks gift certs...but does anyone have funner ideas? More creative? Different?
I would spend $20-$30 on each of them.

Gift cards are always nice to get. I think most of the malls are offering a card that will work in any of their stores. If you have big hunters or fisherman in your group then a Basspro card would be up their alley, trust me.

Another idea would be to take them all out for a nice lunch or dinner. Lunch is better because it gets them away from work for a little while. The dinners can also get expensive if drinks are involved. Not that IT people have ever been known to have a drink or anything…..

"You don't stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stopped playing."

For the best response to a question, read FAQ222-2244.
 
 

- movie passes?
 - bottles of wine or other adult beverages?
 - free 1/2 day off, redeemable in 1Q07

get clever, man!  do force them to socialize.  have fun

happy holidays.

~wmichael

"small change can often be found under seat cushions"

oooh I like the 1/2 day off, cant put a price tag on that..
Socializing is good too, maybe snacks and drinks after work, a  holiday happy hour...
HA I dont think anyone fishes, but maybe they would a like a Bass-O-Matic LOL

Hey - can i be one of your employees? :D

LOL! Take them to lunch, allow them an extra long lunch, like 1 1/2 hour - 2. They'll enjoy the nice long break from work.

Last year I made voodoo dolls for each of my employees and added a poem I wrote to go with it:

Quote (thadeus):

When you manager delivers a message
and it's one you don't care to hear
Just stick me with pins
in my chest or my shins
Until his discomfort is clear.

A picture of the voodoo doll is here.

~Thadeus

Lunch or buns!  Food is a great team builder!  If you can get everyone to go for lunch, great - otherwise take in lots of food.

And not just for Christmas - pick a reason to celebrate (anything) and hit the food.

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%"

I'm a little late contributing... but food is a tough one at my office because there are a lot of people with odd dietary needs (diabetic, vegetarian, only eats pizza, etc)

So I would suggest you go with dinner & a movie idea -- give each employee two movie tickets and a $50 Amex gift cheque for a good meal.  People with kids could even use it to pay for a babysitter.

Chip H.

____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

if you want to do team building by all means do so.   Drop a dime or two on it, and reap the usual benefits.

If you want to give your employees a gift by all means do so.   Drop a dime or two on it, and reap the benefits.

Do not confuse the two, they are mutualy exclusive.   

Stay away from the booze gift ideas unless you know the person you are giving it to.  Never know what kind of issues the person might be dealing with.

Have had bosses invite staff over for an afternoon holiday lunch at their home, make peanut brittle, make candy...  I'd say the gift isn't as important as the thought.  

Don't over think it....  If you want to do something next year get them something you would want.... new car, house, cruise..  But before you do that post when you work, Company and Location, with job opportunities cause I've always thought it would be nice to have a pool in the back yard.... I'm sure you do too.

"  Take them to lunch, allow them an extra long lunch, like 1 1/2 hour - 2. "

Is 1 1/2 - 2 hours an extra long lunch?  I thought it was normal.

I am hourly, but I do get one hour unpaid lunch.   I dont take it as I like to work straight through the 12 hours, rather than get home an hour later with no more pay.   hourly's dont get paid for lunch, salaried's just work another 1 1/2 hrs to catch back up where I work.   Might not be much of a gift for those that stay till ther job is done.   

The boss gave us a company polo shirt (ie with company logo). It's something we can wear to work, at least on casual days. And it's work related. I wonder how he knows what size to buy for everyone?

-------------------------
The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright

If you knew your employees, you'd know what they want.

Don't ask us, talk to them.  Get to know them.  Get them something they like.

I would rather get a $10 gift that is really a gift for me than a $50 gift certificate to Store X.

Oh, but this might take a little effort, so forget it and get them a Best Buy gift certificate.

--Gooser