Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad • Hacker News Board

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#61

Post by imartin2k » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 6:50 AM UTC

jerlam wrote: post #49

Not just employee gifts, but nearly all gifts are valued less by the receiver than the giver. A gift represents a decision made on behalf of the receiver by the giver. In very few situations would the receiver make the same decision as the giver with the same resources. It's assumed that the receiver will use the same resources in an optimal manner, so gift-giving is a net negative. In some circumstances, gifts are v…

Yep in most cases and to different degrees in different cultures and contexts, gifting seems to be a procedure that primarily is about the giver and their needs, rather than about the receiver - while claiming the opposite.

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#62

Post by thrtythreeforty » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 6:59 AM UTC

thaumasiotes wrote: post #57

allenu wrote: post #46

One place I worked had layoffs and project cancellations, so morale was way down. As a tone deaf move one day, we got an email saying as a treat because we appreciate you all being here despite how shitty everything is, you can purchase yourself a coffee and expense it (max of $10). That turned into more jokes than anything. Morale was horrible and they thought making people feel good was letting them buy coffee, whi…

This reminds me of the Amazon employee discount. 10% off any and all purchases on the site. Up to a maximum of $100 per year. Or in other words, a benefit you could never even notice you had.

Not quite so generous. 10% off any items shipped and sold by Amazon. Up to $100 per year.

To be honest I think I would prefer a complementary Prime subscription.

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#63

Post by magic_hamster » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:01 AM UTC

Brian_K_White wrote: post #32

smsm42 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's cash-equivalent (i.e. I can actually use it in a store I commonly go to) then I don't mind even $5. I mean, it's not something that would make me particularly happy, but $5 is more than $0. I have also used some company swag for years (cups, water bottles, hoodies, scarves, backpacks, etc.) with no complaints, if it's not cheap-ass stuff but a proper product with a logo slapped on it, why not. I mean, if it's…

Once when I was a kid, too young to have any sense, I wanted to make some money shovelling snow. I didn't realize yet that you need to make an sgreement with your customer before doing the work. This was a small town in upstate new york so even the strangers were not really strangers. As a kid you don't really see any adult as being all that different from your parents or teachers. So dippy me just starts shovelling…

50 cents' origin story.

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#64

Post by pbourke » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:02 AM UTC

PopAlongKid wrote: post #20

>that form allowed the company to then tax me on that ‘gift’ as income, Wrong. There is no "form" needed for taxation, it is required by the IRS (in U.S.) and the company does not "tax" anyone. Employer gifts (other than de minimis amounts) are taxable compensation. (see IRS Publication 15-B for details). A good employer will "gross up" cash gifts to cover the taxes.

> Employer gifts (other than de minimis amounts) are taxable compensation.

This was a coaster - hard to get more minimis than that.

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#65

Post by watwut » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:03 AM UTC

Brian_K_White wrote: post #32

smsm42 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's cash-equivalent (i.e. I can actually use it in a store I commonly go to) then I don't mind even $5. I mean, it's not something that would make me particularly happy, but $5 is more than $0. I have also used some company swag for years (cups, water bottles, hoodies, scarves, backpacks, etc.) with no complaints, if it's not cheap-ass stuff but a proper product with a logo slapped on it, why not. I mean, if it's…

Once when I was a kid, too young to have any sense, I wanted to make some money shovelling snow. I didn't realize yet that you need to make an sgreement with your customer before doing the work. This was a small town in upstate new york so even the strangers were not really strangers. As a kid you don't really see any adult as being all that different from your parents or teachers. So dippy me just starts shovelling…

The dad solution is to be passive aggressive and trying to humiliate store owner who did not had interest in you shoveling his place regularly?

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#66

Post by farseer » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:05 AM UTC

jelliclesfarm wrote: post #54

It is common in India to gift gold and silver. They can be sold(most jewelers will take it for cash value) and it is something that would go up in value. This year, cryptocurrency and NFTs are also making news as Diwali gifts. Cryptocurrencies and NFTs shall be taxable in the hands of the recipient under Section 56 (2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 if total value exceeds Rs.50,000 for the year.

If someone gifts me bitcoin, sure! However getting an NFT would be an insult no?

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#67

Post by m463 » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:07 AM UTC

jerlam wrote: post #49

Not just employee gifts, but nearly all gifts are valued less by the receiver than the giver. A gift represents a decision made on behalf of the receiver by the giver. In very few situations would the receiver make the same decision as the giver with the same resources. It's assumed that the receiver will use the same resources in an optimal manner, so gift-giving is a net negative. In some circumstances, gifts are v…

That's what makes it easy to know what gift to give a kid - they will tell you.

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#68

Post by m463 » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:09 AM UTC

MichaelCollins wrote: post #11

> It’s also best to avoid socks. Everyone already has socks, and realistically, they will likely also get socks from someone else during the holiday season. What is this crap? Socks are the best gift. Didn't the author stop to wonder why everybody gives people socks during the holiday season? Because virtually everybody uses socks, because socks wear out fast, because new socks are the most comfortable and it's alway…

all socks suck, except Darn Tough.

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#69

Post by GameOfFrowns » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:10 AM UTC

jerlam wrote: post #49

Not just employee gifts, but nearly all gifts are valued less by the receiver than the giver. A gift represents a decision made on behalf of the receiver by the giver. In very few situations would the receiver make the same decision as the giver with the same resources. It's assumed that the receiver will use the same resources in an optimal manner, so gift-giving is a net negative. In some circumstances, gifts are v…

I like your theory and it puts into words this nagging feeling about gift-giving (material or immaterial) which I had for years.

I love making gifts to people, without expecting anything in return, but still wondered why it sometimes seemed to drive people away. That's why the "Law of Reciprocity"[0][1] never sat right with me while I experienced more personal anecdotal evidence for the reverse phenomenon [2].

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocity_(social_psychology...

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cialdini

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin_effect

Re: Employee gift ideas that make people feel bad

#70

Post by shepherdjerred » Thu, Nov 03, 2022, 7:11 AM UTC

thaumasiotes wrote: post #57

allenu wrote: post #46

One place I worked had layoffs and project cancellations, so morale was way down. As a tone deaf move one day, we got an email saying as a treat because we appreciate you all being here despite how shitty everything is, you can purchase yourself a coffee and expense it (max of $10). That turned into more jokes than anything. Morale was horrible and they thought making people feel good was letting them buy coffee, whi…

This reminds me of the Amazon employee discount. 10% off any and all purchases on the site. Up to a maximum of $100 per year. Or in other words, a benefit you could never even notice you had.

Frugality!