we’re supposed to buy liquor and ski passes for our bosses
A reader writes:
Last year, soon after I’d started a new job as a mid-level manager at a 30-person firm, I was surprised to get an email before the holidays requesting a donation for a surprise group gift from all the employees to the three partners who head my firm. Those partners are lovely people, but they also earn far more money than the rest of us do. I opted not to donate, but I assume most other people in the office contributed.
The group gift was presented to the partners at the company holiday party and included ski passes and expensive alcohol.
This appears to be an annual tradition, so I’m wondering if I have the political capital to push back on it this year. I feel weird going around to coworkers and asking “how do you feel about this?” to get people on my side, but expecting people to contribute money to buy ski passes and liquor for their bosses feels really icky to me.
You can read my answer to this question at Slate today, as well as to these:
- I’m worried my coworkers will be inappropriate at the holiday party
- How can we make sure office gift exchanges are fair?
- Can we move our holiday party out of December?
- Holiday parties when you have remote employees
- Should I expect a thank-you when I give employees gifts?
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