Never know
You never know, moving to a new job, what the gift exchange policy is. And I’m usually unpleasantly surprised. No matter what you guess, you’re wrong. If I’d bought little trinkets for everyone, nobody would have brought in anything. In this case, we’ve had about five zillion holiday parties, complete with goody day. Thought that would be enough.
But a couple of co-workers have brought in individual packets of goodies, and one of our bosses gave everyone journalism mugs. Nice to be thought about.
I know not everyone is spreading the holiday cheer in my department, but I always feel odd when someone gives me something.
I’ve also seen some people exchange individual presents, but I obviously am too new to do that. I don’t have any close friends yet, though I’ve been invited out to Christmas dinner.
I’m supposed to bring nothing but myself, but even then I wonder. Do people really mean that, or do they just say that because it’s expected, much like I’m expected to ask if I should bring anything?
It’s hard to know what to do in these situations.
I think I’d prefer that people don’t exchange gifts at work, or at least have a gift exchange, sort of like at my old job, where we’d have Secret Santa gifts. Which usually ended up not being that secret.
Or at least have someone pull me aside and explain what’s going to happen, so I don’t feel off guard when I have cookies on my desk. (Not that they’re unwelcome, mind you.)
Luckily, the season is about to end, and all the stress is going to be over, except for the people who got gift cards, and have to brave the after-Christmas return crowd.
