Workers Discuss The Worst Christmas Presents Their Company Ever Gave Them

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 12, 2022 1:00 PM EST

From the time we were little, we were taught to be grateful for whatever gifts we were given during the holidays. Parents coach their children to say thank you no matter what present they get because doing anything else would be most unkind. However, as you grow up, you realize that some gifts are actually an insult. The mean girl in middle school didn't give you a Lady Speed Stick out of the kindness of her heart. Likewise, sometimes companies give gifts that are far more insulting than they are generous. It would be so easy for basically every company to gift their employees a nice gift card and send them on their way, but that often doesn't always happen. Instead, the holiday season is when companies show just how cheap and inconsiderate they can be. Redditor u/juliejujube asked the workers of Reddit about the worst gifts their companies ever gave them, and I wish I could call their answers surprising.

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  • 01
    Font - r/antiwork u/juliejujube 21h What is the worst holiday gift an employer has given to you. With it being December, I thought it would be interesting and partially funny to share the "best" gifts our employers have given to us for the holidays other than "nothing".
    via u/juliejujube
  • 02
    Font - I'll go first, and I know you all can top it. In 2020, rather than a giftcard for coffee like we received the last couple of years, my employer decided to give us a company branded backpack. We were 100% remote at this time (prior to the pandemic it was about 50%). What was I supposed to do with that? Where was I supposed to go?
    via u/juliejujube
  • 03
    Font - Even more importantly I need to know who's idea it was. Like it wasn't even a good backpack. It was thin and flimsy and had only a big pocket and a small pocket up front for pencils and stuff. The bag did not have a dedicated laptop area which we use daily for work.
    via u/juliejujube
  • 04
    Smile - The Warp Drive • 19h The opportunity to purchase $50 tickets to the company holiday party. ... Reply 807
    via u/The_Warp_Drive
  • 05
    Font - juliejujube OP. 15h So relatable... I bet it was catered with not enough food for everyone as well. My ex and I used to be expected to go to army holiday functions when he was in, and if we were last to get food, there would be nothing left... 4228
    via u/juliejujube
  • 06
    Font - The Warp Drive . 14h The last year they had it pre-covid they had a new hire plan it. Someone who had NEVER planned an event before. The venue they booked was so undersized half the people that went just turned around and left as soon as they saw how packed it was. 96
    via u/The_Warp_Drive
  • 07
    Human body - RocketMan_0815. 15h You were supposed to pay for your company's party? I'm speachless ... ... 99
    via u/RocketMan_0815
  • 08
    Font - The Warp Drive . 15h Yep. $50 per person. This is a multi-billion dollar fortune 100 company. ... 106
    via u/The_Warp_Drive
  • 09
    Font - fliffers • 17h My mom's boss gave everyone a pen (a really crappy, normal pen) with their names printed on normal white printer paper that was scotch taped down the side of the pen. This sounds made up even to me as I type it, but it's still in our junk drawer Reply 719
    via u/fliffers
  • 10
    Font - Gabriel Bischoff. 15h A hand-made gift. So precious. 193
    via u/GabrielBischoff
  • 11
    Font - VisionsOfTheMind . 21h A $5 Starbucks gift card. The closest Starbucks is 110 miles (176 km) away. Reply 1.4k
    via u/VisionsOfTheMind
  • 12
    Rectangle - BreadstickBitch9868 - 15h My boss got me a Starbucks gift card and guess what didn't work when I went to get a coffee? The damn gift card. 4147
    via u/BreadstickBitch9868
  • 13
    Font - Steel2050psn. 19h Same but Applebee's. There was a murder at the last one in my city and it shut down in November. 4 450 ..
    via u/Steel2050psn
  • 14
    Font - Communication Fun9568 20h 1 Award I was given a dart board... I was homeless. They knew. ● Reply 1.1k
    via u/CommunicationFun9568
  • 15
    Rectangle - TheWhiskey Ginger_. 19h I was given a company branded beer mug. I was also homeless, and I don't drink. They knew both. 4568 ...
    via u/TheWhiskeyGinger_
  • 16
    Mammal - ArielSnailiel. 19h Now that's what I call a gift that had no thought put into it 125 125
    via u/ArielSnailiel
  • 17
    Font - Constant_Count_9497 21h When we ended the year my boss had us all come in on the weekend (when the business is closed) to announce that the company made $2,000,000 more than projected that year and that we did such a great job that he expects us go double that margin for the new year. We were all being paid around $15/hour and not a single person there got a raise or bonus. Reply 1k
    via u/Constant_Count_9497
  • 18
    Rectangle - ArielSnailiel. 19h They just had y'all meet up so they could tell you that and go home?? What an absolute slap to the face. 479
    via u/ArielSnailiel
  • 19
    Font - butterflyinflight - 18h I don't drink and almost never show anger. They gave each of us a bottle of wine with a wine glass that had different sayings they said were specifically chosen for each of us. They gave me the one that said "if you touch my wine I'll punch you in the throat." This is at a health care company that provides care to disabled children. Reply 318 ...
    via u/butterflyinflight
  • 20
    Human body - overnightoats_22 21h ● One ball ornament with the $5 price tag still on it. Reply 311
    via u/overnightoats_22
  • 21
    Font - Designer_Skirt2304 • 18h . I work in the oilfield, and 90% of our location are field based employees who either work out of their trucks or on remote locations. Instead of giving everyone $50 gift cards for a popular restaurant that could be used on days off, they decided to throw a holiday bbq at the office. They budgeted $50 per person, spent thousands, and then said "never again" when only 4 or 5 field employees showed up in addition to the 15 or so office staff. A few months later man
    via u/Designer_Skirt2304
  • 22
    Rectangle - just some_guy94 • 17h 1 Award A $50 gift card that was deducted from my paycheck a month later. ... Reply 1.2k
    via u/just_some_guy94
  • 23
    Font - Luxxielisbon • 14h I was so outraged reading this I almost downvoted you until I remembered you were the victim of this nonsense 4437 ..
    via u/Luxxielisbon
  • 24
    Font - TidpaoTime 12h ● I have worked many a Christmas at Starbucks. My favourite day of the year to work. Got double time and a half, and we had tons of fun regulars who would say "it's so crappy they make you work today!" While they order their coffee. I would say "you're the reason I'm working!" And we'd both laugh. That was a special location, I would never try that at another Starbucks. It's amazing how entitled most SB customers are. ... 59
    via u/TidpaoTime
  • 25
    Font - xhaterofantsx • 19h . Talked all year about the "holiday bonus" and gave me a check for $12 ... Reply 139
    via u/xhaterofantsx
  • 26
    Font - BlueRedSlushie . 20h A Human Fund donation on my behalf. I looked up The Human Fund and it doesn't even exist. Reply 619
    via u/BlueRedSlushie
  • 27
    Font - dustybottoms19. 17h Do you work at Vandelay Industries?? 208
    via u/dustybottoms19
  • 28
    Human body - PleaseGiveMeSushi • 19h A $1 lottery ticket. With the note reading, "we have to share if you win! :)" Reply 297
    via u/PleaseGiveMeSushi
  • 29
    Font - LaserFarm. 18h A book of poetry written by the owner of the company. ... Reply 68
    via u/LaserFarm
  • 30
    Font - Practical_Address300 • 21h A shift Reply 164
    via u/Practical_Address300

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