'My coworker has A LOT of nerve': Employee mentions she can't afford to contribute to boss' holiday gift until next pay-period, coworkers get snarky

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Dec 11, 2023 6:00 PM EST

It's the holiday season, and that means it's going to be an extra expensive month. You would think that this would be a good time in the office for the boss to show appreciation to their employees with a gift or two. I mean, the boss is making more money, so it's the least they could do, right? It's not very common for the employees, who make way less than the boss, to get an expensive gift for the person they work for. That being said, sometimes you have a very generous and sincerely friendly boss that you want to do something nice for. So the office can pool together and get a little something something. (Though, we are of the sound and mind of there being a policy against employees giving gifts to the boss, since that can be taken as bribery…) However, if you are working at a place that pays you just enough that you're living paycheck to paycheck, then you should definitely put your life essentials first. Like, that seems like common knowledge, does it not? 

Turns out there are some simp employees who would roll their eyes at you if you didn't throw down the rest of you paycheck to get your rich boss a holiday gift. This Redditor came to vent about just this. She told her coworkers she couldn't afford to contribute to pay for the boss holiday gift until the next pay-period and instead of being understanding, they got snarky. It's almost as bad as this time a coworker yelled at their fellow server for not giving a good tip, even though they tip 60% of the bill. Like, the audacity of some of these coworkers!

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    Cheezburger Image 9848402944
    via Julia Larson via Pexels
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    r/r/coworkerstories Posted by u/Particular-Nowhere84 1 day ago My coworker got snarky with me because I can't afford to contribute to boss's Christmas gift until next pay period. s
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    I come back to work from buying groceries during my break. Literal groceries. As in food, so I can feed myself for the next week. My two coworkers start talking
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    about our boss's Christmas gift "because she spends so much money on us." (Our boss is very generous. I will say that much.) They asked me what I think we should get her. I said "I'm not sure.
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    But just an FYI, I will not be able to contribute until next pay period. This week was rent, gas, groceries, and a Christmas gift for my husband." She says:
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    (Insert my name here) "... you had a month to plan for this..." I shot back with "yeah and I've needed to feed myself, put gas in my car, and pay the bills for the last month."
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    She just rolled her eyes and walked into my other coworker's office where they proceeded to talk about gift ideas. And there was some whispering as well. Not saying it was
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    about me. But not saying it wasn't. I've told both my coworkers, more than once, that the pay period for the 5th of the month is a no-go for me
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    contributing to any gift as it's my rent week and my half of the rent is more than half my paycheck. I'm left with just enough for my groceries and gas. Add on the fact it's the holidays and
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    I do have a husband I'd like to get something for. He's a far bigger priority than our boss. My coworker has A LOT of nerve to treat me like this. Especially in this
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    economy with the high cost of groceries and rent. We're all doing our best to just survive and she pulls this ?!?
    via u/Particular-Nowhere84
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    Flashy_Second_5430. 1 day ago I don't think you need to contribute at all. Work is not your friends or family. Take care of yourself.
    via u/Flashy_Second_5430
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    This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I don't think your boss is spending her money, using company credit card if anything.
    via u/Flashy_Second_5430
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    FionaTheFierce · 18 hr. ago "I am going to take care of her gift separately this year" Make her some cookies and get a holiday plate at Goodwill to present them on.
    via u/FionaTheFierce
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    I hate hate hate this whole "buy boss a big gift." A decent boss would have a policy against it.
    via u/FionaTheFierce
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    thayaht 17 hr. ago ● You are right. If you have a company where people don't make over $100k a year, the boss move is to prohibit people from giving you gifts.
    via u/thayaht
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    oddreplica 21 hr. ago You shouldn't be a target for ridicule, full stop. Being ridiculed for anything to do with your personal finances? Effing bullshizz.
    via u/oddreplica
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    SierraPapaWhiskey 15 hr. ago 100%. Get a card (splurge on a 5-7 dollar one if you want), put a nice hand- written note in about how much you appreciate your boss, etc.... Might even be better received anyway.
    via u/SierraPapaWhiskey
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    You don't need to be the serf who spends their money on the emperor. They ought to be spending it on you, thanking you for your hard work.
    via u/SierraPapaWhiskey
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    urbanista12 13 hr. ago ● Please do this. No boss wants their employees giving them gifts- it's awkward and terrible. A handwritten card about how much you appreciate said boss- priceless! I'd have it on the bulletin board forever.
    via u/Urabnista12
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    wittyish 11 hr. ago ● Seriously! I have saved a sticky note of appreciation for 6 months on my desk calendar. I move it to each new month and reread it.
    via u/Wittyish
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    Careless Display1535 17 hr. ago ● F em, go to work, do your job and leave. You don't owe anyone anything especially if you're not making good money but the boss is raking it in.
    via u/CarelessDisplay1535
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    SaturniinaeActias 14 hr. ago ● The concept of employees getting gifts for their boss, especially when the boss is the owner, is incredibly toxic. Workplace gifts should only ever go from the top down.
    via u/SaturniinaeActias

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paycheck to paycheck snarky coworkers coworkers office culture workplace entitled holiday gift exchange entitled coworker r-entitled Reddit office holiday edict entitled people
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