regentrude Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 If you are an administrative assistant, what were the best gifts you received from your boss? If you have given gifts to your administrative assistant, what were your best ideas? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) My husband usually tries to make it more personal, either meet the interests of his admin or follow through on a conversation that they have had during the year. My husband is an executive, so his budget might be different. Here are some of the things he has done: gift basket of RC Cola and Moon Pies after he found out those were treats his admin ate growing up and missed them Symphony tickets gift certificate to outdoor store (I think it was REI) He has had the same admin for more than ten years, so he has gleaned quite a bit of random facts over the years to spur his ideas. ETA: I'm usually the one that does the hunting down of strange items (like RC Cola - hard to find in our area) and purchasing for him. Edited December 6, 2017 by TechWife 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 My boss used to get me gift certificates for upscale local restaurants or Visa gift cards. Those were always nice since Dh and I could go out to a nice dinner, or I could buy myself something I really want/need. If you know enough for really personal items, that would be good too although I don't think most of my bosses knew me that well. A couple times over the years I received ornaments that were really really not to my taste. I've also received wine a few times. Those usually went to dh since I can't drink red wine at all (headaches) and I don't really like wine. I used to buy my supervisor a couple six packs of craft beers because I knew he was really into trying new ones. I used to try and find ones with names that had connections to things he liked or things that were going on at work or were just funny. A couple of the managers in the department that I didn't really work for, just helped out with projects on occasion, used to get me small gifts that I really loved because it was sweet that they thought of me at all. One gave me slipper socks infused with aloe and a pair of gloves, one time I got a gourmet candy apple (unusual but it was really really good), candy a few times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mominco Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I have bought these for my dh's admin. Bath and body works candles and or their hand soaps Pears from Harry and David Gc to a doggie friendly restaurant. There was 1 admin that loved a particular wine so DH used to buy that every year. Certificate for a facial. When he had a guy as admin we bought some particular alcoholic drink he used to keep talking about. GC's to fast casual restaurants seem to be a big hit with all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 As my last job I used to get three bottles of fizz from different people who appreciated me. It was good for me but one of my colleagues didn't like wine and received it anyway.... One year I received a milk jug planted with spring bulbs. It was nice to have the bulbs on my desk through the spring and the jug is still in use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 My husband usually buys his staff gift certificates to the local upscale steakhouse. Last year someone in the office got a Home Depot card instead because they were working on a home project and needed certain tools. He also usually takes them out for a nice lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I would avoid scented candles, soaps, lotions or anything like that, unless you know the person likes them. A lot of people are allergic to scents and have their own preferences for personal care items. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Honestly I prefer supermarket gift cards. Money is always tight and even more so at Christmas so having part of the food bill prepaid really helps. Depends our well paid the person is I guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) Last year I got some gourmet flavored caramel sauces along with the fuzzy socks and one or two other small items for the staff. This year I will have someone who's been here a year and a brand new person. Thinking of a mani/pedi GC and some small items for the young woman who's been here a while. How's that sound? I should run grab an amaryllis for her! She loves flowers. The new person will probably get a gift card. We got a woman technician recently. Just give her gift cards like the guys get?? Edited December 6, 2017 by Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Honestly, I always preferred a Visa gift card. It could always be tucked in a coffee cup with chocolates. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 We get my husband's admin assistant a Visa gift card and a nice bottle of wine. She is always happy with that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixpix5 Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I would use the visa gift card service where I could upload pictures for the card and make a gift card that had our team on it. I just assume everyone likes getting money via gift cards and this made it a bit more personal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 One gift that dh got from his boss that turned out to be great was a Hydroflask water bottle. This was when they were first coming out and we had never heard of them, but that quickly turned into the favorite water bottle and now we all have one. They're in the $25-$30 price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Mousie Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Gift cards - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Visa Books by writers we both like, or that my boss read and thought I'd enjoy - not just grabbing a random bestseller off the shelf Photo frame for my desk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1GirlTwinBoys Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Target gift cards. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Dh gives his secretary a restaurant gc and a visa gc. She always gets him a word-a-day calendar which he dutifully tears off every day to make her happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Probably cash in the form of a gift card, with something nice to go with it - a calendar or a book or a nice mug or maybe some reusable hand-warmers. It may seem impersonal, but if you knew each other better you probably would not have to ask us what to buy :) If you *really* don't know much about this person, I'd avoid: food items (could have allergies or restrictions), scented products (likewise) or other personal care items (ditto again). And certainly be sure to include a gift receipt! We got a woman technician recently. Just give her gift cards like the guys get?? If everybody else of the same job/rank gets a gift card, she should get the same. You don't want to single her out, especially if she is the ONLY woman, and she'll appreciate it. Who doesn't appreciate cash!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 The best gift I ever got from my boss when I was a Legal Secretary was a box of Godiva chocolates. It felt so fancy; I had never had high-end chocolates before that. That is still what I buy myself when I buy the customer Christmas gifts for our best customers. I buy boxes of Godiva chocolates and include one to myself for being such an awesome secretary! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 One of the doctors I work for has always given me a gift card. It has varied between Amazon, nice restaurants or gas station cards. I really like the Amazon ones because I have been able to get pricier items that I wouldn't necessarily buy myself. It is always fun for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 The best gift I ever got from my boss when I was a Legal Secretary was a box of Godiva chocolates. It felt so fancy; I had never had high-end chocolates before that. That is still what I buy myself when I buy the customer Christmas gifts for our best customers. I buy boxes of Godiva chocolates and include one to myself for being such an awesome secretary! See, this is why I said food is a bad idea. I'd be a little dismayed to get Godiva chocolates because their chocolate isn't ethically sourced. Like many chocolates, at least some of it is ultimately produced by child slaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Gift cards! My favorite was for a local lunch restaurant, and I had enough to go there several times. Last Christmas, I got a large amount for a local store where I don't shop--so I sold it online for about 90% of its value, and I was happy about that too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 See, this is why I said food is a bad idea. I'd be a little dismayed to get Godiva chocolates because their chocolate isn't ethically sourced. Like many chocolates, at least some of it is ultimately produced by child slaves. That’s troubling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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