Office Christmas gifts for doctors?

[Wash]

I'm adjusting to my first post-training job nicely so far, but one unexpected thing causing more stress than it deserves is office Christmas gifts. I recently found out that the doctors in my group (8 total) typically give all the other doctors gifts. I know my co-workers superficially at best so I think it would be easiest just to get everybody all the same things. Have you received anything in a similar situation that you thought was awesome?

I suppose the easy answer is alcohol but I don't drink so I don't know what to buy. I was thinking maybe a sampler pack of my favorite artisanal beef jerky?

[wideopenspaces]

We have a larger group of docs, well actually it includes our therapists, so it's like 20 people. No one goes crazy- it's usually just treats and a card. I like to go to Trader Joe's to get something delicious but keep it to $2/person. I think your beef jerky idea sounds good but you know your office culture better than I do. Will be interested to see what others say.

[G]

Our doctor group gets all the ER staff (nurses, techs, clerks, *everybody*) a gift card to a local restaurant.  I believe it's for $50, but we are able to negotiate a small volume discount with the restaurant since it's such a large purchase, so it's like $40-45 cost per card.  It is very well received!

I'm sorry that you have to buy your fellow docs something--that would cause me a lot of anxiety too, year after year after year....

[The White Coat Investor]

We don't buy each other gifts and we keep it very simple for the staff, especially since the staff aren't our employees!

[VagabondMD]

The White Coat Investor wrote:

We don’t buy each other gifts and we keep it very simple for the staff, especially since the staff aren’t our employees!

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We were told last year that, as a group, we are no longer permitted to buy gift cards for the Hospital staff. I do not remember the explanation, but it might have to do with Stark laws and/or undeclared income. This year, they will get a lunch from us, instead, pizza or Qdoba.

Wash wrote:

I’m adjusting to my first post-training job nicely so far, but one unexpected thing causing more stress than it deserves is office Christmas gifts. I recently found out that the doctors in my group (8 total) typically give all the other doctors gifts. I know my co-workers superficially at best so I think it would be easiest just to get everybody all the same things. Have you received anything in a similar situation that you thought was awesome?

I suppose the easy answer is alcohol but I don’t drink so I don’t know what to buy. I was thinking maybe a sampler pack of my favorite artisanal beef jerky?

Click to expand...

As a pescatarian, the beef jerky sounds yucky. (How about salmon jerky? ). You could go to a local wine shop and get advice  from the merchant. If the recipient does not enjoy wine, have them send it to me wine is easily (and often) regifted. My wife received a gift basket from a local high end olive oil store, containing vinegar, olive oil, crackers, and cookies, which was quite a nice gift and would seem to have universal appeal.

Finally, most docs just buy what they want/need when they decide that the want/need it. A donation in one’s honor to a local food pantry, animal shelter, or health advocacy group (ie local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association) is always in good taste. Avoid religious or politically charged entities unless you know the individual recipient. Most people can get behind feeding the hungry, saving abandoned cats and dogs, and stomping out disease, but supporting the NRA or Planned Parenthood, as examples, in one’s honor, might create some new, unnecessary frictions.

Whatever you decide, this is a good opportunity to put the money to work in your community, buying from local businesses (or supporting local charities).

[jfoxcpacfp]

For the person who has everything, TisBest lets you buy a gift card for the recipient to use for a charity that is special to him/her. Charities are broken down by interests so the recipient is not just receiving a gift card but is also participating in the process. As an added bonus, you get the tax deduction   .

[Hatton]

I used to give my staff money for Xmas.  Now I go to whole foods or fresh market and buy artisanal soaps and old-fashioned chocolate etc.

[HandFellow]

I was in the same predicament last year: new guy not knowing the office rules.  I ended up just thanking everyone for their gifts.

This year, my wife has made vanilla for the other physicians (they give popcorn, socks, gloves, etc).

All the employees get cash Christmas bonuses that are budgeted yearly.

My personal employees (2) will get some sort of financial book because it is clear they are lost in the wilderness on the topic.

[Neuro]

This used to give me a headache every time holidays rolled around.

Now I do Amazon gift cards for staff and wine bottles for my colleagues.

I sometimes will gift how to or coffee table books usuallly if I know of any of them getting into a hobby or has a specific interest.

[Bmac]

Christmas gifts for partners. Ha ha. Good one. My partners and I have always been too cheap for that. We used to contribute a dollar amount each for gift baskets/cards for the staff. Now we do the same but for an office party.

[AlexxT]

Just ask one of the doctors what would be appropriate.

[jfoxcpacfp]

Bmac wrote:

Christmas gifts for partners. Ha ha. Good one. My partners and I have always been too cheap for that. We used to contribute a dollar amount each for gift baskets/cards for the staff. Now we do the same but for an office party.

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Good grief - how many partners are there? iow, 5 partners means that you would buy a $5 gift basket for the staff? Maybe they should buy you one  

[I Find This Humerus]

Worst case scenario can't go wrong with Amazon gift cards?

[Bmac]

jfoxcpacfp wrote:

Bmac wrote:

Christmas gifts for partners. Ha ha. Good one. My partners and I have always been too cheap for that. We used to contribute a dollar amount each for gift baskets/cards for the staff. Now we do the same but for an office party.

Click to expand…

Good grief – how many partners are there? iow, 5 partners means that you would buy a $5 gift basket for the staff? Maybe they should buy you one  ????

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A set dollar amount. Say $250 per doc.  Not only a dollar per doctor. We are not that cheap. ????

[jfoxcpacfp]

Bmac wrote:

jfoxcpacfp wrote:

Bmac wrote:

Christmas gifts for partners. Ha ha. Good one. My partners and I have always been too cheap for that. We used to contribute a dollar amount each for gift baskets/cards for the staff. Now we do the same but for an office party.

Click to expand…

Good grief – how many partners are there? iow, 5 partners means that you would buy a $5 gift basket for the staff? Maybe they should buy you one  ????

Click to expand…

A set dollar amount. Say $250 per doc.  Not only a dollar per doctor. We are not that cheap. ????

Click to expand...

lol - i read that to mean you contributed a dollar for each partner. Sorry about that - my bad! ops: