Do you give gifts to male coworkers?

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
7,951
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When the holidays come around most offices coworkers will give you a holiday card or some chocolates or something like that as a show of appreciation of being a good coworker/working hard, etc.. Most of my coworkers are female, so I'm wondering if its common for males to buy a small gift like that for other men, or if it would be OK if I only got those kinds of things for my female coworkers? I've always felt awkward writing a card to another guy or buying those little gift things for other men. Thoughts?
 

1sikbITCH

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
4,194
574
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I came back to change my answer.

I will buy beers for the male coworkers at happy hour or grab the lunch check in the holiday spirit so yes I do make attempt to show some respect but I'm not buying them Christmas gifts. The women all get some little box of cookies or something my wife gives me to hand out but nothing for the men.
 

mcbaes72

Member
Oct 10, 2014
53
0
16
Of course. Admittedly, I give more gifts to female co-workers for X-mas. But I have a couple of male co-workers who are good friends of mine, even hang out after work on occasion. So, I see no problem with giving gifts to them at all.

But if they start calling/texting you non-stop, standing outside your window and singing love songs, email you that they're jealous of your gf/wife, etc. You may have a problem then.
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
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My wife bakes I just bring in cookies she makes and tell everyone in general to have at em I guess.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
I buy a box of Sees candy for everyone on the team. The team at any give time is between 60 to 80% male, but the guys just give it to their wives.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,123
6,384
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When the holidays come around most offices coworkers will give you a holiday card or some chocolates or something like that as a show of appreciation of being a good coworker/working hard, etc.. Most of my coworkers are female, so I'm wondering if its common for males to buy a small gift like that for other men, or if it would be OK if I only got those kinds of things for my female coworkers? I've always felt awkward writing a card to another guy or buying those little gift things for other men. Thoughts?

Gift cards to local restaurants for lunch (like $25 - enough for a big meal or a couple of regular meals). Men appreciate those because (1) guys generally appreciate food, and (2) they'll actually use them since they're nearby. No card - just a handshake & a "good job, thank you for your hard work, I know you'll enjoy this" when giving them the card (we're talking like supervisor/management gifts to their team here, right? Not just like coworker to coworker).

For women - flowers, small potted plants, and/or chocolates, with a card. For women it tends to be a more personal gesture of appreciation. Think how Instagram is - girls like to tell their girlfriends what they got, how their boss thinks they're great, have something to take a picture of, etc. Guys don't want that. Guys want food (or money). That's even how they do bonuses at work - boss walks around, shakes your hand, hands you a check, says thank you for the good work, and then he's gone. No awkwardness. It's great!

That's stereotyping, but it works in most cases. There are some guys who appreciate a card and some girls who don't appreciate the little gift baskets & stuff. But generally the girls go bananas over that stuff & it makes their whole day better, whereas things like restaurant gift cards are things that a guy can immediately put to good use.
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,749
3,043
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Why don't you just buy a small uni-sex gift with a small card or to/from label with a handwritten message and publicly give one to everyone?

You have to make it sound so gay, giving presents to male co-workers.

Edit: Either you give each person you work with a personalized gift, or you give everyone the same thing. Giving men and women different gifts could be misinterpreted.
 
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Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
I don't like institutionalized gift-giving, it's just a trading of obligations. I do sometimes get things for friends or family, but only when I know they'll appreciate it.
 

Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
65
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Gift cards to local restaurants for lunch (like $25 - enough for a big meal or a couple of regular meals)
Whoa that's cheap. With $25 here you get a pizza and a 0.3dl beer in a restaurant with tables and waiters, that's it. This makes me kinda jelly. OTOH, I don't have to carry a gun and I can walk anywhere, whenever.

Back on topic: I hate gifts. I hate receiving them and giving them. I've never actually bought a gift for anyone.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,138
9,581
126
I usually get something for the boss. Throughout the year, I'll sometimes get coworkers stuff if I run across something I think they'd like. Nothing expensive though, and not for Xmas unless I regularly see them outside of work. In that case, they're friends, and not just coworkers.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
I bought a small bottle of Glenfiddich 12 (or was it Glenlivet?) for a machinist that helped me out a lot, when I left the company.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,123
6,384
136
Whoa that's cheap. With $25 here you get a pizza and a 0.3dl beer in a restaurant with tables and waiters, that's it. This makes me kinda jelly. OTOH, I don't have to carry a gun and I can walk anywhere, whenever.

Back on topic: I hate gifts. I hate receiving them and giving them. I've never actually bought a gift for anyone.

Yeah, we mostly have basic lunch places at the main place where I work - Subway, McDonalds, etc.. But if there's 80 guys under a department, that's like $2,000 worth of gift cards in one shot just as a simple thank-you gift. Budgets & all.
 

Rakehellion

Lifer
Jan 15, 2013
12,181
35
91
Why would you only give gifts to female coworkers? They're not going to give you any pussy either way.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
In the professional world, you need to treat both genders as equal. Either buy gifts for everyone or no one. It would be super weird to buy gifts for just the women.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,119
613
126
I buy gifts for the people I consider friends. And likewise they usually give me gifts too. This works out to a few people (<5) and mixed genders.
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,714
31
91
As their supervisor I always give each of my employees a box of Godiva chocolates for Christmas. I do it to show my appreciation for their efforts all year and because it's the right thing to do. Male or female you're getting some chocolates. Some of the guys tell me they leave them wrapped and give them to their wives lol.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
As their supervisor I always give each of my employees a box of Godiva chocolates for Christmas. I do it to show my appreciation for their efforts all year and because it's the right thing to do. Male or female you're getting some chocolates. Some of the guys tell me they leave them wrapped and give them to their wives lol.

Getting a gift to give your SO is way better than getting chocolates.
 

Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
65
91
In the professional world, you need to treat both genders as equal. Either buy gifts for everyone or no one. It would be super weird to buy gifts for just the women.
yeah it does sound weird. It's not a mating ritual so why differentiate?