Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Thinking about gifts

Well, the Christmas shopping is almost complete. Now is the time I usually remember I've got to buy some gifts for my technicians. I float a little bit so I don't feel obligated to buy for everybody, but there are some regular technicians that I've worked with for quite a while and I do like to get something for them. In fact, there are a few of them who are REALLY good, and at Christmas I really want to show my appreciation for them helping me out so consistently. And obviously, I know they don't make the salary that I do. Sometimes you work in a place where you know one or two techs really well, and the others not so much. It's a little awkward but sometimes I have to slip them a gift out of sight of the others.

I usually go with gift cards. If I know they like to shop at a certain place or eat lunch at some favorite spot, I get those. Failing that, I figure everyone can use a Target or a Wal-Mart card. It's not too imaginative, but I feel weird about just giving someone money. You chat with people all year long but unless they have some over-riding passion that you identify with them, it's sometimes hard to remember (what was that restaurant she said she really liked??) I hope it's not too much of a cop-out. I just want to give them something they can use.

Any technicians out there who got a gift they really liked?

8 comments:

Unknown said...

A relative of mine in a different service-related position likes chocolates and Starbucks gift cards because they can be passed along. Last year they gave me a handful of premium candy bars that I gave out along my travel home after the holidays. A flight crew laughed that I gave them a candy bar after they jokingly added "but you can leave chocolate" to the 'please take all your things with you as you deplane' speech.

Anonymous said...

Coffee & chocolates are usually pretty safe gifts (at least in my pharmacy). Sometimes we even share :)

murgatr
Pharm Tech RDC'06

Anonymous said...

I have one pharmacist ( a female) that gets all the techs Bath & Body Works stuff, the other pharmacist doesnt ever get us anything

Soon-to-be-PharmD said...

A pharmacist I used to work for would buy her techs manicures/pedicures. Of course, they were all female techs, but they loved them!

Phathead said...

Wow you give your techs gifts? Can I come work for you? lol

Grumpy, M.D. said...

I do the Target cards. I'm not too imaginative, and don't have time to think of something else. It may be a cop-out, but it works for me.

Anonymous said...

Years ago, I got a gigantic ham for Christmas. Yes. A giant hunk of smoked meat. It was awesome and my mom was elated.

EC said...

We have 4 pharmacists. Another pharmacist and I split the cost of a $20 gift card to Chili's restaurant for our techs/cashiers. We have 18 techs/cashiers, so I'm glad we split that. I don't like giving "trinkets." I want to give something with monetary value that they can use. Another pharmacist gives Christmas ornaments, and the 4th pharmacist gives nothing. I think the gift card is a fabulous idea.