$5-20 is pretty typical. Though we had an impromptu collection this week for a coworker in great need (vs baby shower or going away gift) and I was floored at the amount we raised and the number of people who contributed $50 - $100.
It would depend on if I was planning on buying my own gift for the person anyway. For example, if it's for a baby shower for someone in my dept, I would probably contribute $20. If it was for someone outside the dept., or a wedding gift for someone where I wasn't invited to the wedding, it would probably be $5-$10.
OMG, this is not entirely on-topic (well, it is but not relevant to the question...), but I just remembered it. At one of my first jobs out of school (in my mid-20's), the company (about 80 people) gave a gift to the top boss every Christmas. The contribution amount was set as 1/2 of 1% of your annual salary. I was making $30k, which wasn't terrible for a starter job at that time, but I had to pay close attention to keep within my budget, avoid debt, and try to put a little something away. Half of a percent of my salary came out to $150 which was WAY over what I could feel comfortable contributing. And it wasn't something we paid into someone who collected, it was actually done as a paycheck deduction. We were assured this was "voluntary", but the boss' wife (who worked at the company) told me at some point that "every year Fred is the only one who doesn't chip in". And Fred had been there many years, so clearly it wasn't getting him fired, but it also made me uncomfortable to know that she was making a mental note of such things, so I did contribute both christmases I worked there. One year "we" gave him a grandfather clock and the other we gave him a piece of art. I have never more resented giving a gift in my life.
Kimber that is ridiculous. I can't believe the top boss expects a pricey gift from everyone. In my company we aren't even allowed to accept gifts from anyone below us on the food chain.
Typically $20 but we don't do it often here besides the annual holiday gift for the president of the company. I work for a small company and we currently have 19 employees outside of the ownership group.
I personally contribute $5-$10 per gift at my job depending on how close I am to the person! I also would not contribute to a boss gift! Why would I give a gift to the highest paid person?!!! I do contribute for the janitors, kitchen staff, office workers, etc because most make minimum wage!! (I work in a school!!)
Just to clarify, my staff is 5 people so if we are organizing a gift for one person, there are only 4 people max contributing. But we don't often do group gifts- usually for christmas I just get my boss a bottle of wine b/c I'm not even going to TRY to think of something she doesn't have! And I get my assistants individual GCs. For my larger org (around 40 people), I would do $10-20 depending on the person.
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