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General Chit-Chat Part 2!
message 1851:
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Christine
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Dec 16, 2019 08:59AM
I’m doing good Karin and I’ve been busy and Leslie I never do my Christmas shopping lol
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I have been listening to "A Prairie Home Christmas" - a compilation of various highlights from past holiday broadcasts from our National Public Radio's show 'A Prairie Home Companion'. One of them is a very funny song about Santa telling a man to shape up and shop! One part of the lyrics is"You've gotta shop for Christmas presents.
You've gotta do it by yourself.
Nobody else can do it for you.
You've gotta shop for Christmas presents by yourself."
Anyone feel like giving advice for free?I’m working 10 hours a week at a small veterinary practice -2 doctors, one vet tech and 5 assistants/receptionists. The vet tech is the daughter of one of the doctors. Apparently, every year she collects money from the staff to buy a gift for each of the doctors - usually around $50 per assistant/receptionist.
This seems weird to me.
When I was a boss, I told my staff/students not to buy anything for me. And it seems inappropriate to take $50 from folks earning minimum wage. Added to the Secret Santa the gift total is $75 - which I can afford but the other assistants are young adults, just scraping by and living with their parents.
Am I being too rigid?
Should I try to nicely hint to the doc’s daughter that this is out of the ordinary way of business? She’s never worked anywhere else.
I am not generally very good with being tactful so take that into account! But what occurred to me on reading your post, Joan, was the question of whether the vets give gifts to the staff. Even if they do, it probably isn't a gift worth a comparable amount so that might be a way to introduce the topic. Have you asked any of the staff how they feel about it? Maybe they are all OK with it! But I agree with you that it's not a good situation because it could be very difficult for someone to say no. Perhaps if people were allowed to give an amount of their own choosing...
Mod
$50 seems a lot if she can't be completely dissauded suggest a more appropriate amount like $10-15.I have problems about giving gifts to the boss because if seems like sucking-up or asking for favours. Secret Santa should be enough to make everyone feel festive.
If the place already has Secret Santa, then I think that should suffice. It's not like the bosses are best buddies with each staff member and see them regularly on a social basis, is it? $50 seems excessive to me as does the whole idea.
$50 seems very excessive. A Secret Santa is enough for office cheer. I always gave my staff some chocolates and a coffee gift card, without expecting a return gift. They deserved a gift of appreciation for all their hard work and standing by & working together with me throughout the year to make the team stronger.
If I'm doing the math correctly, that's $150 for each doctor. That's really excessive.
That is WAY TOO much money! I'm a doctor's daughter (retired) and there is no way the staff in his group practice donated that much money each--I think they did a secret Santa if they did anything at all (some were Jewish, etc).
PS--as in my dad is retired--he's in his eighties. But they didn't collect the equivalent, either.
Also, and boy you can see that my dander is raised--if anything, bosses give employees bonuses or gifts, not the other way around.
Thank you - I feel better about disliking this ritual. The NBC story had some helpful ideas for suggesting changes.
Leslie I never heard of that Christmas song
Leslie wrote: "I have been listening to "A Prairie Home Christmas" - a compilation of various highlights from past holiday broadcasts from our National Public Radio's show 'A Prairie Home Companion'. One of them ..."There is a film with Meryl Streep
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420087/
Although I knew nothing about the radio show I enjoyed it.
Oh I wouldn’t like that movie called A Prairie Home Christmas
Joan, I'm late to the party but I wanted to say this sounds really excessive. I'm now self-employed so I don't have that problem at all, but when I was an employee we had a nice Secret Santa within our team that included peers and managers alike. Each of us spent symbolic amounts of money, I think nobody ever spent more than 5€, but it was a really cute way to celebrate together and everyone was always happy with their little gift.
Christine wrote: "Leslie I never heard of that Christmas song"No, I hadn't heard it before either but it was hilarious! There is a section in which Santa is suggesting giving underwear and socks or dried foods to those people that you can't think of anything for. :)
I have now almost completed my shopping - the only thing left is something for my nephew that has to be bought in New Jersey (where he lives).
I probably won't be online much until after Christmas so I will wish everyone a happy holiday now. And safe travels to those who are going to see friends or relatives!
Mod
No, I hadn't heard it before either but it was hilarious! There is a section in which Santa is suggesting giving underwear and socks ..."
LOL!!!
And so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year dearest, if we can't catch you here soon!!!!!!
I wish everyone a merry Christmas or a nice holiday time!I haven't been around a lot this year and stopped following several discussions because I've been too busy with work, but I didn't forget about all of you!
I hope to be more active again next year!
2020 rapidly approaching so I’m reading Weight Training Without Injury: Over 350 Step-By-Step Pictures Including What Not to Do!
. This will be the year I stick to an exercise routine. I hope :-/
Leslie I only do my Christmas shopping on goodreads lol and aww thanks LauraT and dely
OK so what is up with the home page?? I can't see my progress on the books I am currently reading any more and when I click on a book to update my progress, I am sent to the book's page... Why do they mess up things that were working perfectly well?
Leslie, I noticed the same thing. I wonder if it's only for the books that are carried over from last year? Was this a "thing" last January? If it's a glitch, I hope they fix it soon.
Mod
Yes, it's happening to me too. But on my mobile app, it was working fine and I was able to update one of my books.
Alannah wrote: "Leslie wrote: "OK so what is up with the home page?? I can't see my progress on the books I am currently reading any more and when I click on a book to update my progress, I am sent to the book's p..."Good to know that the app still has this feature - at least for now!
Petra wrote: "Leslie, I noticed the same thing. I wonder if it's only for the books that are carried over from last year? Was this a "thing" last January?
If it's a glitch, I hope they fix it soon."
I have the problem with a book started yesterday, so it isn't due to being carried over from last year. :-(
Mod
Just tried it now, seems to be working again.
Yes, it seems that it was a temporary glitch caused by maintanence to the currently reading section of the webpage.
Good afternoon to you Christine!It is a rainy Saturday here - perfect for curling up with a cup of coffee or tea and a good book :)
Hello--I haven't been here much, gearing up for a year of reading games which I haven't done for a couple of years.
Leslie I hate rainy days and Leslie I agree with you about curling up with a cup of coffee or tea and a good book when it’s a rainy day and Karin reading games sounds good
Funny my husband & I just had a similar discussion.We visited friends in Colorado- which he loved but I found the weather to dry and sunny.
Then off to his Mom’s in England - rain & gray skies perked me right up.
My idea of the perfect vacation day:
1. hot porridge made (& cleaned up) by someone else
2. a long walk in a bracing wind & drizzle
3. a hot cup of tea, a warm scone & a good book
Bliss! Though I dare say not many would agree.
Oh, I love the addition of a warm scone :) Next rainy day, I will have to consider that (although in my case, that requires that I bake them myself!).
Mod
That's bliss!!!!
I moved back to the UK a couple of years ago and just love walking in the rain or by the sea on cold days, and we've had plenty of those lately! Loving the warm scones and tea too!
Milly Jane wrote: "I moved back to the UK a couple of years ago and just love walking in the rain or by the sea on cold days, and we've had plenty of those lately! Loving the warm scones and tea too!"It’s nice to know I’m not alone :-)
Scones, tea and a good book sounds like heaven to me.
Mod
Yes, quite. But even better - fo my tastes! - melon, sea and a good book!!!!
LauraT wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Scones, tea and a good book sounds like heaven to me."Yes, quite. But even better - fo my tastes! - melon, sea and a good book!!!!"
Oh, if we are going for ideal conditions then berries, white wine & a shady spot in a warm garden for me!
Love the photo, Leslie! I wish i could transport myself there.
Thanks all! I wish I was her right now :)
Well, I have managed to get about 1 new book for every 2 books I have read (including library books!) so far this year. Right now I have read 10 books I previously owned and obtained 10 new books, almost all of them free but still, they need to be read. I will never reduce my backlog at this rate!
Your welcome Leslie and Leslie I could never paint that picture
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