Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gift and work

Looking for a colorful desktop nameplate

yersinia — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:41:06 -0800

Looking for a colorful/artsy name plate to sit on an office desk. Does such a thing exist? If so, where? And if not, what might be some possible substitutes? I'd like to get this as a gift for someone who was recently promoted-- one of those desk name placards seemed like a nice way to recognize the person in their new role. The job is in higher-ed administration, so not a very formal working environment; her office is filled with lovely, colorful objets-d'art, and I was hoping I could go beyond the usual blah Lucite/marble/brass/wood rectangles and get a colorful or otherwise artsy and unusual nameplate holder that'd fit into the existing decor. Bonus points if engraveable, and/or possessing a math-y or abstract theme or feel.

I thought such a thing should be easy to find-- heck, I'd like one. But after combing pretty much every single website in this list and on the Gift Wiki, I've had zero luck. Does anyone know if this kind of nameplate exists? And if no, does anyone have any ideas for creative substitutions-- personalizeable, colorful, office-desktop-appropriate-- that might serve the same purpose?

A Virginia ham? Why, thanks!

cabingirl — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:04:30 -0800

What gift can I give my European colleagues that is quintessential Virginia/Washington DC, without straying into "miniature Washington Monument" territory? In a few days, I am heading to Fairfax, VA for a multiple-week business trip. While there, I will be hosting two colleagues who are visiting from Europe and will be helping me out for two weeks. Our home office is in the Twin Cities, and I know that on past trips, other hosts have given them Minnesota-themed gifts. I'd like to get them each a gift in the $20 range that is unique to Virginia or DC without being cheesy. Food gifts can work if they aren't super perishable.

Help me say Thanks! to a great friend

parmanparman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:30:14 -0800

I want to thank an awesome friend but I am vexed by the multitude of my options! A friend I went to college with and who now lives in my town, Washington, DC, went truly beyond the call and selflessly gave me five silver tickets to Barack Obama's inauguration so I and my four friends from Birmingham, London, and Wolverhampton could go.

I am just eternally grateful to this woman for this incredible gift and want to do something really great for her to say thank you.

She likes massages, cooking, laughing, biking and short stories but what she is really interested in - beyond everything else - is social work and public service.

I want to give her a gift that upholds the message that I will support her as she transitions from her current job into a great career that is about human service.

Of course, I could just buy her dinner but smart, unorthodox, and topical ideas are appreciated and welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Remember that gift certificate you gave me?...

thetenthstory — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:34:14 -0800

My boss and his wife just had thier second son. What can I get him (or his child/wife) as a gift? I have been working with him for a little over a year. I am a male still in my early 20s and oppose gifts such as a "onezy" with teddy bears printed on them. I would like a gift that says my mother did not pick it out for me. So, what would you get him AskMe?

Gift for a coworker?

Coffeemate — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:35:43 -0800

I want to buy a gift for a coworker who took a promotion and will be leaving my department. What's something cool but not overly sentimental that she might like? When I started my job a year ago she was phenomenally helpful, always willing to answer questions, and a terrific mentor. I will be moving into the position she’s vacating.

She is:
About 50, but acts and feels younger
A wine lover and cat owner
Vegetarian

Her gift should be:
About $50
NOT a desk tchotchke
Fun and cool - and it need not match perfectly her interests listed above

Any ideas? I’ve looked through RedEnvelope.com, gifts.com, uncommongoods.com, and not been grabbed by anything. I’ll also be writing her a sincere thank-you note.

Yankee Swhat?

backseatpilot — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:58:25 -0800

What's appropriate yet quirky for a yankee swap? So, somehow I got signed up for a yankee swap at work. We're in the high tech/aviation industry. There's a strong software engineering presence, but also other engineers, supply chain/manufacturing, human resources, etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is most of the people are pretty geeky, but there are still many that are, well... normal?

So what I do for this? What kind of gift should I get? The only rule I was given was a fifteen dollar price limit. What's something quirky, yet won't get me fired?

I swear, this is the last revision... (famous last words)

cior — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:48:45 -0800

My creative coworkers aren't famous, yet deserve some recognition for their efforts on a tough project with an impossible client. Internally, I'm singing their praises and making their successes known to management. Additionally, I'd like to get them a treat. Here's where you come in: They are both art directors, one at a senior level. They are both men. They work at an office on the other side of the country from ours and I've never met them. All of our conversations have revolved around work and neither seem the type to share much of their personality on the job.

I'd like to spend around $50/each for two different gifts of equal perceived value.

Any ideas?

How much to spend on office holiday gifts

cushie — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 12:22:53 -0800

How much should I spend/what should I buy for support staff/secretaries at work for the holidays? There is no collective gift given by my department, and I'm not in a position to organize one. I work in a professional environment, the admin staff are (predictably) very good and not very well paid. There are two to whom I should give a gift, and one doesn't drink. Suggestions? Gift certificates (good, bad, how much, what stores)?
I'm especially interested in how much it is appropriate to spend.

Gift ideas for a midllevel exec and an executive assistant, on the level of $500 each?

szg8 — Fri, 20 Aug 2004 11:10:26 -0800

I work in a small office and two employees are leaving. The first was a midlevel exec and the other was an executive assistant. We are throwing a going away party for both of them, and the boss has charged a couple of us with the mission of getting them each something on a budget of $500 each.

Any suggestions?