Workers at an office have been left flabbergasted after the company set a minimum spend on Secret Santa gifts at £40. An employee who has recently joined this office shared the confusion on social media forum, Mumsnet, seeking advice from the online community.
The disgruntled employee explained how the office has made it clear for everyone to participate. The person wrote: “My office has announced a Secret Santa but has set a minimum price of £40. There’s no maximum but you have to spend over £40 on a single gift.
“I am new to the company but every SS I’ve done previously had a maximum spend, not a minimum and it’s always been £5-10. This just seems like a lot of money to spend on coworkers you may not know well (I work in a different department to the name I pulled so have to research them) and also having a minimum doesn’t sit well with me given the disparity in salaries across the office.
“I’m new so I don’t want to rock the boat by asking if the organiser got mixed up but it’s also been made clear we all need to participate.”
The online community was left shocked, with many calling the rule “ridiculous”. More than 300 people have so far commented on the post. One user commented: “£40?! Ridiculous at any time, but especially with cost of living crisis!!!!!”
Another said: “That is completely bonkers. Like you say it should be £5-10, and people should not feel compelled to take part. We also did by department in larger companies, so you knew the person somewhat.”
A third chimed in: “That seems a massive sum of money for Secret Santa? Secret Santa is such a fanny ache anyway. Buying a gift for someone you don’t know particularly well. Who can be arsed! We do a foodbank collection instead, and people can spend as much or as little as they want. It’s not monitored.”
A fourth person said: “Thats weird. Best Secret Santa I took part in involved buying Christmas decorations then having to steal or keep wrapped parcels for several rounds then they were all opened at the end… some were nice some were hideous. (A particularly hideous one reappeared each year).”
