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T'is the season for Christmas cards
17 December 2011
By Blanka Sengerová
This post was prompted by us getting a Christmas card from our vegetable box delivery man last week. It makes me think, was I supposed to give them one myself? Are they expecting a tip or small present? (Having never had a milkman, I don't know what the etiquette for these things is!).
Which brings me to your colleagues. A seasonal and annual issue and probably one that is restricted to the UK because the Christmas card phenomenon does not seem as widely spread elsewhere. Do you give a card to your boss and your colleagues? People who run the services in your department as a token of appreciation? I've generally been of the opinion that people you see in person you can say Happy Christmas too in person, but am planning to give a card to the kitchen staff (love the lunches and cakes!) and the ladies that run the washroom on the floor because not having to wash up your labware and having your media made for you is brilliant. My PhD supervisor and current boss have always given all lab members a Christmas card, which probably works in a similar way - they appreciate the work we do. (In fact, I still get one sent to me from my ex-PhD supervisor, and have started sending one back because I don't see her in person).
What is your own policy, do you give cards to people you see on a daily basis or are you happy with a 'Merry Christmas' before you go and a 'Happy New Year' when you come back in January?
On this festive note, Mappy Christmas everyone!
Christine Fernandez17 December 2011 at 01:27 PM
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Happy Christmas to you too!
I think it depends on each lab. Some lab are happy with just a wish before they break for hols and some like yours do pass cards round.
When I was working in the lab people use to reciprocate card giving! Just one of us need to spark it off and the trend begins!
Happy Hols!
Simon Smith17 December 2011 at 09:34 PM
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I often used to feel a guilty conscience when other people gave me cards and I didn't always reciprocate, so I'm glad that in the place where I now work we have a tradition of making a donation to Oxfam unwrapped instead of giving each other cards.
Happy Christmas!
Sandrine Berges21 December 2011 at 02:47 PM
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Ha, well, leaving in Turkey I don't really have the experience of getting cards from all and sunder. Also, I've gotten lazy with sending cards to anyone but family and a few friends, especially as we tend to make our own cards and are usually late with sending them... I sometimes send e-cards around to colleagues or post one on facebook. I really like the idea of donations - especially as these can be fun and taylored to particular people, but there's not really a tradition of christmas gifts in my department.