Holiday Gifts for Assistants

What are some of you guys getting for your assistants this year?

Everyone at my fund is talking gift cards but seems pretty impersonal to me.

In the past I would buy a nice wine bottle or two. Would love to hear other people's ideas.

 
heister:

Gender of your assistant? Well honestly doesn't really matter. A male stripper.

hahahaha

I hate to sound like a sap but a gift isn't a 'transaction', otherwise everyone would give cash. Honestly I think something like a stripper is 100x better than physical cash or electronic cash (gift card) because at least a tiny tiny amount of thought went into it. If you want to get your secretary something get her anything that makes her feel appreciated, otherwise probably better to not even bother...throwing money at her has the opposite effect, assuming she isn't a prostitute.

 
Best Response
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/resources/skills/finance/going-concern>Going Concern</a></span>:
heister:

Gender of your assistant? Well honestly doesn't really matter. A male stripper.

hahahaha

I hate to sound like a sap but a gift isn't a 'transaction', otherwise everyone would give cash. Honestly I think something like a stripper is 100x better than physical cash or electronic cash (gift card) because at least a tiny tiny amount of thought went into it. If you want to get your secretary something get her anything that makes her feel appreciated, otherwise probably better to not even bother...throwing money at her has the opposite effect, assuming she isn't a prostitute.

Based on my read of the OP's post (from the "this year" comment), he is talking about a Holiday "gift" or "bonus." In this case, the gift is a sort of "transaction" because it is expected at the end of each year. If it were a gift based on the secretary doing a great job on a specific deal that would be another issue altogether and I would not recommend cash.
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happypantsmcgee:

So you mean cash? Unless you meant Let them decide what they want at GAP or Starbucks or wherever you got the giftcard

I get all my friends AmEx gift cards and no one ever complains :)
Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

If your in a new group, you should ask the MDs you work with what they usually do for Christmas.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

I've been on multiple sides of this coin, so I'll offer up my experience.

Previously, was an IB analyst at a well known tech boutique. The admins were not officially assigned to analysts. Some admins did support analysts, as if they were effectively, supporting them. My MD's admin however, did not send out my calendar invites and in many cases, made me book my own travel. No xmas gift there.

Currently, I work for a late stage VC firm and my admin is amazing. Very proactive in reminding me if there are any conflicts she foresees, schedules meetings in a timely fashion, and realizes that we are all working towards the common goal of finding good investments and driving solid returns for the fund. I'm shopping for a pretty nice gift here.

....Bottom line: If it is apparent in her manner that she genuinely wants to help you out and is proactive in doing so, you must get her a gfit. If your MD's admin is proactive in helping you out with your expenses and travel, I would say do the gift. Otherwise, forget about it. She knows she's not mainly working for you.

 

^ Agree ^

It's one of those things that is commonly thrown around companies that admin's really "run" the place and everyone who actually runs the place chuckles and nods knowingly. Its not what these people can do for you as much as it is what they can do to fuck up your world. Piss off an admin and you end up in lunch meetings without lunch (or worse still where you get 3 things and 5 people are attending). They can wreak havoc on your calendar and stick you with a 5 hour layover in Atlanta.

I'd ask around to see what the standard is and maybe go a little above that since even if she doesn't do anything to directly help you out its still good ROI to maintain the status quo.

 

We used to have every investment professional in the firm pool their money on a pro rata basis (based on earnings) and then give the secretaries a rather meaningful amount of cash ($1,000+). Everyone contributed and no one complained.

While giving cash is kind of tacky, I think it is a fair gift in a professional setting. I'd never want cash from family and friends, just like I'd never want a sappy card from a co-worker.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

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