For 5 years I worked for a boss who, around the holidays my first year working for him, said flat out that we don't buy each other gifts. I really liked that arrangement, we never bought each other anything, and it never came up again.
Last year I started working for a new boss, who gave me a $50 Starbucks gift card around the holidays. I thanked him for it but I did not get him anything in return as I was not used to doing that and didn't think about it. I figured, no harm, he won't get me anything next year and that will probably be fine. Then today, what comes in the mail but another $50 gift card.
I'm not a boss myself, but I know others here are, so I'd be curious as to their read on the situation. I do not want to reciprocate this gift and funds have been pretty squeezed recently anyway. But I am worried because I am sure that at least one of my coworkers has reciprocated this gift. Really I don't even want the gift (last year's giftcard is still sitting on top of my dresser), but I am wondering if most bosses just feel like they need to buy their employees something and don't care if they get anything else in return or if not returning a gift would be looked at as a foul on my end.
Thoughts welcomed!