U.S. workers might spend even more time with co-workers and bosses than loved ones, but that doesn't mean better gifts for job force friends this holiday season, according to Mic.
With Black Friday a month away, Mic surveyed 533 people to see how much they'll spend on gifts for various people in their lives, Theresa Avila wrote for the organization. Of participants, 62 percent said they'd shell out over $50 on "that special someone," with 30.1 percent willing to spend $100.
But in regards to co-workers and bosses, few would consider expending near as much.
"When buying a gift for a co-worker or your boss, Andrew Jackson may be the only face gracing the bill you'll likely need," Avila reported. "According to the survey, 73 percent of respondents spend $20 or less on a gift for a co-worker or boss."
Compared to the 30.1 percent surveyed who felt fine with giving loved ones a $100 gift, just 4.2 percent opined their bosses deserved the same. Avila noted American workers average more hours a week than any other industrialized nation, making it surprising they understate work-place connections as far as gifts go though co-workers play a large role in their lives.
If Mic's survey provides an accurate preview of who U.S. spenders will grab gifts for during the holidays, comparing the data to a recent report my colleague Herb Scribner wrote about gives the findings more context.
Scribner reported consumers are willing to spend $131.59 on a notable someone: themselves.
The National Retail Federation detailed its holiday spending survey and said that number is up from the $126.37 shoppers used to treat themselves last year.
"In addition to shopping for gifts for their loved ones, holiday shoppers will take advantage of discounts to treat themselves and/or their family members to a nongift item," according to NRF. "They survey found 55.8 percent will splurge on themselves and/or others for nongift items."
If workers are going to give each other cheap gifts, they might as well at least follow some common practices, Alison Green wrote for U.S. News & World Report. And No. 1 is it's important to decide if people want to exchange presents in the workplace at all.
If so, a dollar limit should be set, employees should avoid giving personal gifts and food never disappoints, according to Green.
And according to Green's list, the fact people rarely spend more than $20 for work-place presents might be a positive.
"If you've ever been to an office gift exchange where everyone brought gifts that cost less than $15 except one guy who gifted an iPod or an expensive sweater, you know that overly expensive gifts can make others feel uncomfortable and will create the sense that you're trying to show off or curry favor," Green reported.
With Black Friday a month away, Mic surveyed 533 people to see how much they'll spend on gifts for various people in their lives, Theresa Avila wrote for the organization. Of participants, 62 percent said they'd shell out over $50 on "that special someone," with 30.1 percent willing to spend $100.
But in regards to co-workers and bosses, few would consider expending near as much.
"When buying a gift for a co-worker or your boss, Andrew Jackson may be the only face gracing the bill you'll likely need," Avila reported. "According to the survey, 73 percent of respondents spend $20 or less on a gift for a co-worker or boss."
Compared to the 30.1 percent surveyed who felt fine with giving loved ones a $100 gift, just 4.2 percent opined their bosses deserved the same. Avila noted American workers average more hours a week than any other industrialized nation, making it surprising they understate work-place connections as far as gifts go though co-workers play a large role in their lives.
If Mic's survey provides an accurate preview of who U.S. spenders will grab gifts for during the holidays, comparing the data to a recent report my colleague Herb Scribner wrote about gives the findings more context.
Scribner reported consumers are willing to spend $131.59 on a notable someone: themselves.
The National Retail Federation detailed its holiday spending survey and said that number is up from the $126.37 shoppers used to treat themselves last year.
"In addition to shopping for gifts for their loved ones, holiday shoppers will take advantage of discounts to treat themselves and/or their family members to a nongift item," according to NRF. "They survey found 55.8 percent will splurge on themselves and/or others for nongift items."
If workers are going to give each other cheap gifts, they might as well at least follow some common practices, Alison Green wrote for U.S. News & World Report. And No. 1 is it's important to decide if people want to exchange presents in the workplace at all.
If so, a dollar limit should be set, employees should avoid giving personal gifts and food never disappoints, according to Green.
And according to Green's list, the fact people rarely spend more than $20 for work-place presents might be a positive.
"If you've ever been to an office gift exchange where everyone brought gifts that cost less than $15 except one guy who gifted an iPod or an expensive sweater, you know that overly expensive gifts can make others feel uncomfortable and will create the sense that you're trying to show off or curry favor," Green reported.