S/O gifts for employees- is a Swiss Army knife appropriate?

[Peace Of Mind]

Dec 15, 2015 21:35:21 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

I just found out today we are giving all employees very nice Swiss Army knives as Xmas gifts. I was not consulted before these were purchased and have trepidations. I don't think this is an appropriate gift.  I asked if they had checked with our Corp legal and HR dept and they said no. I am worried about the liability.

Also, if one of these were lost and found at a crime scene, with our Company logo, the publicity could be very bad!

Thoughts? Am I over thinking this?

The chances of finding a pen with your logo on it at a crime scene is much higher than a Swiss Army knife. They wouldn't want to lose something that awesome and expensive!  

[obelisk]

Swiss army knives are very useful.  I have at least 3, one on the key ring, another in the car and the last at home.
it makes a great gift or for passing on to someone who will appreciate it.  If you don't like it, there is always someone else that you know who will appreciate it.

[zibazinski]

With a company logo on it? That screams cheap ass gift.

[MarleyKeezy78]

Awwww, this thread makes me miss one of my old employers   If they hadn't gone out of buisness I would still be there, everyone was so awesome! We had a lounge with foosball and leather recliners, full kitchen and beer in the fridge! Our Christmas parties were amazballs! Spa day, dinner at a fancy ass resturaunt in a old mansion, gifts and bonuses(big ones!)  Damn the housing market   

[973beachbum]

Dec 16, 2015 17:30:22 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

With a company logo on it? That screams cheap ass gift.

I will say that at the grocery store some store directors give out clothes with the company name on it and it is appreciated.  In that case though the stores don't give out holiday gifts.   The employees also have to wear only clothes that have that company name on it.  So I can't just put on a hoodie or sweater over my store polo.  It has to be the company store sold ones which are pretty pricey. 

I rarely get cold so I wouldn't buy a grocery store logo fleece jacket for $65 unless you put a gun to my head.  I would take one though if they gave it to me.

[zibazinski]

If you require your employees to wear a uniform to work, you should provide it. That's different than giving them a "gift" that they might neither want or use and they can do nothing with it.

[beergut]

I think your company is a generation too late. You know when Swiss Army knives were a cool gift? 1985, when MacGyver could use household appliances and his trusty Swiss Army knife to create something to foil the bad guys.

In 2015, it is just a cheap ass gift. 

[973beachbum]

Dec 17, 2015 10:57:19 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

If you require your employees to wear a uniform to work, you should provide it. That's different than giving them a "gift" that they might neither want or use and they can do nothing with it.

Most companies here only give the shirt and one at that.  I actually buy a second one at my PT job.  It is just too much trouble washing it otherwise.  The pants have to be one brand and style but they don't buy them just tell us to.  I actually only had one pair for the first year.  It made not buying an extra easier when you only have one shirt anyway.

Jackets aren't provided at all for some reason.  The theory I guess is most people don't really "need" them.  Kind of begs the question of how long can you be in a walk in freezer with no coat on.   But regardless of position if you don't want to freeze your ass off in the dairy box you need to shell out your own money to buy a company branded jacket.

PS you can wear something underneath if you want as long as it doesn't show but you wouldn't exactly stay dry bringing in carts in the rain.

[zibazinski]

Shameful

[Lizard Queen]

Dec 18, 2015 9:35:52 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Dec 17, 2015 10:57:19 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

If you require your employees to wear a uniform to work, you should provide it. That's different than giving them a "gift" that they might neither want or use and they can do nothing with it.

Most companies here only give the shirt and one at that.  I actually buy a second one at my PT job.  It is just too much trouble washing it otherwise.  The pants have to be one brand and style but they don't buy them just tell us to.  I actually only had one pair for the first year.  It made not buying an extra easier when you only have one shirt anyway.

Jackets aren't provided at all for some reason.  The theory I guess is most people don't really "need" them.  Kind of begs the question of how long can you be in a walk in freezer with no coat on.   But regardless of position if you don't want to freeze your ass off in the dairy box you need to shell out your own money to buy a company branded jacket.

PS you can wear something underneath if you want as long as it doesn't show but you wouldn't exactly stay dry bringing in carts in the rain.

One of the many ways that minimum wage workers are treated like dirt. I ran into something similar when I worked at a water park. Company swimsuits, shorts and a sweatshirt were loaned to workers. My second summer, they decided everyone had to wear an ugly-ass visor, the inflated cost of which was deducted from the pay, which was $4-something an hour. Total cost wasn't that much, but probably a good hour or 2 worth of work at least. I wanted to find a cheaper visor on my own instead, but it was such an ugly navy color, I couldn't find a matching one.