Hoo boy…
Not sure this is the best place but it's where I'm hoping to gleam any good ideas for my staff.
I manage a retail charity shop. Fucking love it and the mad staff we have here. I literally came into the job as a volunteer (older manger left citing stress, now I know why.) and the staff that work here pretty much welcomed me in and showed me the ropes. I literally could not have don't it without their help, as the upper management is shite. I've had zero training and had to pull out every bit of training and experience from my previous 15 years retail work to try and get my head round the job.
Charity retail is mental stressful. I mean woefully stressful. We're underpaid, depend mainly on volunteers or people on social working schemes and deal with theft, narky customers (seriously, if I hear the phrase “What's the best you can do for X.” I'll instantly hike the price up and dead eye them. It's a fucking charity…some people have no shame.
But… I love it. I've always loved charity shopping (granted, that's from my parents being strapped for cash and years of being a broke ass student but hey.) And the team I have are hilarious, dysfunctional and we rip the piss out of each other non stop. I have people from all walks of life working with me and some of them have become like family members to me.
This year, despite the company managing a staggering profit, they have decided to cut the 'holiday bonus' they give each year to the workers. I always felt uncomfortable with the structure as they gift volunteers (who might only work one morning a week) a voucher of 250, but yet those on a social working scheme who work 20hrs a week get just 20? It's disgusting.
So I wanted to get them something myself. Last year with Covid we couldn't have a staff night out so we organised to have food in with drinks in store. (Got us around the Covid restrictions.) I tried to pay for their food but they refused saying they had saved up for it during the year. I stashed the money away and now this year I wanted to get them something to say thanks for putting up with all head offices bullshit. And for not leaving during one of the most stressful periods!
I don't want to get them something tatty though, god knows how I hated getting company branded shite from previous jobs disguised as 'gifts'.
Soooo…. I'm basically looking for ideas on what to get, do or arrange for them to show them how much I appreciate them.