RPG Vault Soapbox - Bill Roper

[Occhidiangela]

People that drink coffee get one coffee at a price that could have supplied them coffee for a couple months, people that don't drink coffee feel duped, and no interaction ... Same thing with celebratory BBQs or meals out, when managers forget that about a third of our workers are Indian following vegetarian regimes ... good morale requires more than just lip-service and bribes.

Just to illustrate with yesterdays banking Christmas present. It was left on our desks overnight, so no personal contact or group interaction. Contents:
1 bottle of wine Price: $50? Value to me $0 (I don't drink)
1 250g pack of shortbread Price $5? Value to me $2 (I could buy a plain packet of choc. biscuits for $2)
1 400g pack of fudge price $10? Value to me $4 (Equivalent price of a pack of same weight chocolate)

Fancy packaging Price $3 materials +$2 labour? Value to me $0 (already in the bin)

I am not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, but my point is that they spent $70 to get a $6 response. They could have given us all 2-3hrs off 'real' work to talk with different staff for the same price ...
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Here's a question for you: Would a letter dropped in management's suggestion box outlining your point make a difference? How receptive to input are they? As for the bar b q, why not suggest they include grilled veggies (zucchini, peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc) in the menu. I've hosted a couple of all vegetable bar b q's and can only say that when even a modicum of imagination is used . . . yummy! Still prefer flamed meat, if push comes to shove, or better yet, a combo of both.

On the other hand, "bosses" seem to be required to display a "style." Style does matter, to a certain extent. The problem is, as you so incisively point out, if the present is devoid of the human touch, of warmth, even a gem is a cold gift.

My favorite Christmas gift, ever, was a spontaneous idea generated by my then-six-year-old daughter. She told my wife: I know what Daddy would like. Christmas AM, I opened a box, wrapped by her, which contained a box of Captain Crunch cereal and a fourpack of Heineken beer. That one came from the heart, and went straight to mine. :w00t:

Occhi