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[resis]

I'm tired of doing the same old flower arrangements year after year--they're very expensive and I'm not sure how much the secretaries value them. Moreover, each secretary I have in mind is dieting and has more refined tastes than I do (they're into gourmet cooking and such), so I don't think goodies are a great option either. I'll keep up the tradition of giving them cards detailing specific reasons I appreciate them, but what else would you give besides a card?

[systeme_d_]

Money.

That's what our most excellent and respected administrative assistant wants and needs most.

For those who are too precious to give cold hard cash, a gift card to the supermarket at which s/he shops is a good alternative.

[cgfunmathguy]

A paid day off, without charging it against sick leave or vacation time. An alternative would be trading places for a day (like the old "Boxing Day" custom).

[someone]

1. Send all with a PhD. in the department out of town for the day

2. Block their cell phones from reaching the departments extension

3. Have someone ring them at 10:15am to tell them they will have lunch served to them at the office and they can draw the curtains and lock the door and take the phone off the hook for a 2 hour lunch

4. After lunch they can say no to anyone that wants a yes and yes to anyone that wants a no unless they like them then they can tell them what ever they want

5. They can leave 30 minutes early without informing anyone

[madhatter]

Everybody loves Target gift cards.

[anthroid]

Cash.  Give them cash if you can't get them a raise (I can't).  I also give my secretary (who I share with 2 other people, but she mainly works for me) as much time off as she needs during the year without requiring her to charge it against sick or vacation time (unless it's sick or vacation time--so, for instance, she has to go to a funeral this week.  I've told her just to go--no need to charge sick/vacation time for that.  Since I sign her timecard, I get to make the call...).

[sinatra]

I provide our secretary with a complimentary dinner for her and her husband at her favorite restaurant. I agree with others that cash is nice. But there's a personal touch that is missing with just giving cash. Our secretary usually will mention at some point during the semester how she and her husband went to x restaurant the night before and really loved it. When I give her the certificates to go back to that same restaurant, it shows that I was listening when she was talking with me. That little bit of an extra personal touch, to her, is priceless.

[kedves]

I provide our secretary with a complimentary dinner for her and her husband at her favorite restaurant. I agree with others that cash is nice. But there's a personal touch that is missing with just giving cash. Our secretary usually will mention at some point during the semester how she and her husband went to x restaurant the night before and really loved it. When I give her the certificates to go back to that same restaurant, it shows that I was listening when she was talking with me. That little bit of an extra personal touch, to her, is priceless.

To her it's priceless or to you?

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, just wondering how you know this is better than cash from her perspective if this is what you always do.

[zuzu_]

I think that cash or a gift card for somewhere where YOU'RE CERTAIN she likes to eat/shop would be equally appropriate options. Try to get lots of people to chip in.

I provide our secretary with a complimentary dinner for her and her husband at her favorite restaurant. I agree with others that cash is nice. But there's a personal touch that is missing with just giving cash. Our secretary usually will mention at some point during the semester how she and her husband went to x restaurant the night before and really loved it. When I give her the certificates to go back to that same restaurant, it shows that I was listening when she was talking with me. That little bit of an extra personal touch, to her, is priceless.

To her it's priceless or to you?

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, just wondering how you know this is better than cash from her perspective if this is what you always do.

Someone recently gave me a gift card to my favorite salon. I found it more meaningful than cash. First, I like to support the small business owner there. Second, it shows that this woman listened to me--I don't even remember talking about it. Third, the idea that she went down to that salon just to get card means something more than withdrawing cash from the ATM. Fourth, it's more of "gift" to me. Had she just given me $25, I might've felt guily about indulging in salon products/services rather than using it on something.

But don't get me wrong--I love getting cash too.

[hongkyongnae]

cash or a gift card. and 1/2 off with pay that doesnt count against personal days or vacations.

no one will dislike that.

[systeme_d_]

Hongkyongnae,  

Please follow the rules of these fora, and use proper grammar and punctuation.

Presumably you've read the posts that precede yours and thus, you must have noticed that we capitalize sentences here.