Our resident corporate Agony Uncle, CEO Ken Cheng, tackles business challenges – so you don’t have to.
Dear Ken Cheng,
Should the boss take part in Secret Santa?
-Raquel, Oxford
Ken Cheng:
Let me tell you about the time I took part in my office Secret Santa.
Firstly, I drew Kelly who I was going to make redundant in the New Year. Great. There was no need to try hard.
Secondly, the person who drew me was the most junior person: an intern called Tracy.
I heard that they felt really worried if they got me a bad present it would cost them a long-term job.
Nonsense. I wouldn’t make my hiring decisions based off Secret Santa.
I set a £10 maximum spend on the whole thing and everyone agreed.
Now you won’t believe my shock that everyone stuck to it. The maximum spend was a test, you see, to find out who would go above and beyond to bring in the Christmas cheer.
Everyone failed, especially Tracy who should’ve known to get me something more special as I’m the boss. Needless to say, I’m not hiring her.
As with Kelly, I did exceed the minimum spend and bought her 5 books giving advice on how to interview for a new job. She’s gonna need it.
Overall, involving me in Secret Santa worked perfectly and I would thoroughly recommend.
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