How to Give Xmas Gift to Helpful Vet/Vets with Office Staff Complication

[grey_mare1]

I want to give my vet or the two senior vets xmas gifts, just cuz they help me throughout the year, taking calls on weekends, answering emails, etc. But its a combined small animal/ large animal clinic.

(I have no relationship with the small animal clinic).

Also, there’s a new young horse vet who was very anti-helpful and overcharged me, which put a huge dent in my gratitude, as well as a helpful staff person, and a non-helpful staff person. What are some good options here?

What is the etiquette around xmas gifts and vet practices?
Thanks.

[exvet]

Personally addressed Christmas cards to the individual vets at that practice whom you’d like to make a specific gesture to would be best imo. Even though it may not seem like much a card with a note goes a long, long way and allows you to be direct without being rude. Despite my username I’m still in practice and with a larger group of people. It’s not unusual to get personally addressed cards and they are always very much appreciated.

[Callista17]

Drop off a gift for the vets you want to.

I have worked for vet clinics where, I as well as others, have received gifts when others have not. Some people go above and beyond, while others may not have even involved. We, for the most part, are adults.

The smooth thing to do, if you want to be, is drop off like a gift card in a card addressed to the vet. That way no one else really knows what is inside, and they open it. Presents are perfectly acceptable too, just more obvious.

I don’t know what you are thinking of, but a salon may be nice, a nicer restaurant? If it’s a pizza chain or something, it may be construed as a practice gift.

[HungarianHippo]

Guess it depends on whether you see this as a gift in the spirit of the holidays, or a something more transactional, like a tip for good service. If it were me, I’d focus on the more charitable, generous approach and do a whole office gift (fruit basket, popcorn tin, etc) with a card that says something like “Happy Holidays to the whole crew at Vet Office. Especially huge thanks to Drs. Smith and Jones, for their above-and-beyond care for Dobbin.”

[grey_mare1]

@HungarianHippo

Guess it depends on whether you see this as a gift in the spirit of the holidays, or a something more transactional, like a tip for good service. If it were me, I’d focus on the more charitable, generous approach and do a whole office gift (fruit basket, popcorn tin, etc) with a card that says something like “Happy Holidays to the whole crew at Vet Office. Especially huge thanks to Drs. Smith and Jones, for their above-and-beyond care for Dobbin.”

This is a good idea. Now how would I do this for the whole equine staff, and get around the whole office full of small animal vet staff?

[grey_mare1]

@exvet

Personally addressed Christmas cards to the individual vets at that practice whom you’d like to make a specific gesture to would be best imo. Even though it may not seem like much a card with a note goes a long, long way and allows you to be direct without being rude. Despite my username I’m still in practice and with a larger group of people. It’s not unusual to get personally addressed cards and they are always very much appreciated.

Good to know!

[Scribbler]

@grey_mare

This is a good idea. Now how would I do this for the whole equine staff, and get around the whole office full of small animal vet staff?

You don’t. It’s the Christmas spirit. You end up gifting people that don’t “deserve” it. Besides for all you know your favorite vet has gone on a keto diet for the holidays and will just give your cookies to the office staff.

[betsyk]

Does the equine clinic staff have a monthly staff meeting? does it include food? could you send them a gift card to their favorite food-for-staff-meeting restaurant? If this isn’t quite the scale you were intending, you could find out when their meeting is held and drop off something that day. You could still do the personal note in a holiday card for the vets you work with most.

[HungarianHippo]

Address the delivery to the lead equine vet, and let him/her decide how to distribute. In most places where I’ve worked, holiday treats from suppliers tend to get put out on the breakroom counter and everyone in the office is welcome to graze, regardless if that department has direct involvement with the giver. Ultimately, they’re not going to spend a whole lot of time thinking about it. So just do this nice thing as simply as possible, and move on.

[Haylter]

Seems like the only way to go is a gift card to a local breakfast/lunch/bakery eatery of some sort delivered via mail in a card addressed to the vet, if multiple vets send a separate card to each one, you select. Then the adressee can decide if they want to keep it for themselves or share with the staff they work closely with. All the staff support the vet in some way and the ones who are weak at customer service may be very strong at clinical tasks

[Brown_Derby]

Morale is so overlooked. No need to be disrespectful; the ones you label as non-helpful might save your bacon someday, maybe tomorrow. Please include everyone, even if it’s just cookies. You can send individual cards to your faves all you like!

[gottagrey]

Here’s the thing unless you know if they have a preferred adult beverage or restaurant, I would just do an goodie basket. Chances are you’ll be much more appreciated as a client for sharing than keeping people out of an office gift. I’ve been giving my vet practice something for years now I don’t even know all the staff in the office, do I care. Not really. I worked in doctor’s offices for years and we’d get a flood of gifts. I can pretty much say that rarely did anything go home with them Even with a bottle of wine you have no idea if that ends up in their hands or as a hostess gift for the next holiday party they’re going tol.