How much should companies propose their employees spend on Secret Santa this Christmas

It’s no secret $20 would struggle to cover the cost of a good book or a quality hand lotion these days, and as the cost of living in WA continues to rise, so too has the budget workplaces are attributing to Secret Santa gifts.

In some cases, its forcing organisations to re-think their entire Christmas strategy as they pivot towards more inclusive and less stressful alternatives in an already burdensome season.

Global cultural strategist Tanya Finnie, director of Redhead Communications, who helps organisations “play nicely together in the corporate sandpit”.

With clientele that includes the State Government, Woodside, UWA, law firms, and everything in between, Dr Finnie views the approach to Christmas as an ever-evolving one for workplaces — beginning with the humble Kris Kringle.

So what is the appropriate price for colleagues to spend on each other these days?

“It’s always a trick question, because I think with the rising cost of living pressures, workplaces should really prioritise that psychological safety and financial safety,” she told The Sunday Times.

“And $10 may seem a lot to one employee, where $50 may seem like nothing to another employee, and I think the goal should really be joy and connection, not financial strain.”

Saying that, $20 still seems to be a generally acceptable budget despite its diminishing value.

In workplaces where the average salary is high, Dr Finnie said the expectation on gift giving can balloon to the point it creates “awkward moments” between staff and employers when strict budgets are not followed.

She suggested it should be the thought that counts, and not necessarily the price tag.

“It may even be a good idea to give people an opt-out option without stigma,” Dr Finnie added, “with no explanation on why” someone may wish not to participate.

Engineers Australia — the country’s national engineering body — is an example of an organisation mixing it up.

The body’s WA leg hosts a “reverse-engineered” Secret Santa, with employees purchasing an anonymously labelled gift intended for themselves and inviting peers to guess the recipient.

“Scores are tallied at the end when the great reveal takes place, with a prize for the person who matches the most presents with the right owners,” the organisation said.

One engineer, who prefers not to be named, admitted the tradition of workplace gift-giving at had gone out the chimney in the interest of maintaining ethical standards at their workplace, and was now widely discouraged.

“What remains acceptable is the simple gesture of inviting someone for a coffee or lunch which doesn’t contravene gift and hospitality policies,” they said.

“In many ways, this shift marks the end of a long-standing tradition. Christmas gift-giving in the workplace is pretty much a thing of the past.”

There is an argument that Australia has become “woke” in its cultural language, with “Christmas” often replaced with the term “festive season” to avoid excluding those of other faiths.

Dr Finnie suggested the fastest growing religion in the country was actually no religion at all — but that’s more reflective of the stance of younger generations who were raised in progressive environments.

She has observed that “more traditional organisations and employees get quite upset if you want to call it a festive season, as opposed to, for example, Christmas”, with those born later unphased by the semantics.

Jackson Moyle is a manager of three Chicken Treat stores in Perth’s northern suburbs, and at 21, feels he can relate to the interests and perspectives of his teenage staff members.

Across the locations, Mr Moyle is planning casual Christmas dinners and breakfasts for staff to trade gifts and play games.

Setting the Secret Santa budget at $30, he said participation levels are high, and considered the types of presents that might be unwrapped.

“Probably a lot of novelty gifts, funny socks is a big trend with these kids, books people are interested in, and confectionery items like chocolate,” he said.

With his three stores opened less than a year ago, the young manager views Christmas festivities as an opportunity to broaden relationships with his inexperienced team, and not simply to fulfil a corporate tick box.

“It’s already a pretty positive workplace culture, we’re trying to reinforce the culture we have,” he said.