Enforcing gifts??? Wow, that's terrible. I prefer giving out without expecting in return which is why I go with this;
What may add some value to their day or just make them happy.
I get to know what the person needs and If I can afford it, I gift it out. Nothing more.
It's called kris kingle or secret santa and in the workplace is usually made mandatory so no one misses out.
A couple years ago (at a different workplace) we were all given a $20 budget and were asked to pick a name from a jar, I got someone I didn't like. I ended up buying a $40 bottle of gin (I made inquiries and found out the person liked gin) and then arrived at the event (a breakfast in a café) to hand it over. The fucker didn't turn up. So, that meant I kept the gin for myself but also meant that the person who she had drawn to buy for went without a gift. How is that team-building or motivational? Oh yeah, that's right, it's not. It's a fucken dumb concept and often poorly managed. It's also a way of the company avoiding the need to buy Christmas gifts for the team.
I don't need gifts from my organisation, they pay me very well throughout the year and give me a bonus at the end of the year (that's all remuneration for effort) so I don't expect a gift, or even an event but it's nice when it happens. I just don't agree with the enforced kris kringle thing and prefer a more organic gift-giving scenario.
Made mandatory.... what a joke!
That's just it. Things like this happen when the company is trying to play smart. It is sad. No no one should be forced to give out anything.
However, I am glad you are in a better place now, and thanks for the deep explanation given on kris kringle. I appreciate it.