I found out last week that this week my entire department is throwing me a shower. I was very surprised because I am the third FTM in the department this past year and I'm the only one that is getting a shower. (So that already makes me feel a little guilty) There are around 35 people in my department how do I do a thank you for them if they all go in on something? Do I do one for each individual person or a group thank you? Any advice would be great!
Re: Work Shower
Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.
Benjamin Franklin
This is what happens in my work places. I've been the organizer of a couple of "showers" and not everyone participates yet the card is from "The Department"...yet it seems like EVERYONE signs it whether they contributed or not. Awkward. It is nice to thank the department as a group as mentioned above.
My work shower was different in that one the girls had it at her home and there were only 8 of us. None of the guys (almost all employees were guys except about 9-10 of us) were invited. I wrote individual thank you notes.
If everyone goes in on a group gift, I would write up a nice thank you note and attach it to a plate of bagels/cream cheese or some cookies and leave it in the break room for everyone. You could also send out a group email and thank them for the shower and let them know that there are thank you treats in the break room (or wherever) for them.
If people get you individual gifts, I would give those people individual thank you cards.
My coworkers went all out for me for my work shower. Seven of them went in together and hosted lunch and cupcakes for my department (and anyone else in the company I wanted to invite). They decorated the lunchroom in my nursery theme and we even did cake tastings to find the right cupcakes to get. And the gifts from all the attendees were phenomenal!!!
During the shower, I hosted the "shower game", meaning that I thought up and put together the game myself (at my own cost). I also had a diaper raffle, for which I bought the raffle prize.
As a thank you to the ones who planned it, I gave them each a little gift. Travel coffee mugs, candles, etc. I went more personal for the few who I knew even better. One mentioned that she liked my (designer) nail polish, so I bought her a bottle of it as my thank you to her. In addition, I gave all the gift givers each a thank you card.
These were my coworkers, not my family. They had no obligation to do anything for me, and I was so touched! So I probably spent a lot of my own money on the shower myself, but it was the least I could do for their thoughtfulness.
If they give you one big group gift, then at a minimum, I think a thank you card to each person would be in order. After all, they put in the money as individuals, so you should individually acknowledge their contribution. If you want to host a game during the shower, I can help you with a fun group game that male/female coworkers can play! (And not be grossed out.) Have fun!