I have a conundrum. I'm not very good at social stuff. But I know that buying a couple-of-dozen doughnuts it a nice gesture for a team. So, every few months, I used to pony up for a case of sweet treats. I'm not a manager, or team leader, or anything like that. I just know that an unhealthy amount of sugar is a nice way to bond with colleagues - and meet new people in the office.
And, much like buying a round in a pub, I'm aware of the loose social obligation created by me greedily eating the home-baked treats brought in by others.
But how do you do that when working from home?
The cost of doughnuts is pretty cheap - less than a quid each (unless you're buying the really fancy ones). Call it about £1.50 per team mate.
Sending a single doughnut by post appears to be an untapped market - probably for good practical reasons!
Giving everyone £1.50 via PayPal feels a bit weird and impersonal.
Sending everyone a bag of sweets or box of chocolates involves collecting addresses (which not everyone will be comfortable giving out) and it can be hard to find something which is vegan, gluten free, suitable for diabetics, etc.
I asked my friends how to solve this problem - and this is what they suggested:
Replying to @edent@edent We did a version of Secret Santa where you bought lunch for another colleague. That was fun and could be done at anytime. I’ve also bought little biscuit baking kits where we did the decorating and eating together in a team meeting.
Replying to @edent@edent Pick one person you think particularly deserves a lift or appreciation and send them something.
Replying to @edent@edent Send Toblerones? Should just need a label and a stamp.
amazon.co.uk/Tobl-Erone-Bar…
Replying to @edent@edent I had a similar issue for our Christmas party. Went round the houses and eventually ended up having a PayPal whip round of SLT and sending e-vouchers to rest of team but unfortunately not in time for people to get things delivered for the party itself... But a nice Xmas present!
Replying to @bensmithuk@bensmithuk @edent I sent £5 PayPal to each member of my team & told them to buy a tub of @HackneyGelato for a Friday afternoon ice cream bonanza. It went down very well.. then I promised to do it again and never got round to it, which I don’t think went down as well. The ice cream though, is tops!
Replying to @edent@edent You can set up a business @Deliveroo account, then you can order everybody something - you can set maximum spend and timeslots they can order in (I believe). You can order something to each person, or you can give them their own login to order whatever they like
Replying to @edent@edent Be cautious with the assumption that people consider 'team doughnuts' to be universally a good thing.
I'm not exactly overweight but I try to avoid snacking between meals, and I find these 'treats' provided occasionally by my team to be unhelpful (and unhealthy).
Replying to @tpuddle@tpuddle @edent I just hate doughnuts. and other cake-like things. But yes, when I was working in the UK there seemed to be a lot of free doughnuts, beer and other things I don't like
Replying to @edent@edent I got a surprise book in the mail and it was the best and sweetest gesture. Def more than $1.50 but sparked my attention and felt genuine.
Replying to @edent@edent Get a message for the team from a celebrity (via Cameo?) and then send it to all of them?
cameo.com
So, dearest blog reader - what are your thoughts?
3 thoughts on “How to buy team doughnuts when WFH?”