What are some of the gifts you have received for Christmas?

[smallworld]

Many of my patients bring me gifts for the holidays as I'm the only optician in my office. What would be considered a "normal" gift for your optician? Same as the hairdresser? Also, would you ever decline a gift from a patient?

[rbaker]

Many of my patients bring me gifts for the holidays as I'm the only optician in my office. What would be considered a "normal" gift for your optician? Same as the hairdresser? Also, would you ever decline a gift from a patient?

Home made baked goods are always appreciated.

I was once offered some Columbian Marching Powder to which I replied "no thank you."

[Hayde]

I currently work for a non-profit health care system where accepting gifts is inappropriate. (This didn't prevent one grateful patient from leaving a bag of Avocados on my desk once, against my polite protests. Management got a chuckle out of that story. Avocados were duly distributed up the chain of command until they ran out. They were quite good.)

However, I once worked for a private practice where another patient who worked for an area vodka(!) distillery shared the wealth with his appreciative eye care professionals! As much as I was looking forward to sampling it, it was re-gifted to a friend with a known affinity.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, colleagues!

[Lelarep]

I'm in a similar situation to Hayde, but there are exceptions for items that "have no appreciable monetary or resale value", so, home made edibles are always welcome.