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It's the season for giving - even at work By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND - There are just two caveats for the gift exchange that will take place Sunday when Ashland Community Food Store has its employee holiday banquet. The gift cannot exceed $10 in value and it cannot come from ACFS. "We get all dressed up and dance. A worker who is a DJ will provide the entertainment," said Annie Hoy, ACFS spokesperson. The event is held at Ashland Springs Hotel. Besides the party, employees receive a $50 gift certificate that can be used in the store. Dinners, parties, gift certificates, cash bonuses, gifts and on-the-job comfort food are given out by employers across the valley during the holidays. Some organizations also help those in need as part of their celebration. Drawings for prizes ranging from cash and candy to trips and a television will be part of Lithia Toyota's Christmas party at the Reston Hotel. Employees and guests enjoy dancing, dinner and contests. About 150 people will attend. "Most everyone gets something," said Richard Summers, general manager. Sales people may also get a performance-based bonus on Christmas day. At Thanksgiving, the company gave out $15 certificates for turkeys. Lithia matched employee contributions and raised more than $2,000 to aid a single mother and her family. The money will help her move into a home and provide food, clothes and gifts. "Instead of Christmas gifts or a dinner, employees voluntarily contribute and the chamber matches that amount (to) sponsor a family," said Brad Hicks, executive vice president of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. "It makes everybody in the office feel a lot better than another Christmas party to go to." The Christmas gift list ranges from small to large, but almost all companies offer their employees something extra at the holidays. The gifts include: � Les Schwab Tires gives all employees a $100 cash bonus, said Dick Borgman, executive vice president in Prineville. Individual stores plan their own events. Employees of Les Schwab on South Pacific Highway and their families - about 80 people in all - went to a party at Bruno's Pizza. Kids received gifts from Santa. � About 60 people will attend the annual dinner and party put on by Star Auto Body Works at the Rogue Valley Country Club. The firm has 25 employees. Each of them will receive a gift. Instead of giving cash bonuses, the company now contributes to employee 401k funds. � Bear Creek Corp. hands out "enormous" turkeys to each employee prior to Thanksgiving, said Bill Ihle, corporate spokesperson. The firm sets up tables with Harry and David food products for worker breaks in the time before Christmas. Different divisions also hold their own events. � The Mail Tribune gave employees $25 gift cards at Fred Meyer. Departments within the newspaper schedule their own events. The papers' employees also sponsored a number of families from Jackson School, buying toys, clothes and household items as Christmas gifts. � Geppetto's and the Plaza Cafe in Ashland hold a joint dinner and party at the cafe. � Rogue Regency Inn gives Rogue Valley Mall gift certificates based on time of service. � Mervyn's has dinners for managers and comfort food and an attendance incentive for sales personnel. � Klamath First Federal bank had a regional dinner at R-Haus in Grants Pass for employees from Jackson and Josephine counties and the coast. The bank also gives certificates for turkeys. One firm wanted to make sure it wasn't in the Scrooge category. Hicks said he received a call at the chamber from an attorney who asked if their cash bonuses were large enough. The law firm planned to give $500 to each employee. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.