Redditors Share 10 Of The Most Inappropriate Secret Santa Gifts They've Ever Given Or Received

"She had to take a month off due to stress."

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• December 29, 2024

Finding the perfect gift for a loved one can be a tricky process. Taking into consideration their likes, dislikes, and what they have or don't have already can take a lot of time and contemplation.

It would be fair to assume that a workplace Secret Santa gift would take far less planning and effort than a meaningful gift for a friend or family member. But, in reality, sometimes ideas for those Secret Santa gifts are even more challenging to come up with.

After all, there is usually a price limit to stick to, and it's not always easy to stay within the realms of what the HR department deems acceptable. Not to mention, you probably don't know your work colleagues that well, so coming up with an idea for something they will actually like or use can be a challenge in itself.

A now-deleted Reddit user recently posed the question in the r/AskUK subreddit: "What's the most inappropriate Secret Santa gift you've seen (or sent!)?" Replies and comments came flooding in from Redditors with some of the best Secret Santa stories we've ever heard.

From a 'Grow Your Own Boyfriend' kit to a Britney Spears wig to not being given a gift at all, we have 10 of the best replies for you below. Keep scrolling to take a look.

1. "Someone got my name and didn't bother."

Well I was the only one to not receive a gift in the Secret Santa. It was humiliating. Someone got my name and didn't bother.

Anonymous

2. "She had a f**king meltdown."

Way back I worked with a woman who had a major reputation for keeping her husband well under the thumb. This guy was not even allowed his own debit card from her without prior clearance.

In an anonymous secret Santa I got her a dog collar with his name on the tag.

She had a f**king meltdown.

Izks5t5

3. "She had to take a month off due to stress."

There was a woman in our work who really wanted a baby. She was thinking of going for donor sperm and IVF, but would have had to go private for it and was stressing about the expense and uncertainty.

Her Secret Santa present was a turkey baster with a note attached suggesting "Santa" could provide the donor sperm. She broke down crying in the middle of the office while the utter a*sehole of a man that had given her the present laughed uproariously and the HR girls looked ready to throw up in horror.

He had been removed before New Year (dunno if he was fired or if he left willingly), and she had to take a month off due to stress. It was horrible. We don't do Secret Santa anymore in our office.

Varvara-Sidorovna

4. You can't put a price on love

Broke up with my boyfriend and less than a month later got a ‘grow your own boyfriend’ from Secret Santa.

Fairyology

5. Gotta love a backhanded compliment

A coworker got me makeup brushes, and said I'd be so much prettier with makeup, because I'm so plain.

(I actually like makeup, I just don't always feel like doing it. Apparently my coworker didn't think it was a choice?)

buckyandsmacky4evr

6. "Absolute comedy gold."

I'm a woman who used to have long hair. Over lockdown I shaved all my hair off. At the next Secret Santa, someone got me a Britney Spears wig. Absolute comedy gold.

sharksare2cool

7. "Maybe you need to lift harder."

A few years ago, I had gained some weight after having my daughter and was really struggling to lose it, which is the main contribution to my post-partum depression.

I shared the situation with my colleagues and got a dumbbell as a Secret Santa gift with a note 'maybe you need to lift harder, this may help.' I was fuming at the spot but held myself together well (I think).

Left the job for a promotion 3 months later and only used the dumbbell as a doorstop.

Fine-Tomato-6298

8. "The future is female."

I used to work with this very se*ist chauvinistic guy who was really vocal about his views on why women aren’t suited in the workplace. So I got him a nice notepad (Paperchase might I add) that had “The future is female” on the front.

I thought it would be funny and thought he would see the funny side too but he was furious! I later found it on someone else’s desk, turns out he gave it to another colleague.

Inner-Silver1581

9. They could have at least included the magazine.

A free gift from a magazine. Not even with the magazine, just the freebie, still in packaging branded with the magazine name.

aqueenlikealion

10. Pure class.

Budget was a tenner.

Boss gave the perma-intern a tenner and a pack of polo mints.

Classy.

TheMeanderer

There you have it, 10 of the most inappropriate Secret Santa gifts Redditors have given or received. What did you think of the list?

While some of the gift ideas are rather funny and undeniably clever, there are a few that were downright hurtful. We can't help but feel for those on the receiving end of them.

We would love to hear your opinions on this list. As always, you can share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

Stephanie