Posted by
tsuiwah
18 yrs ago
My understanding is that married couples are supposed to give out lai see to their non-married colleagues.
But, what if your colleagues are not local Hong Kongers? For example, if they are from a part of China or somewhere else where giving lai see is not such a tradition.
Also, is it a real faux paus to give only clean (but not crisp brand new) notes? The nice folks at HSBC were rationing the new notes so all I have are "clean" notes.
Lastly, when do I start doling out the packets?
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AYM
18 yrs ago
Also, the tea lady (if there is one in the office) should be given as well regardless of whether she is married or not.
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thanks for the replies
if your barber works with other barbers and a receptionist, is it considered impolite to give the lai see to only one staff member?
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We have several lobby receptionists both in our building and the clubhouse on shift duties and I would like to give lai see only to a few who are courteous and helpful.
Is a clean (not crisp) $20 bill each decent enough?
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Nuri
18 yrs ago
My boss is a local Chinese and she is married. We have very good friendly relationship. Would it appropriate if I give her a small box of chocolates in red wrapping?
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Clemo
17 yrs ago
Is it true that the notes should not include the digits 4 and 8 and that the note shouldn't start with an odd number???
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Pine's explaination is pretty accurate. In regards to giving lai see to barbers, manicurists etc etc, you don't have to give to everyone in the shop. Most ppl will only give to the person that services them most regularly, although discreetly. You wouldn't give to one openly, leaving everyone else without a lai see, that would be very rude. The same is true for lobby staff of residential buildings. Our building now has a policy where you are not supposed to give lai see to individual staff, but put them in a locked box at the management office to be distributed equally amongst all the staff. But if they didn't have this policy, we'd only give to those that we recognise or have been especially helpful, not to all and sundry.
As for the money itself, most ppl prepare in advance and get new notes, but if you haven't, then clean notes are fine. And it is considered more polite to give notes, rather than coins, that's why a lot of ppl go to the bank, to get $10 notes. And I've never heard of not including notes with the digits 4 or that they shouldn't start with an odd, if that was true, what a nightmare!!! In regards to monetary value, you give more to family and perhaps to the children of family friends, but to everyone else, depending on how well you know them, anything from $10 to $50 is fine.
Nuri, you don't have to give anything to your boss for CNY, regardless of whether or not she's married. It's not really appropriate and while it's sweet of you, it's a little awkward in terms of Chinese tradition. If you were invited to her house over CNY, then it's expected for you to bring a gift of sweets, biscuits or fruit.
And yes, for expats, it's definitely the effort that counts. Happy CNY everyone!
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My wife heard that at work, "complete strangers" will come into her office with one of her reports in tow, so that they can be introduced and get a packet.
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How rude...those people must also be parents who take their children to visit every relative they never ever see at any other time except CNY, so their kids can collect lots of lai see....and then they take half their kids' lai see money for themselves! As much as it's a very old tradition, as long as there is money involved, you get all sorts of rude and clueless ppl who will take advantage. Since they're so rude, if I was your wife, I wouldn't have a problem ignoring these ppl and let them go empty handed, just pretend you don't know what they're after, they wouldn't have the nerve to actually ask for a lai see I'm sure!
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"Since they're so rude, if I was your wife, I wouldn't have a problem ignoring these ppl and let them go empty handed, just pretend you don't know what they're after, they wouldn't have the nerve to actually ask for a lai see I'm sure!"
I agree it's rude, but it is the custom and it's cheaper paying than getting passive resistance the rest of the year.
This whole cash giving thing is really expensive for managers, but then again we probably spent more on tips in a year when we lived in the US. 15-20% tips are typical, along with a buck or two for doormen, valets and so forth. Grocery delivery men often get 5-10 bucks for crying out loud. So it does even out.
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Is there any particular guideline for the amounts? What's appropriate for your doorman and lobby attendant? Employees if you're a manager? Admin assistant? Last year, I only had a few employees, so I gave them and my admin assistant 800 bucks each. I have a feeling I overdid it a bit. The random "bai nian!" beggars in the office got a 20 from my reserve stash. Lobby attendants got 100 each.
Too much? Too little? What's a gweilo to know? :)
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"Is there any particular guideline for the amounts? What's appropriate for your doorman and lobby attendant? Employees if you're a manager? Admin assistant? Last year, I only had a few employees, so I gave them and my admin assistant 800 bucks each. I have a feeling I overdid it a bit. The random "bai nian!" beggars in the office got a 20 from my reserve stash. Lobby attendants got 100 each."
That is indeed a lot. We checked around and based on that gave 20-100 depending on person.
Our helper got a nice yearly bonus of course. But CNY is only a convenient occasion to give it, not a reason.
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In my office, employees would probably get sth like 50 HKD from the Top Boss, unless they are managers, in wich case they get 100 HKD.
Haven't opened my Lay See enveloppes yet, but guess all married people that "had to" give me a Laysee gave 10 HKD....
Will check this and let you know... once i've opened them.
Otherwise, management people etc. usually get 10 or 20 HKD (in 2 enveloppes if you are married - one (10 HKD) from Ms & one (10 HKD) from Mr, even though only one person gives them).... that's what Chinese people usually do, i've heard, unless you wanna impress the person or make a special thank....
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yeah, the greedy grubbers with their hands out getting nothing from me, and they dare not ask in my workplace.
I gave them all good calendar new year red pockets and told them that was it 'til next year (so they wouldn't come sniffing about). I gave them all generous Chinese new year pockets too, but just want them not to exepct it, as expectation is something I don't encourage. Besides, they all got a month pay ! so can't complain.
However, I give my secretary and my 2 senior exec staff 500 each, and the rest of them (about another 12) ranging downwards to 50, except the tealady and receptionist get 20 (but they get more pockets from other people so they probably get more than 500 anyhow!)
Its up to you and how much you value your staff - personally I see it as a very small cost for the commitment they have and the moral within my group. I have have found HK women (dont have any HK guys) are very committed to their boss if you treat them well and take some sort an interst in their personal lives - they are great !
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But be careful of giving lai see to the wrong ppl - I had an outraged colleague (Chinese, married) ranting to me about how an unmarried colleague (also Chinese, but single) had given her lai see - thereby indicating that she was above her in the office pecking order (as a single person should only give to a married person if they are the boss...).
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"But be careful of giving lai see to the wrong ppl - I had an outraged colleague (Chinese, married) ranting to me about how an unmarried colleague (also Chinese, but single) had given her lai see - thereby indicating that she was above her in the office pecking order (as a single person should only give to a married person if they are the boss...)."
Yawn. I'm all for respecting people's customs, but that's just too petty for me. ;)
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Wow, what a minefield! Is it acceptable just to take everyone out for lunch or dinner instead? Or buy everyone one of those sticky sweet cakes the size of a small frying pan?
It'd get around the married/single (what about the divorced and women who use "Ms" instead of "Miss"? Who's to know what their marital status is without prying?)
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"Is it acceptable just to take everyone out for lunch or dinner instead? "
Don't think so. Cash is king. ;)
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