Originally Posted by
ftrichard
Unlike others on this thread, I do not consider it a great act of charity, compassion and gratitude to bestow these free certificates on employees because they cost me absolutely nothing and the giving is therefore an empty gesture and the employee knows it. I'm sure they'd prefer, you know, actual money as a appreciative gratuity if that's what the gift is intended to demonstrate.
Is there maybe a bit cultural bias to this assumption? While I'm sure that everyone would prefer a gold bar rather than a relative stranger giving them something of little value, but in practice the human psyche is programmed to recognize and appreciate it when someone takes time out of their schedule to make an effort to thank someone, especially when it is comes after the event and isn't just a spur of the moment thing.