Is it weird to buy your co-worker a “gift”?

[naartjie]

A guy at work, he’s 20 or 21, had been crying in the lunch room today. The place we work at is brutal, hard work and you have to work with assholes so I felt so bad for him.

We bumped into each other at the shops, he just did a nod and said hi. I saw he was buying snacks (probably a treat after a hard day) and I thought to maybe get one of the snacks he got and put a sticky note saying “hope you have a better day” for tomorrow.

We work in completely different departments so I don’t know him really but it was the first time he’s acknowledged me, usually we just glance on and off at each other for an hour before work starts while we have coffee in the lunch room.

Is this a yay or nay?
Thoughts?

[Summeroflove]

You’re not weird at all you’re a very empathetic kind hearted person you should absolutely do that. Some people are narcissistic and just don’t understand empathy it’s far above them.

[Summeroflove]

That’s honestly so sweet

[naartjie]

It will be done then!

[Summeroflove]

Amazing update me how it went

[princeofromance]

I get gifts for people all the time. It is not weird; it is a beautiful gesture of kindness that comes from the heart.

[naartjie]

I’m the same way… people often think it’s odd though! I always get discouraged doing this but I care too much and just want to😭

[naartjie]

I think because we don’t know each other I’m on the fence because I don’t want to come across weird

[princeofromance]

Giving is not weird; it is a selfless act of kindness that could change somebody's day from bad to good because you took time to think about them.

[Summeroflove]

You’re sweet just do it. If other people find ir weird you didn’t do jr for them anyways

[Flower7]

Knowing guys, he will probably see it as a romantic gesture.

[naartjie]

So you reckon I shouldn’t?

[jamesgoldman]

That depends on if you have any romantic feeling towards him

[naartjie]

I don’t but I of course just wanted to do something out of kindness after seeing him cry. I don’t know him at all plus he just turned 20 lol

[jamesgoldman]

I'd say leave it long enough for the chance encounter to be forgotten so maybe a couple of weeks

[jamesgoldman]

Then do it

[naartjie]

But then doesn’t that defeat the purpose of getting him the treat? I mean I’m only getting it cause he was crying. If I give it to him in a few days or weeks from now it will be random haha

[jamesgoldman]

Random beats romantic

[Summeroflove]

It’s not just romantic if he gets the wrong impression jusf be kind about it. I would say just do it

[naartjie]

Well I’ve definitely made it weird. I was too chicken to give it to him this morning as he sits with a lot of the older guys and I knew they’d make it into something it’s not so when we went to work, I put it in his work bag and now I fear that may be even weirder😅

[naartjie]

I did leave a nice note with a smile but now there’s no going back as he has lunch first today so I can’t go back and get it before he sees.

[jamesgoldman]

Keep us posted I guess

[naartjie]

Ok so we ended up having lunch at the same time. He came up to me and thanked me, said he was having a bad day and he really appreciated it. So he didn’t think it was weird thankfully!

[jamesgoldman]

Good to hear

[Nikki1989]

Not at all.

[Geo1970]

Then my personal advice to you is do not buy anyone gifts.
They may at first seem really decent people, but then subsequently as you have pointed out, become complete arseholes!

[naartjie]

Yes usually I think like this but I ended up getting him the snack I saw he liked and we’re actually good friends now! He never took this in the wrong way but appreciated it and yeah now we’re friends haha

[Geo1970]

Well, that’s just absolutely brilliant! You’ve defeated the objective and one yourself a good friend by the sounds of it. Congratulations.

[DragonDan444]

I would say to go for it! There is nothing wrong with showing care and empathy for another human being I know some people have concerns about him taking it the wrong way which I do not know how you feel about him, but I would say just do it. If he gets the wrong idea just kindly explain that you did it to be nice to him.

It does not have to be anything major people really do appreciate when someone helps them out you really never know what all he could be going through.

[slatyb]

That sort of small gesture is fine.

[UknowJT93]

I don't wanna keep relationships in work place... clearly No

[CubaPirate]

Not weird just kind and thoughtful