Office workers are ditching Secret Santa for ‘gifting hell’ White Elephant

Whether you love it or you hate it, the idea of a Secret Santa usually gets floated around the office this time of year.

It’s a slightly awkward prospect, too, as if you’re given the name of someone you don’t really like – or don’t really know – choosing their gift can be a pretty difficult experience. And it usually ends up being a mug.

There’s a way around it, though, as there’s a little-referenced alternative to Secret Santa called White Elephant, which places emphasis on ‘stealing’ gifts rather than swapping them.

According to the official rules, the quirky gift exchange method involves bringing ‘gag gifts or gifts they’ve [previously] received that they have no use for.’

That sorts out the socks we’re given year after year, then.

How does a White Elephant exchange work?

‘In a White Elephant gift exchange, each participant brings a wrapped, unmarked gift and places it in a designated area.

‘Guests are given numbers as they arrive, or their names are randomly drawn, and they select gifts in that order — with a twist,’ the rules outline.

During the first turn, the person assigned the number one picks out a present and opens it in front of everyone – and when number two comes around to their turn, they’re allowed to ‘steal’ the first gift, if they so please.

They can also choose a different one – that’s still wrapped – from the pile, and if the first gift is stolen, then number one has to go back again and repeat the same process.

Why should you consider giving it a go?

It might be all about spreading festive joy with colleagues, but new research from Virgin Experience Days has revealed that only a mere 17% of Brits actually enjoy participating in their workplace Secret Santa.

This enjoyment declines with age, as 34% of 18 to 24-year-olds were found to enjoy it, but this drops to just 6% for those over 55.

What’s more, 28% of Brits admitted they find the act of gift-giving stressful in general, while 11% have concerns about the environmental impact of unwanted gifts.

As such, it’s easy to see why something like White Elephant, where you can try and nab a gift you do actually want, might be a more preferable option.

‘It was so fun watching people compete over specific gifts’

Lauren Ostler tells Metro that her company previously tried White Elephant out to ‘avoid the pressure of buying for a specific person.’

She notes: ‘There was always the worry of picking the name of someone you don’t know that well or have never even spoken to directly, especially if you’re in a big office.

‘I feel it can lead to a lot of unwanted presents and waste on both ends. We did trial doing it in departments, but it was kind of the same.’

So, in 2024, they tried the White Elephant approach to present-giving – and it proved a ‘huge success,’ as she says that they allowed people to buy ‘whatever they fancied’ within the same, small budget.

‘It was so fun watching people compete over specific gifts. A Brat t-shirt, a waffle maker, a karaoke machine, and a Taskmaster card game were all in high demand,’ she adds.

‘It just felt light-hearted and fun, and a great way to wrap up the year, which is why we’re all doing it again this year.’

However not everyone who’s tried it is a fan of White Elephant, as over on the r/evilautism Subreddit, @vario_ described it as akin to ‘gifting hell.’

‘I always end up with garbage, and if I get something cool for once, it gets stolen. I stopped participating years ago because I hate it,’ @sovtherngothicvvitch posted.

Similarly, @accidentalarchers concluded it was ‘like Secret Santa but a million times worse. It just means nobody is happy.’

And it’s worth noting that there will be others who simply won’t want to spend money on gifts for colleagues at all, given that we’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

So whether your office is doing Secret Santa or White Elephant this year, remember to be respectful of those who wish to opt out.

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