Give them few bottles of Lao Kao

New Years is a holiday where workers expect to get a cash bonus.  Been this way forever, possibly two thousand years.

Even if they like KFC, and YES it is considered a luxury food to the working classes, giving chicken for NYs shows cheapness in their eyes.

Don't be too bothered about it though.  You're not going to understand how their minds work, and they will never understand how your mind works.

If you offered me that stuff I would have politely thanked you and, when you had departed, offered it to the soi dogs. No guarantee that they, also, would, appreciate it.

 

We give cleaners money with a new year's card, and the refuse collectors 12 bottles of Chang beer. They seem happy with that.

Next time just give them 200 THB each.  

On 1/12/2025 at 5:48 PM, sqwakvfr said:

For New Years I bought two buckets of KFC for the cleaning crew at my apartmet building.  I had the chicken delivered at 1100 becasue this is when they normally start their lunch break.  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted.  I got a nod and one of them accepted the chicken and I quielty walked out. Is giving fried chicken insulting?  A few months ago I bought the crew two boxes of chocolate brownies as an after lunch treat and I could definitely tell they did not like the brownies.  This was my mistake.  Obviously this was not their kind of desert. They are a good bunch and do a good job in cleaning the rooms and the common areas.  My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

Is giving cash the only thing most Thai people actually appreciate?  

I guess I would be a little confused, too.  Maybe it was 'the surprise'. I think you should discuss with 'the leader', because they surely have one and plan a lunch for all of them with a 'Thai meal' that they all can enjoy. Yes, it will cost a bit more than just 2 buckets of chicken, but you'll be happier with their response. 

Two threads about fried chicken running neck in neck. Suspicious. Did you possibly try to feed those workers 'deep fried chicken that's been sitting out for 7 hours or more'?

 

 

On 1/12/2025 at 9:48 PM, sqwakvfr said:

For New Years I bought two buckets of KFC for the cleaning crew at my apartmet building.  I had the chicken delivered at 1100 becasue this is when they normally start their lunch break.  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted.  I got a nod and one of them accepted the chicken and I quielty walked out. Is giving fried chicken insulting?  A few months ago I bought the crew two boxes of chocolate brownies as an after lunch treat and I could definitely tell they did not like the brownies.  This was my mistake.  Obviously this was not their kind of desert. They are a good bunch and do a good job in cleaning the rooms and the common areas.  My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

 

Is giving cash the only thing most Thai people actually appreciate?  

 

Thai people, especially workers from rural areas, prefer Thai food... you could have thought like a Thai person and taken a senior member aside and asked...

Chicken: Probably 'Five (Ha Dao) Star Chicken' would have been more to their liking, or the easier to eat grilled pork/chicken on a stick

Brownies: Thai workers probably won't want these types of things and often don't eat processed sweet stuffs... Green papaya with chilli sauce would have beena more accepted treat!

On 1/12/2025 at 5:48 PM, sqwakvfr said:

For New Years I bought two buckets of KFC for the cleaning crew at my apartmet building.  I had the chicken delivered at 1100 becasue this is when they normally start their lunch break.  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted.  I got a nod and one of them accepted the chicken and I quielty walked out. Is giving fried chicken insulting?  A few months ago I bought the crew two boxes of chocolate brownies as an after lunch treat and I could definitely tell they did not like the brownies.  This was my mistake.  Obviously this was not their kind of desert. They are a good bunch and do a good job in cleaning the rooms and the common areas.  My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

 

Is giving cash the only thing most Thai people actually appreciate?  

In most cases YES, cash is what they need, not so much brownies of KFC.