Are you obligated to get somebody a gift when they get you one?

No lol!

I think that anyone who gives a gift expecting to get one in return is doing it for the wrong reasons. A gift is no longer a “gift” when you’re expected to give something back - it’s a business deal.

I wouldn’t personally- I don’t buy gifts for people expecting one back. If they get everyone a gift then they are obviously happy to and just like to. They will understand that people don’t have the money to buy people gifts back all the time or don’t buy for people they don’t know well. If this happened to me in the workplace then I would thank them and say it was unexpected but so nice of them and just explain I don’t usually get colleagues gifts, but it is much appreciated. Then next year I would suggest Secret Santa to everyone, so people could all get a gift each but no one had to spend much :)

No, not really, most people do it because they feel the obligation too, or think is a way of saying thanks. But really is someone gives you a gift, nothing should be expected back other than the thanks and smile.

I do it because it just doesn’t feel right not to reciprocate.