Reply #9 gwailoplayer's post
You can give money any time you want, but your immediate staff will expect it from you on your 1st day back to work after CNY.
If you are married, do not be surprised if someone you barely know in the company comes over to greet you with "Gung Hei Fat Choy" or Happy Chinese New Year. This happens because married people are always expected to give red envelopes to the single, unmarried staff when greeted. For these people, you give them just $10 or $20 as these amounts are fine as there may be many single people in your company (in case you work with many single people).
Thankfully there is a limited period when people (esp those you barely know) can go up to you and wish you, 'Gung Hei Fat Choy' or Happy Chinese New Year', hoping for a red envelope from you. It is really difficult to refuse to give upon hearing the CNY greeting. This "Gung Hei Fat Choy" period is from the 1st day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar until the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, basically the first 15 days of CNY.
So for some of you guys who on a tight budget, I would advise you avoid all your favorite mongering ktvs, saunas, walkups, brothels, bars, restaurants, clubs, banks, and coffee shops until after the 15th day of CNY. If you don't stay home, then make sure you leave the home with enough red envelopes to pass out to someone who has served you before when you go to your fav cafe. Also don't assume the non-Chinese staff (ie Nepalis, Filipinos, etc) will not say the CNY greeting to you just because they are non-Chinese. Many of the Nepalis grew up in HK and as a Hongkonger they expect to be treated the same as the ethnic Chinese Hongkonger.
Of course the locals don't expect the non-Asians to follow this custom. But if you are a non-Asian and you do give red envelopes, it will be greatly appreciated and remembered. 
Remember it is the thought that counts and every person in the service industry likes to be respected.  | |
