Christmas Bonuses, or lack thereof...
 

How much do people usually get for Christmas bonuses from their jobs? Of course, it's probably all relative... if you work at McD's, you probably won't get as much as, say, being an exec for an advertising firm or something.

I work as a programmer for a small company that brings in quite a bit of money. We (the programmers) are pretty important within the company, and without us, things would pretty much seize up.

That being said, our "bonus" last year was $250 (pre tax)... The company I worked at prior to this, which brought in just as much, probably even LESS money than we do, we got $900-$1200 bonuses. Talking to other people about this, that amount seems farily common for our line of business.

This year, each day of the week our boss put out a fairly small gift... like a basket of chocolates or whatever. Today a $35 gift card to a certain store. I have a strong feeling that this is gonna lead up to the surprise of not getting a christmas bonus since we have a few more people working now than we did last year.

So... what do you do in this type of situation where a company stiffs you like this for christmas? If we end up not getting the bonus, I'm thinking about asking them to tack on another week towards my vacation or something..

I don't mean to sound all, "I'm entitled to a bonus NOW! Graahhhh" or anything, but it is pretty cheap for a company to stiff people like this.. especially the very people who keep it afloat.

I work for a manufacturing company, and I got a $500 (pre tax) bonus this year. I think last year and the previous year it was $250. We had a very good year though, better than expected.

I don't think that a company is entitled to give out bonuses. Sure, it's nice. But some companies just don't do it.

What would I do in that situation? Nothing. It's amazing that I'm still employed with the amount that I screw up :lol: So I'd keep my yap shut.

Maybe ask your boss if you're getting bonuses? And if not, ask why. I don't know. I don't think people should expect a bonus at all.

Well, I worked for more than a decade in the public sector where bonuses are unheard of. They simply do not exist. So I kind of got used to not having one.

Then I had a few jobs but only for short periods of time before returning to school to get my degree. Now I just started a new job where the holiday schedule sucks, but the company is pretty cool with lots of perks, but I do not see a bonus coming here either.

Still, I think being happy with what you do should trump one's need for a bonus. As well, the term "bonus" implies that you've done something to earn the extra attention. They shouldn't be just automatic.

Anyway, good luck with your holiday time request, or your bonus, whichever comes first. If you get neither, you could always be thankful your working and living indoors, not everyone has that going for them. Just a thought.

Peace,

Pierre

I'd also like to add that we're grossly underpaid/underappreciated for all that we do. We can EASILY go elsewhere and do the same amount of work with a $20k/year salary hike, but we stay because we like the company. We get other perks like being able to do whatever we want, working whatever hours we want, but still, the company DOES take advantage of this.

It just seems like the ONE time a year that they can redeem themselves by saying, "Hey, we really do appreciate your work, we do understand you're underpaid, so here's something for your troubles," they simply overlook it.

Yeah yeah, I know you're probably thinking, "then go work elsewhere." Sadly, I think it may end up getting to that point. I feel bad though because if we leave, the company will end up being screwed.. but I just don't know what to do anymore.

Talk to your boss about a raise...

I am getting $35 bonus this year...woo hoo let the good times roll. Cingular is Cheap.

When I worked for AT&T wireless last year my bonus was $500

We tend to get our bonus around March.

I am not getting any bonus whatsoever.

Never have.

I have to just say, that the company of which stompy speaks, is truly this ignorant about their programmers abilities and qualifications for higher paying gigs, which they all (there's three guys in their dept. stompy, asshopo (my hubby) and another 'friend' of ours') could easily get in a heartbeat! I don't think it's that they want to bonus, as much as they want the boss guy to say "Hey guys, I know we do this every year, but things are a changin' as the company is growing, so this year seeing as I wouldn't give you a raise, and I gave you a shitty bonus for a HUGE project that you completed for me, I'm also not going to be giving you a Christmas bonus!"

I think they just want to know what to be prepared for. Asshopo's bonus is usually great for last min. gifts for our kids, and seeing as the above project bonus sucked big donkey bottom. We were kinda hoping that a holiday bonus might help make up for it! It seems tho, that I am going to have to hope they have something at best buy for under $35.

Please don't think of stompy as greedy, just a bit miffed with an unsympothetic jerk of a boss who expects more outta these guys then most. And he expects it all out of kindness and treats them like children (they started at teens and have grown with the company, but they are still treated like teens!) Long story short, I have an understanding of where he's coming from as he works with hubby, and I know his asking is from a different stand point then most are seeing here :)

Plus the other question he added :)

No christmas bonus for me. We used to get a ham or turkey, but that stopped about 5 years ago. We do get a company end of year bonus in October. That usually starts at $250 and goes up. Depends on your time at the company and performance. Mine was about $3K. Makes up a bit for the little salarly I have!

We get our bonus in the summer. They've ranged from 8-14% over the years.

Damn!! $500, $900, $1,200, $3,000?
Hell, I got me a $100.00 gift card to Walmart. Thing is...I don't shop at Walmart on principle. Damn scrupples.

Sounds like a perfect re-gift opportunity ;)

Already waaaaay ahead of you. But I like how you think. ;)

The company I'm at this year gave me a $50 bonus. They give more to people with more seniority. The last company I worked for varied widely on bonuses. One year the bonus was a turkey, another year the bonus was $100, another year the bonus was a fleece pullover with the company logo embroidered on it. Then one year the company gave everybody a tv, with the size of the tv being based on seniority. Overall though I dont expect a bonus. If a company doesn't give a bonus I hardly consider it stiffing their employees. It is a bonus after all.

I WILL take that Wal-Mart card. That's a whole lot of underwear you're missing out on though.


-fibber

I've been doing tech support for a large company for two years now. My bonus was a $10 gift card to Starbucks. Oh, and I get to come in for 3 of the five days the company is on mandatory shut down. So much for a Christmas vacation. Oh well, I'm just happy to be employed.

What are these things called "Bonuses"? Just kidding but like Charlatan, I don't get bonuses. I also get to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. I can't complain about it though because I chose this job knowing what I would and wouldn't get.

Well vox, they're probably unheard of in the public sector because public servants get paid sometimes up to 3x as much as an equivalent person in the private sector.

Heh, you atleast get a few days off. We have Christmas eve off and thats it.

I think I'm just gonna start working half as much.. or tell em it'll take a week to do something when it really only takes a day or two. I guess that'll kinda balance things out :)

Nah, I'll ask for a hefty raise after this project, I think. If that doesn't work out, then I guess I walk. Asshopo is about to walk too, so.. this will be interesting.

I'm also glad I'm not the only one working for a thoughtless greedy company that treats employers like shit. My case shouldn't be as bad though since it's a very small company and we all know each other personally. It just sucks that it is.

I'm also thankful I don't have a family (Read: wife/kids) to buy presents for. I couldn't imagine not getting compensation for all that money spent.

Um, you're kidding right? I was working for an educational institute, not the Post Office. Salaries at any University or College in Alberta (and elsewhere I always asumed) are between 15% to 20% LOWER than private sector. That's correct. So, low pay and no bonus, but we do get to fihgt with a fucked-up union from time-to-time just so that we can pretend we had job security, which we also didn't have. Those who are still there STILL don't have any of the above.

As for 3X, where does THIS number come from? I honestly can't say I've seen this kind of wage disparity anywhere, never mind public vs. private.

Anyway, the thing is, low pay and all, I'd go back to work there in a flash because, unlike the private sector, there is a real sense of community working at a large post-secondary institution, and being around a place of higher learning is good for the soul.

Peace,

Pierre

Boy would I love to be an associate in my company. They get quarterly profit based bonuses. I know that most of them are in the range of $10K and up.

we get Incentive Compensation Plan bonus in August, which is based on earnings, and individual modifiers. The range over 3,500 employees is from about 500 bucks to several hundred thousand for top executives. the average bonus is about 9,000.

btw, I'm not guessing at this...I'm in Payroll and just checked on the spreadsheet hehe.

our bonuses are based on company performances and we get them in Feb.

I used to get a 15% of salary bonus. Then they started jiggering it with it's 15% of the projected 80% target (i don't know WTF target they are talking about...) but now I get 10% since I came back.

At one company I worked at they made sure that everyone was given a of about $50 at the local supermarket to ensure everyone had a holiday dinner.

Otherplaces I have worked.. 1 weeks pay, and another nothing.

Every year I have recieved a very generous bonus. My first year it was $1,000; 2nd year, $2,000; and 3rd year, $2,500. It makes up for the crappy pay all year long in a way. Every year tehy have come right before Christmas and every year I've been stressed about it. Well this year money has been tight for me and nobody has heard about the status of a bonus.

I'm really pissed Due to the nature of the high bonuses we've recieved in the past for everyone and the fact that it is written in that bonuses come at the end of the year it's become something you can pretty much count on. You don't expect much but it's always been there.

Obviously, they are not obligated to give them out. However, if suddenly out of the blue they are going to decide not to, the employees should have been given some sort of advance notice. I'd be understanding if they could just fucking tell me. It would have given me the opportunity to plan around it. Now it's three days before Christmas and I have no money.

FUCK!!!!!!

No bonus for me. I work for Comcast Spotlight and bonuses just don't happen. I wouldn't expect one. After all the company isn't my family or anything so I don't expect a gift from them but it would be nice.

Well it's one thing to never get a bonus and not expect one. It's an entirely different thing to get one every year and then get nothing with no communication from the management. I work in a small company (<15 people) communication should not be an issue.

What you need is a hot cocoa sampler box. :D

I don't know what's more disturbing: the fact that companies feel it's okay to get away with this, or the amount of people who are fine with getting nothing...

People need to speak up for themselves a lot more often.

Now that I am an independant contractor (in the IT industry) I pay myself. So needless to say, I don't give myself bonuses. But while I worked at PwC, i did very well. We were given 10 - 15% of our pay (based on merit rating) as a bonus or what they called the 'variable component' of our salary. The most that I ever got in this plan was $14,000 which was 15% of my salary. That was for three years running. Needless to say, I maxed out on my RRSP's with this money.

I am a small business owner, and I gave most of my employees bonuses. I gave it to those show deserve it. The bonuses I gave were equal to 2 weeks pay.

wow... you make 280k a year...nice.

I have an expense account mastercard, my boss said to buy myself something nice. I hinted around as how "nice" is nice. His answer, "what you think is fair, let your conscience be your guide".

I haven't decided what I will get, actually I'm having a hard time thinking of something fair, yet what I feel I deserve.

Hopefuly thats u.s. dollars and not canadian :)

At my job every year for christmas we get $25 bucks for each month we've worked there, this year it added up to about $600 for me. We also get random prizes based on raffle numbers. Last year I wound up with a Hi-def TV, this year I took home a really nice Lan bag.

actually, if 14,000 was 15% of salary, then 100% of salary is $93,333.33

/payroll guy

our "bonus" is a big box of fruit and a ham gift cert...

The only way I see a problem with not getting one is if you've worked for a company that did it every year then stopped without warning the employees

there is nothing anywhere that says a company has to give an xmas bonus

right on. I think the advent of all the different versions of A Christmas Carol seems to make people think that they should have one....

based on how things are these days, (and depending on your salary....but again, the way I've seen things go is the more you make, the bigger your bonus is)....I would spend no less than $1,000 on yourself!

But what you and the boss need to keep in mind, is that anything you purchase for yourself is imputable, and should be added to your W2 and taxed accordingly. If you have a nice boss, he'll gross it up and pay the taxes on your behalf. :thumbsup:

Well, most government employees (specifically federal ones), and the 3x number was from some information I read which specifically regarded secretaries. The workers in Alberta get screwed over thanks to Klein. Profs also make a pretty hefty wage no matter which way you slice it.

Which is still hella good.

I've worked for the same company for 20 years. We work 6 hours on the last day before Christmas and get paid for 8. Nothing spectacular, but I suppose they don't even have to give us that. Other than that, the benefits are good and the job security is excellent, so I'm not going to bitch.

Ill agree with the general consensus... Bonus's arnt deserved, take what you get, and be appreciative you got anything.

I get a ten dollar gift card to the company I work for. The previous job I had gave 4%, which usually ended up being close to a weeks pay; I was quite happy with that.
I used to work for a small business and got a $75 dollar bonus, which was based on merit (and I got the largest one). The business wasn't exactly thriving, so it felt good to know that all of my butt busting was appreciated.

I don't think bonuses should be expected, they are a nice perk. The current place I work for does give a full days holiday pay for Christmas, Easter, New Years, July 4th, Memorial Day, and 2 "free days" a year, which is always a nice surprise in the pay check.

I'll follow the trend - it's a bonus to have a job these days, especially in the tech sector (especially in Seattle). I'm unsure if I'll get a bonus, but I know I'll get to work and be paid for that work.

I used to have a job where I felt that I was owed something. Fortunately, a friend told me that it was just a job and the only expectation I should have was a small pile of dead presidents/inventors on a regular basis. He said that if I was always free to find another job, but to expect more than a paycheck was asking for disappointment.

So I stayed at that job and felt like I was owed something and got fired for having a shitty attitude - the only time I've ever been fired from a job. Then I got the job I always wanted (where I don't necessarily get a bonus) and I understood what my friend said.

ya, back then (my base was 94K) But it was in Canadian $$$. Not that I am complaining, but to make it I had to work in the US alot, which wasn't what I wanted...I wish I made 280K sushi, that would get me a lot of raw tuna! You had me scratching my head a bit there. Nowadays, I bill more than that, but since i am on the payroll of my corp, I get payed the most I can make in the minumum tax bracket (about 33k)

LOL


You are right...what the hell was i calculating? :confused:

I get a weeks pay extra both in December and June.

hahaha, I was wondering the same thing :lol:

I got a $60 gift certificate for the mall from the folks in my department yesterday. They love me ;)

I think the main difference here from what most people are posting is... I work for a much smaller company where I have personally known each and every person in management for 1/3 of my life.

As hash_browns said, we've been working here since we were in our mid-teens..

I know if I worked for a big corporation I probably wouldn't get one - that's expected.. but not from such a small and personal environment like this.

I know people are saying "be appreciative you even got anything/have a job", but... they are the ones taking advantage of US in terms of pay/extra compensation. They should be appreciative they have people like us keeping the company afloat. Like I said, I can easily get a job anywhere else (and it would RUIN the company).. but being a place where I personally know people on a level more than "just a job", it's kinda BS that it even remotely turns up like this.

It would be equivalent to working for your best friend knowing helping him pull in a few million a year and you only get a slight fraction of that.

I get 2 bonuses per year. They are both approximately the same as 2 weeks pay.

Our bonuses always correspond to how the firm did that year. This year I got $1600 (pre-tax) and a $200 visa gift card. We alway get a gift card of one type or another, but the bonuses vary widely. This was a good year.

My first year we each got Gamecubes for our bonus, so thats ~ $150. I sold it on ebay a few months later since I already had an Xbox. The next year, we were taken out to eat at a nice place, so it went down a bit. Then this year, I don't think we are getting anything - it kind of sucks.

My wife get's 2 weeks pay for her bonus every year.

Its better than nthing, but I still wish I got something at the end of the year for working my ass off.

Sell it on ebay for $103.


Now that I got that response out of the way, I must ask what the hell a "Christmas Bonus" is, and how I would go about obtaining one from a past employer, and whether or not I should expect one from somewhere I started working 4 days ago.

Since I started working at my current job 2 1/2 years ago, I've worked every single national holiday. Doesn't really bother me any, the hours I work on holidays are pretty flexible... I can go in and leave early, or go in and leave late, just so long as the work for the day gets done.

This year since X-mas falls on a saturday, they're giving employees holiday pay for X-mas eve. Which is all fine and dandy except for the fact I don't get shit for working X-mas day... ah well. I'll be gearing up for the New Years eve/day workathon...

But yeah, no bonus.

(can't wait until my band makes it)

I've been with this place for 9 seasons now. I never expect a bonus.Before working
here never received one. This year no one expected a bonus because we are deep in the red. Not our fault,we had a very high mortality rate from our clients. Lost 90 of 345
members. some how I received a 325 gross bonus. But I'm not working 4 days this week so there it is. And rumor has it I'll be reduced to part time come January 1st as part of the restructure and cost saving plan.
I have a handicap wife and daughter plus her 20 month old to support. I'm not very skilled
So I don't see how we will make it..i've got the blues for sure.Need a winning lottery ticket fast..Or good by internet and everything else......

Nothing for us this year. That wouldn't be so bad except I know some of the bosses got "award" checks that in my opinion many didn't deserve and I also know that promises were made, and not kept to some of the workers.

I received $300, 5 days before I quit. The $3500 I got last summer was a production bonus. Too bad they cannot provide a healthy environment to work in. I was planning to stay for 25 years. Too much BS, ass kissing, favoritism and poor planning for me. BTW, I lost almost $4000 in pay this year. I worked harder and at a higher position and lost money..... go figure. All that and free hats!

My bonus this year was TWO great healthy grand kids for xmas....
and the SHE is beautiful..(he's ok)..:D

I work for a company that has about ten employees (including the three owners). I pretty much kept the whole company afloat a couple times in the last two years. It is safe to say that I am important to the organization.

My bonus was zero. It was exactly what I expected. I earn everything I make, and get nothing more.

I don't even know where to start with this one. I used to work in the field but recently I was moved into the office as a supervisor of sorts. Up until this year I had no idea that every two months the company officials {family owned so thats Mom, Dad, Son and Wife} write themselves bonuses of $15,000-30,000 per family. That's wonderful and I'm glad we are making that much money. However, the employees get $500 apiece before taxes {15 employees} and they wait until Christmas Eve to give it to you, however they [owners] got their bonuses last month so they could Christmas shop HAHA. So it works out they people that don't need the money get theirs but those that are dependant upon the money for shopping didn't get theirs until the last minute. Last year after the company officials {mom,dad,son and wife} wrote their bonuses in November we were suddenly broke and everyone got a lecture about how we didn't make any money and another year like that and they would have to close the doors blah yada blah blah blah and the standard $500 dollar bonus was cut in half. I found out later from a friend that works in the office that they had over a quarter million in the bank. What a joke. The last place I worked the bonus was usually the equivalant to two weeks pay which was anywhere from $1500 to $2000 and it was given out the Monday after Thanksgiving so you could actually use it and not get into savings to Christmas shop.

I have worked for two different not for profit organizations over the past five years. The first year I worked I got a bonus equivalent to 2 weeks pay. Since then, I haven't gotten a single bonus. But I have tripled the amount I take home in yearly salary in those 5 years. So I can't complain too much. My wife doesn't have to work anymore.

The best Christmas bonus ever was from Red Lobster. We were all given certificates that entitled us and up to two family members to 20% off on a meal at any Red Lobster over the holidays. There was no way in hell I was going to eat at Red Lobster on my free time, I would have preferred being given a slap in the mouth.

I am a small business owner, and I certainly pay myself more than my employees, even though they do more work than I, but it is my company. Bonuses are merit based, they aren't part of most job contracts, even though most people expect them.

In my short life, I have learned that you must be happy in what you do for a living, and if you are happy, then stuff like your bosses getting paid more than you won't bother you.

I'm sorry, but you're just plain wrong. In fact, you pretty much have the reverse of how it actually is. My uncle is a federal attorney. He makes $105k per year and is close to retirement. In the private sector it's common for starting salaries to be in that range. A lawyer with 40 years in a law firm is making a LOT more than he does.


Government employees are, by and large, paid below the average pay for their field.

If you believe you deserve that much stompy then just leave. Do like you say you want to in the other few post above. In no way am I trying to be negative in this post, but honestly it's how I feel.

If you want more money, and they aren't providing, then just find another job. That's what our country is good for.

To me a bonus is a bonus. Nothing more. If I feel like i'm not compensated correctly, I'm not going to wait for a bonus to act. What's it going to do? Pass you for a year until the next year when the bonus doesn't match up again, and you go back into this situation?




I'm not one to talk in this situation though. I've had the oppurtunity to make a large amount of money but I chose not too because I wanted to do what I enjoy and thankfully it's been nice compensation. I can't talk about your situation, but if I felt like I wasn't paid enough and plus I hated what I was doing...this would be a different situation.

Not for profit with 2weeks pay of bonuses... something doesn't connect inside my mind.

Mind you if you guys are working I'm sure you deserve it, but just putting not for profit and bonus in the same paragraph just makes me have a childish grin.

Non-Profit businesses need ways to attract and keep staff around too. I work for a charity, they pay better than most other places considering my job description and experience. Our bonuses are modest, but more than fair considering it's a bonus after all. Overall, they treat me better than any employer I've ever had.
Just because a company does charitable work doesn't mean that it's employees shouldn't be rewarded with a little extra cash at the end of the year. You need a lot of skilled help to run a charity and when you find someone that can do the job, it's best to hold on to them.

Ive never got a Christmas bonus in my life. And I work for a part of DHL, so it isnt as if its a crappy little company. Maybe they are less common in the UK - I know (since I used to do the cashbook) that directors and middle management all get Christmas bonuses in my company (about 1/10 of annual salary), but people lower down than that don't tend to, at least I never have.

The way it goes I suppose, money goes money. The guys on 100K who dont really need it get a bonus, the administrator struggling on 12K - who could really use it gets nothing.

Strange I do'nt mind others making more money, but I don't believe anyone else can really say "Someone doesn't need money". No matter how you can justify the person that makes 100k a year doesn't need a bonus, I'm sure they can justify that you, if you make less then that, don't need a bonus either.

That's the problem with bonuses, and the reason they're bonuses, not regular pay.

You give bonuses for a few years, then the company has a bad year. You either don't have the money to give out, or you know the management will be all over your ass for giving out that much money in a bad year.

And if you communicate that there won't be bonuses, you get "attitude."

Some employees will become impossible to get any work out of. Or only put out half as much work.

Then you have to fire them. If you're lucky, nobody you fired files a wrongful termination case with the labor board. Or says they were "harassed."

Bonuses are a no-win situation for the employer most of the time.

Have you considered starting your own company that competes with this one?

If you have no wife or kids, the risk would be minimal.

An additional reward would be that you could learn from the way you've been treated, and pay your employees what they think they're worth.

I am sure they would claim that they needed the money.

But would you not agree that someone who is just about getting by paying the mortgage and the bills needs the money more than a director who owns 4 houses and pulls in $200,000 a year?

The people who control the bonuses are of course the one's who benefit, they are happy for staff at my level to come and go and most of their efforts (certainly in a big group like I work in) are concentrated on protecting their own position.

i'm a teacher by day and received no bonus from the district, but i did get cool little gifts from the kids like drawings, homemade cookies, and stickers. it's cool getting stuff from kids.

my other job, radio, i received nothing. i don't know if some of the higher profile talent received bonuses, but not I, the weekend guy.

I think it's political views here at the end. I can still say though I myself know that a "Bonus" isn't the cure all potion that seperates the laboreres from the top. SOB had it perfect, get a good bonus this year and get a bad one next year and you have a steamed employee.

Let me ask the people on the board this? DId you get your company a christmas bonus?

I personally spent $50 on various snacks and drinks for my coworkers. Why did I do this? NOt because I was expecting it, or they were...but because of good times. Bonus's shouldn't be one sided in my opinion.

Bonuses are basically written into company policy. It clearly states that bonuses will be given in December and raises in July. For what it's worth, we finally got our bonuses on the 28th. Everyone got about half of what they got last year and most of the employees are PISSED.

i got a $20 gift card to the local mall. we all make fun of it, this hospital gives the absolute worst bonuses. at least this is one people will use. last year we got little wood replicas of the building!

compare that to some other hospitals in the area and it is sad. other places are giving starting bonuses around $300, and they offer higher salaries too. i wonder if this explains why we have such a tough time keeping staff....

but i have no intentions of quitting. i like the people i work with, i have some seniority on my floor so i only work the shift i want, and it is the closest hospital to where i live (not that an extra mile makes much difference in the grand scheme of things...but i'm lazy!)

Without knowing all the details, that would appear to bear out my earlier post.