Overheard holiday bonus complaint

[disneysteve]

Just when I think I've heard it all, the other day someone was told by her boss that holiday bonuses would be handed out on 12/20. She complained that 12/20 was much too late to get her bonus because that only left her 4 days to shop for Christmas. What gratitude. Rather than being glad she has a job and will be getting a bonus, she's complaining. So does this mean she hasn't done any gift shopping yet and was waiting for her bonus to do so? What if there was no bonus this year or it was smaller than last year's? Really makes me wonder about the state of many people's finances.

[sweeps]

I completely agree. But just to play devil's advocate, maybe her boss told her she could expect the bonus earlier, say 12/1, and then he said she wouldn't get it until 12/20. That could've messed up her budgeting.

[simpleyme]

my DH got a 3% pay raise last year, the boss apologized and said it was all the company would allow, DH was thrilled and told the boss 3% of what he currently makes is a lot of money and he was thrilled to get it
the boss was shocked and everyone else had moaned about their bills when he told them about their raise

,DH got a 6% raise this year as the boss went to bat for him ;-) the extra comes from % raises not awarded to others ;-O


I am waiting to hear the uprising at DH work as payday falls right after Christmas this year ,so only one payday this month before christmas ,I would hate to work in that office

[Scanner]

Yes, people who have "jobs" and work for a living kind of have different value systems in that they expect to be taken care of.

My assistant works for another doctor, just casually, and he cut back her hours this month and she's really moaning about it. I told her his practice may be slow this time of year. . .whatever. . .but she feels entitled to the hours.

Reminds me of Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase who goes out and buys a pool betting on his x-mas bonus.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Scanner

Reminds me of Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase who goes out and buys a pool betting on his x-mas bonus.

I love that movie. A real classic. And that's a perfect example.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think it's bad to plan for money you don't have, but I'm wondering this year if DH gets another 3% raise how things will play out. It just feels like cost of things has gone up by more than 3%, but I could be wrong. We'd never plan on more money and are even hoping for a raise period.

But is anyone else even feeling the squeeze? And thd dollar isn't worth as much.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

It always prods my curiosity to read about year end bonuses. I never worked where one was offered--except your choice of a frozen turkey or a $10 grocery store voucher. That was the arrangement every year. I remember people talking about that as if it were a joke, but not in a snarly, complaining way. That was in a NFP hospital.

Neither has spouse worked where there were bonuses. I wonder what percentage of people do get them.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I think it's bad to plan for money you don't have

That's really the point I was addressing. Sure, you may get a bonus each year, but the amount probably varies and is somewhat dependent on the economic performance of your employer. As the old saying goes, don't count your chickens before they hatch.

[simple987]

At my company the CEO gives a live webcast in February where he annouces the bonuses as a percentage of the previous years earnings. It is based on what group you worked in and several performance metrics. Each floor gets together in the conference room to watch it, and snacks are ordered. As soon as the percentages are annouced, people start typing on their calculators to determine how much they will get. Its a little tacky....

[Caoineag]

Yeah, I was hanging out with my friends and I realized that I didn't get a Christmas bonus at the Christmas party this year. I figured that meant no bonus this year which didn't surprise me too much and wasn't that big of a deal. I would have used the money for Christmas presents so that I could put more of my money towards debt but it really doesn't change anything one way or another.

My friend start complaining about it because she didn't like the fact that the way I find out whether I get a bonus or not was by not getting it. She felt I should have been forewarned. I ask her why and she says that people count on it. Her other friend there thought the same thing and I thought they were both nuts. I work for a small firm. If there is a profit, the boss shares them with the employees, if there aren't, no bonuses. They seemed to think it should have been announced in advance. Why? Even if we had been getting bonuses, we can never predict the size. No one here counts on them. Weird.

Did I have a plan how to use the money if I got it? Most definitely. Did I need it? Absolutely not. My Christmas shopping is done and has been for awhile. I did use the last year's amount to dictate this year's Christmas spending but that was more a measure than anything (one that made this Christmas much, much cheaper than last year) since my husband feels guilty if he doesn't spend a fortune on me.

[boefixepa]

We never know how much or what we are getting either. I don't use 'extras' I get for Christmas. If I get them I may do a little more, or donate to Sub for Santa or something like that. If I happen to get a large sum it goes to savings/debt/or other budgeted expensenes.

Too many, way to many people, wait for extra money for Christmas and then wonder what they are going to do, and whine that Christmas is soooo hard....um....people it's not a surprise! It happens every year about this time.

[prosper]

I've never got a bonus. My company usually puts a lump sum (3% of salary) into each employee's 401k at the beginning of the year. Also, we usually get a 3%-5% cost of living raise.

[m3racer]

Since when were bonuses status quo?

[thekid]

Bosses who refuse to hand out bonuses should be kidnapped by lose canon brothers in law. From what I have seen, that usually solves the problem.

Seriously, as stated in this thread, it is very unwise to count on uncertain money...bonuses or otherwise. I would note however that not all bonuses are discretionary. At my previous job, bonuses where preset at certain percentages based on billable hours. I never counted on it for Chrismast shopping or anything as I didn't need to, but of course future money to which you are entitled (which may be bonuses) could be counted on.

As for people being upset by not getting at least COL raises, I must say that I would understand. I would be pretty upset if my purchasing power would be eroded each year by my pay not at least keeping up with inflation. Ultimately though, raises will be a function of the particular labour market and employee's bargaining power.

[InDebtInDC]

I don't receive a XMas bonus.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by thekid

As for people being upset by not getting at least COL raises, I must say that I would understand. I would be pretty upset if my purchasing power would be eroded each year by my pay not at least keeping up with inflation.

Be glad you aren't a physician. My pay has been flat for several years. We lose purchasing power year after year. If Congress doesn't step in, Medicare is set to cut physician reimbursement by 10% in 2008 so we'll see our income drop even farther.

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Be glad you aren't a physician. My pay has been flat for several years. We lose purchasing power year after year. If Congress doesn't step in, Medicare is set to cut physician reimbursement by 10% in 2008 so we'll see our income drop even farther.

Which do you prefer, capitation or fee-for-service?

[Coleroo]

LOL...this really hits a chord! i have always thought it rude for someone to rely on a bonus. yeh its nice, but you shouldnt rely on it... i was in management for 4 years - and oh boy, last christmas headquarters couldnt afford the regular "big gift card to target" bonus they normally give --- so our local management staff did the best we can to give our 130 operators a nice christmas from us at least (signed every card personally, bought each person treats and candy with our own money, etc).... but oh boy, did we have a riot on our hands. some of them threw their personalized cards back at us and said it was a "slap in the face" because they didnt get their normal Target Card.

psh. ungreatful bunch of... hrm.

those were the same people who continued getting "regular raises" on schedule while us management worked for 3 strait years without any raises.

and..those were the same people who complained about how much their raise was (what else did they expect?? they got 3% yearly and an additional 1% based on good performance!!).

those were also the same people that I (being head HR and payroll person at our center) knew were getting every govermental aid in the book...

all of us on the management staff just had to grin and bear it when our employees complained - they had no clue that we had to forgo our own raises for years.

anyway... so.. people definately expect too much from employers.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I think it's bad to plan for money you don't have

With this logic you wouldn't plan for retirement based of future earnings you don't have yet. I "plan for money I don't have" each month when I do my budget...how can you not plan for money you don't have?

You purchase a home, car, etc. based off of money you plan on having in the future. You plan on having the health insurance, vacation time and a certain number of hours for your salary, why not plan for a bonus that is "normally" part of the benefits you get from working at your particular company?

I think it's bad to NOT plan for money you don't have.

[shizane101]

Originally Posted by InDebtInDC

I don't receive a XMas bonus.

I'm with you