Christmas Bonus/Gift?

[mummytothree]

Does your company or your SO's company give Christmas bonuses or Christmas gifts!?!?!

My DH's usually does (he usually gets a gift of $$ in the form of a check from the owner every year) but there was talk that they might not get them this year because of the "state of the economy" (of course my DH's company has had a record high in profits this year).

Wonder if I should make this a poll!?!? Please don't feel like you have to answer....I'm just curious if other companies are changing their "policy" this year?

BTW DH did get his this year...the man in brown just left our house and I can't wait to surprise him when he gets home!!!

[lovely1m]

I am in the military and my dh owns his own company, so no, not for us, but I think they are great. I got one once at a motel I worked at. It was only like $25, but I thought it was nice that they did that.

[ColleenSwerb]

Our company does. We get a check, usually the 2nd week of December. It's normally for 80 hours of work. This year it was less (60 hours), but it's still nice. Jordan bought a 46" tv and sound system for the bedroom with his. I'm paying off a few bills and buying some camera accessories with mine

[iJenny]

DH works for Hewlet-Packard and they've been cutting bonuses off and on for the past five years (more in some divisions).
This year they told DH's group that they did an excellent job, their numbers were up, and their profits were better than expected. They then continued on to say that they were cutting bonuses, most raises, any non-crucial travel, and e-awards (small bonuses in the form of gift cards to different stores).

Awesome. Nothing like rewarding a job well-done with a kick in the balls.

[jessica31876]

My husband works for a Ford dealership in the body shop. Their "bonus" was usually a large catered christmas party with lots of door prizes. Problem with the door prizes is they gave all the really good ones to the bosses/upper management. (things like big screen t.v.'s, trips to exotic places like Jamaica/Bahamas, video game systems, large gift certificates) the people like my husband and other working class people who work for them got stuff like 2 tickets to a Orlando Magic basketball game or a sony walkman. Something that is nice/ok but not something that you would get really excited over. Oh forgot to say that they have actually cut the christmas party this year so the only thing that they are doing is having a small christmas party in the body shop for the body techs, porters, parts people, adjusters etc AND to top that off they still are not paying for it. Everyone has been asked to bring something in!! Needless to say my husband wont be staying for the party.

[ColleenSwerb]

Jenny that's awful Where's the incentive to work hard??

We actually had a meeting before thanksgiving where our CEO assured us we'd be getting bonuses and raises. He knew people were skittsih with the state of the economy, and wanted to assure us all we were in good shape and whatnot.

[mummytothree]

Originally Posted by Lilcameronsmommy

DH works for Hewlet-Packard and they've been cutting bonuses off and on for the past five years (more in some divisions).
This year they told DH's group that they did an excellent job, their numbers were up, and their profits were better than expected. They then continued on to say that they were cutting bonuses, most raises, any non-crucial travel, and e-awards (small bonuses in the form of gift cards to different stores).

Awesome. Nothing like rewarding a job well-done with a kick in the balls.

What a sucky think to do!!!!

[Tracie Stroud]

No, not anymore. DH did when he worked for a private company, but now he works for the state, so no bonuses for us. I did get them when I was a teacher.

[Nonna2Dreja]

My DH did get a Christmas Bonus....Even my daughter was given a choice of a Ham or a Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake for her "Bonus"....The Target Distribution Center does not give bonuses so no, I did not get one....Bah Humbug! LOL

[pbumbaca]

DH works for a very small company and usually gets 1 weeks pay. I have worked for companies in the past where I got bonuses but not this one unfortunately. I bought my Rebel with one of my bonuses one year! I'm happy to have a job so I won't be too sad about the lack of bonus!

[aggiefamily]

My husband got a really nice bonus this year and a good raise. But he made the company almost a million in profit so he sure as heck deserved both!

[Amber1279]

Yes I got $$ in check from as well - but it was less than last year

[Leila]

Andrew gets a Christmas card with $100 cash every year. In past years he's also received a bonus check, usually right about...today. Hopefully he'll get one this year too.

[kscwgirl]

In the past, I have not. I have no idea about this year, since this is the first year I've been here, and my boss is out of town.. he's here tomorrow so we will see. LOL

[melmos75]

My company used to give everyone either the choice of a turkey or a box of cheese (we live in WI) but this year they changed it to $25 gift certificate to a meat market. Not much but it is something. I can't really complain though cuz my company has really nice benefits throughout the whole year. I even get paid bonuses if I meet my lead goals. However, they are cutting budgets big time for this next year. So I will have to produce the same amount of leads with less.

My DH gets whatever door prizes he ends up with at the company Christmas party. Since he works for a radio station, it is usually stuff that they got off of a trade (ads for goodies.) One year we ended up with a fireplace set. WTH?? We don't even have a fireplace!! Needless to say, it is still in the box in the garage.

[Kat Stokes]

DH works for the City (firefighter) so he doesn't get bonuses. I got $100 from my actual boss - which is average for him.

It kind of irks me that our COMPANY who makes millions of dollars doesn't give bonuses. All of the other law firms around here usually give at least one week's pay, if not two. Ours never has and never will.

They also never increase our vacation or sick time - no matter how long you work here.

[ColleenSwerb]

Originally Posted by Kat Stokes

DH works for the City (firefighter) so he doesn't get bonuses. I got $100 from my actual boss - which is average for him.

It kind of irks me that our COMPANY who makes millions of dollars doesn't give bonuses. All of the other law firms around here usually give at least one week's pay, if not two. Ours never has and never will.

They also never increase our vacation or sick time - no matter how long you work here.

Whaaaaaaaaaat?? That's awful!! Starting out we get 3 weeks (it's all just time, no separation between sick and vaca) and I'm pretty sure that after next summer I get 4 weeks, possibly 5, cuz I'll have been with the company 4 years.

[tuneskids]

DH's work normally has a Christmas party, where all the workers (all guys) and their SOs get together for a meal and drinks and visiting. This year it didn't happen, only because no one could agree on a weekend that worked for everyone. lol But his boss did fork out $85 to each of the guys to take their SOs out for dinner on their own.

This was my first Christmas working where I work - I was offered an expense paid trip to Edmonton (near where Bree lives) to attend our chain wide Christmas party (fuel & hotel paid by my employer) - but it fell on the weekend between paydays. lol So my boss, his wife, warehouse guy (who is boss' nephew), Des and myself went out for dinner here instead - dinner and drinks paid for by the company. AND Brody (wh guy) and I each got $50 from Phill (boss).

ETA - my hubby gets a "bonus" pretty much every month - profit sharing based on the shop's profits (who knew repairing big ass tires was so profitable? lol) - usually between $100-$600/month over his paychecks (he averages 80 regular hours every two weeks, and about 14 OT hours, give or take).

[Voodoo_Bryn]

Nope, not this year. It totally stinks. I'm a SAHM, so losing my salary this year and then no bonus for his job meant a very skimpy Christmas.

[Sarah8914]

Dh does! (I stay home) and he should get a raise in the next month for getting his professional engineering license! woohoo! His bonus is a little higher each year. This year it was a little more than a month's worth of pay! So, we're happy.

[Julie Billingsley]

Well, let's see... this month, my husband's company lost all health benefits. So no medical insurance for us now. Our "bonus" is that his employer is afloat for another week and that he will hopeful get a normal paycheck.

[LeeAndra]

Nope, FI's company has never given bonuses and I work for the state as a temp. I've never had a job where I got a Christmas bonus.

Worst Christmas Bonus Ever Story:
My ex was an accountant, so of course, his company's busy season was from mid-November through April. The company sent out a memo one year that no one was allowed to take any sick, personal, vaca, etc. time during this period of time with mandatory 50 hour work weeks incl most Saturdays. Needless to say, everyone grumbled, but the new office manager had mentioned to a couple people that they would be paid for their hard work.

Everyone took this to mean a nice Christmas bonus, of course, so everyone came to the company Christmas party. Hopes were high as everyone got a nice meal at a country club and knew the owner was planning on making some kind of speech after dinner.

His 'speech' was barely five minutes with a terse thank you for their work and acknowledgment that they'd made the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in the last 6 weeks. This was when he motioned towards a table in the back, that was so dimly lit that we hadn't noticed it when we came in, that was full of boxes. When we went over to check out, we saw 30+ porcelain knockoff Santa- and gingerbread-shaped cookie plates.

THAT WAS THE CHRISTMAS BONUS THAT YEAR. That was his last year with the company.

[LenaGardner]

Well, DH is in the army now..no bonus per se, but his last employer gave $1,000. We didn't get it until Christmas eve so it wasn't for our Christmas shopping but it was still nice

[wildblueeyez]

Last year I received $100 gift card and a $75 cash bonus. this year, it was a $100 gift card to our local big name super market. I was surprised to get that (and just got it today!!)

It's hard when you kind of get used to getting bonus at the end of the year and suddenly you get nothing. So I feel for you that got nothing

[maryinaz]

My DH used to get a bonus but he started his own law firm with 2 partners this year, so they didn't give themselves one. We did have a company dinner together so that was nice.

[Paula]

My DH works for the federal government so my answer is nope. LOL

[newfiemountiewife]

DH is a cop with the RCMP, which is federally/provincially funded, so no bonuses there.

I did receive a monetary bonus at one of my jobs, and a gift which I haven't opened yet from the other.

[scarletsierra]

DH is military, so no bonus for him either. But they throw a fabulous Christmas party and so raffle prize gifts and such.

It's too bad that so many companies are cutting back on rewarding the hard work of their employees.

[Yvette]

$$ bonus and a gift card for a supermarket, this one is tradition, instead of getting us actual turkeys (apparently they used to get forgotten after some of the wilder Christmas parties lol), we get them at Thanksgiving and Easter too, my bonus was actually larger than in previous years, so that was fun. Not sure about DH, he started a new job just a few months ago, so I doubt he'll get much of a bonus this year.

[Stacey42]

DH unexpectedly got one this year. He's been with the company for 4 years, since it started, and due to finances the Xmas bonus is hit or miss. They've had funding issues this year so we were blown away when his boss gave him 2 weeks pay as a bonus on Friday.

We're still debating how to spend it. first suggestion was a 46" flat screen TV, which I am all for but then DH suggested getting the 18-200mm VR lens for my D40, which I am also all for if I cna get my head around the idea of spending more on a lens than I did for my camera.

When I was employed the standard bonus was about $100 but in my department someone had to be on call from 7am until 11pm every day from Oct 1 to Dec 24 and carry a pager. We were all hourly & got paid hourly to carry the pager, everything over 40 hours in a week was time & a half. 3 of us passed that pager around weekly & those extra hours (which rarely required any work on our part) were our real Christmas bonus. I made over $3000 in overtime the last holiday season I worked & only actually 'worked' maybe 6 hours in the whole time I had the pager.

[scrapmonkey]

Bonuses? Right. The only reason bonuses are given out in our company is in response to the end of our fiscal year results (ended September), and it is only for those who can get bonuses (i.e., management). No Christmas party (only a Christmas meal for those who have to work Christmas day on the help desk). We were supposed to get merit increases in January based on our personal performances, but we've been told that isn't happening (not that I was getting one anyways since I will be laid off in June). Ever since we were bought out in 2001 by a large global company, all the perks have disappeared - first it was the bonuses, then the holiday party, and now they're just laying off people before the holidays. Heck as it is, most of the company gets the day after New Year's off (official holiday), but the accounting/financial analysts won't because we need to close the books. I'll probably never get that holiday back either as a day off.... My company is making me feel pretty Scrooge-ish...

[KirstieGai]

My DH normally gets a cash bonus which is a % of his weekly salary along with a case of beer and a christmas cake. This year due to the current economic situation the company decided not to give anything to the Managers but still gave the cash bonus to the other workers. No beer or cake though. DH wasn't impressed especially since he's been there 20 years and this is the first time ever that he got nothing. They were notified in a very brief email.

[jessica31876]

My husbands boss was quoted in the past as saying that their bonus was having a job/paycheck LOL. Considering how much money that their company makes they can afford a small bonus I think for each employee

[MissKim]

Well, I'm a teacher. Our PTO made a wonderful Mexican dinner for us last week, I got an ornament with the school's mascot from the principal (although cynically, I'll say that probably came from the school budget) and then I got all those great teacher gifts. Thank you notes are written and ready to go out.

My husband has been with the same company for 11 years. In the beginning, he'd get a turkey, or gift certificates for free product. Now he gets coupons for $15 off a $25 purchase of the company's product each month. Since we normally use at least that much in product each month, it's not a bad gift.

[crecia27]

Originally Posted by pbumbaca

DH works for a very small company and usually gets 1 weeks pay. I have worked for companies in the past where I got bonuses but not this one unfortunately. I bought my Rebel with one of my bonuses one year! I'm happy to have a job so I won't be too sad about the lack of bonus!

I bought my Rebel with a bonus too, but it was a profit sharing type bonus not a Christmas one. I got a small Christmas one this year. My husband usually gets one but hasn't seen one so far. They have a company lunch on Christmas Eve which really chaps my hide because I'd prefer he be home that day than at party that day!