Do you get Christmas bonuses?

I've worked at my job for 9 years. Never got a Christmas or any other kind of bonus since I've been there. I haven't seen a raise in pay since 2001. I work the Graveyard shift and don't get a "differential" for working the shift. I don't have any supervisors to turn to if I have a problem, as I work alone. I don't get Holidays off, UNLESS they fall on my regular off days. I am financially worse off now, than I was 3 years ago, because the cost of living has gone up, and my pay has stayed the same. It's very depressing.

About 6 months ago, I went to my boss and asked him for a raise, he told me, it probably wouldn't happen for a LONG time, because he was in business to put money in HIS pocket first and foremost, and then if there was any left over after he made sure he was making more money, he might consider a raise.

I think it all depends on the company that you work for. Mine is a small company but they are very generous to their employees. I have been here for 8 months and I got a raise (7%) and a Xmas bonus. I was ready to look for another job but this seemed to fix things. I think $100 is a little too little, but hey some people don't get anything at all. I think whatever you get is great. But if you feel that it is unfair that they are cheap to give you more, maybe you should consider changing your job.

Lets see...last year I got one of thoes rubber jar openers with our company log all over it. I use it as a coaster on my desk here. But to be fair, I had just been hired the week before and it was on a temp basis. I had no idea a permanent position would open up.

This year one boss gave me $2 worth of scratch off loto tickets. The other gave me a candy bar. I wasn't expecting anything so it was cool. Plus I love scratching the stuff off. Have ever since I was a kid! And very few women refuse chocolate. And they had quite a few other people to buy for if they did it for all thier staff, which I believe they did. My direct boss gave me some almond body oil and lotion from JAFRA. Which I could just eat up it smells so good! Plus a cut candle holder and peppermint votive for it. I've know my direct boss since I was about 14. She and my mother worked together for 2 other companies.

We all got 3% raises this year. Except I got my promotion at rasie time so it felt bigger, well sorta was. The problem for everyone else is that they litterally just started getting it in thier paychecks this past period. It became effective in July. We all just got nice checks making up for it though. Something has been up with the computer systems is what we were told.

I hate to sound harsh, but be thankful you're employed. I know many people who can't find work and are well educated with plenty of experience.

Our firm only gives employees a $100 gift certificate during the holidays, which beats the small amount of cash that amounted to nothing after taxes.

Also, our annual increase ranges from 2% to 4%, depending on how well your performance review is. The average is 3%.

Consider yourself average.

I can't remember the last time I saw a Christmas bonus. We do reviews once a year, you write down your goals and discuss them with your boss/bosses and they get ignored. The highest raise is 3%. While I am glad to have a job don't ask me about my goals then ignore them and me!

I got $200....same as everyone else there except for part time people, and I'm the head tech and supervisor....

I got a 7 lb ham, is that a bonus?

My hubby works for an insurance company that has tons more money than the company I work for but my bonus is 10 times bigger then my hubby's. Go figure.

vespacat, I totally agree with you. I am very thankful that I have a job. And even if I wouldn't get the raise and the bonus I would still make ends meet.

Unfortunately, no Christmas bonus here.

Originally Posted by Middletown

I got a 7 lb ham, is that a bonus?

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Err. technically yes..And quite common from what I hear! My sister got a 15 lb turkey (and a cheque)

So, from all the responses here, it sounds as if I should either be yelling my head off or quietly crying in the corner, thankful to be here

Nah. I am still annoyed and am annoyed for most of you here who seem to be able to utilize even less rights than I do.

Its an employees market this year and I plan on gently making this suggestion to my boss again this year before he escapes on his cruise.

(Its not so much the Christmas bonus I am fretting over as that sounds like just what it is..a bonus)
Its the lack of raise and feedback for a job well done coupled with his less than lack-lustre support and his grand holidays at my expense that get my ire up for the most part...

I would never consider myself lucky to have this job. I am super overqualified and worth much more than every penny they give me..Not to mention the fact that there are employees here who feel belittled or who may not have the experience or education to know that they should be treated better.
They could be treated much more fairly than they are.

I got together with this co-worker last year and we (mainly me) put together this presentation for our boss on why we were worth more (complete with statistics and employment prospects/qualifications/expectations), that took quite some time. He said he would look over it and get back to us in a week or so. He never did. When I questioned him over a week later, he then stated that he thought we had decided there was to be no more of a raise than the regular 3 %. Argh. It just frustrated me to feel so overlooked.

Now, while this is only a job between schooling for me (I won't start school for at least a year), its the principle of employers being allowed to treat employees so demeaningly in certain respects. If I didn't demand respect in certain aspects of my job, I know I wouldn't get it. I see the way others here (and other places as well) are treated with such a neglible amount of respect all the time. It really burns me. (can you tell? )

I am so looking for a way to slip in the cruise/getting his floors redone and the lack of monies available to give us a raise but haven't come up with the greatest opportunity yet..

Loveysmummy, I think you're getting mad for no reason. It's just a job. If you don't like it you can do smth about it. Let it go. There are other things in life more important. If your boss is a jackass, let him be one. I believe in what goes around comes around. He can have all the money in the world, but if he's a piece of _ _ _ _ nothing will change that.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!!!

Oh, I try...I try..

Its more of a rant here that I needed to purge...after all, this is what this place is for at times. You are right. Its just a job. Its not necessarily about the money (I am not what you would consider materialistic but moreso aesthetically inclined and all about quality over quantity)

I do think I get a little more irritated than most at human injustices in the world and this is merely what this is...You are so right about not letting the jackasses of the world not rent space in your head. (Its just maddening at times.. )

I think I will bring in Champagne for my co-workers when cruise time comes around and the boss is away

"not letting the jackasses of the world not rent space in your head." I love that!!

I feel your frustration too. Jobs are scarce here for my qualifications. I do not directly use my education, i apply more of my experiences than what im still paying sallie mae for.
But i consider myself fortunate. I spent ~ 1.5 yers looking for work. It was great for my animal efforts with my time, however it was costly for our home bills.

We've been promised bonuses up to the day they changed their position.
I have a good boss, and the ham came from him directly, not through work. He is very understanding with my habits and efforts for my local SPCA. So i consider myself fortunate and am grateful.

The idea of bringing in something special to share with your coworkers is a great idea. Just be careful of your verbal frustrations at work. the walls always have ears.

I know how you feel Loveysmummy. My roommate is sort of in the same situation. His boss is the owner (51%) of the company, and is always telling him they don't have enough $ to buy equipment they NEED, nor bonuses and raises or hiring new people so that my roommate isn't doing ALL of the work. Then he uses company money to pay for his daughter's $10k wedding (which she whined about because it wasn't enough), and giving his son (who is only an operations manager) $500/mo extra for a "company car" that he doesn't have, yet coincidentally, his son's wife just got a new car.

And finding a new job isn't always as easy as it sounds, especially when you're working overtime (on salary, so you're not getting paid extra) just to keep the one you have (as in not letting the company go under), and interviews and whatnot are always scheduled during the week so that you can't get to them.

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

I think I will bring in Champagne for my co-workers when cruise time comes around and the boss is away

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That's a great idea!!!

I used to manage a supermarket and till this day I think it was the best job I ever had. I loved that job. Of course now I get paid twice as much but it wasn't about the money it was about coming in and feeling great at work. The boss was the biggest idiot in the world. I cried because of his injustices soooooo many times. There was no raises, no bonuses no paid days off NOTHING. But the team we had there was unbelievable. Of course because of the boss's stupidity lots of people left, and now I would never even consider going back. It just sucks that sometimes people could be so inhuman.

my bf gets at least a $250 bonus a month, and for christmas they gave him $50 on top of that. I thought they might give him like $500 or something because they are so bonus happy, but no. Still $50 is more than what he had before!

My boss gave me a bonus, I think it was about $200 before taxes, and a coach bag which was around $200 so I'm counting it as a $400 bonus.

Originally Posted by Miss Mew

......

we get a dinner

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I work for the school system so the only part of that I see is the

Originally Posted by annabelle33

My boss gave me a bonus, I think it was about $200 before taxes, and a coach bag which was around $200 so I'm counting it as a $400 bonus.

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Coach bag is nice. That's a very tasteful boss.

I also work for a non-profit. We don't bonuses and we only get raises if the budget/grant situation is in good shape, which these days, is rare. I'd be happy for any bonus!

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

Just wondering what the bonus situation is for all of you.
I got a pitiful raise this year and my boss just booked a Cruise for next month..

My friends and family say he is cheap for only giving me $100.

Am I being a pushover or is this truly not the spirit of giving to think this way and nobody should EXPECT a bonus anyway??

I do know people that receive upwards of $300 plus or other perks so I don't know what to compare it too...

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Cindy, I would compare it to how cheap your boss is as a person, meaning how he generally spends his money overall and not just considering the cruise. If he's quite thrifty, then he's likely giving you as much as his cheapness allows. That doesn't make it any better does it?