# Come to the Christmas Party, or No Bonus...Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643 "2005-11-11T22:13:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/41 "2005-11-12T22:25:59Z")
> [@PeterWiggen](#): > > Well your next move seems obvious to me: > > (1) Go to the Christmas Party. > (2) Get Bonus. > (3) Shit in the Coat Closet. > > Merry Christmas and to all a Good Night! Ya beat me to it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/42 "2005-11-12T22:38:13Z")
Arrive late; leave early. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/43 "2005-11-13T02:56:11Z")
> [@John F](#): > > They take out taxes because it’s income but I don’t think they are “wages” or qualify for the same rules/regs that wages do. I think they are more like gifts or rewards and are under the discretion of the employer to award or not. > > I’ll look for some documentation but perhaps somebody more familiar with labor laws will be able to clarify it. IAN familiar with labor laws, but it seems to me that just because it’s a bonus doesn’t mean the enployers are totally free from constraint in how they are distributed. I hope I’d get in legal trouble if I gave Christmas bonuses based on whether employees were white, or give blow jobs to the boss. Now this example is no where near as bad as using bonuses as racial discrimination, or to trade for sex, but to me it is clearly assholish, and maybe even borderline illegal. The boss is using company funds in order to get party guests and presents. Where is the line drawn? would it be legal for the boss to buy her present using the bonus checks directly, then passing on the reminder? Would it be legal for the boss to agree to give a christmas bonus to anyone who slipped her a twenty under the desk? I think the crucial two questions are: 1. Is she buying something for herself with company money? Does buying party guests with company money count? 2. Would she give a christmas bonus to someone who came, but gave her no gift? If the answer to one is no, and two is yes, then I would think it would be legal, though still ridiculous. If one is true, that seems like theft to me. If she wouldn’t give a bonus to someone who showed up but didn’t give a gift, this is just trading the bonus for a gift, and is no different than asking for to be slipped a twenty for a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/44 "2005-11-13T15:54:51Z")
One of the nice things about the fallout of Enron is most places have an ethics hotline. If the hospital does, call it. They will have to at least look into the situation. Ethics hotlines are generally anonymous. I think what she is doing is legal, but not ethical. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/45 "2005-11-13T16:22:54Z")
I work for a Fortune 50 company and have seen a lot of Xmas parties. This smells like a non-corporate function. In other words, Dr. Hunchface is paying for the soiree out of her own pocket and is therefore free to establish any rules she wants. Call it a bonus, call it a gift, it doesn’t matter. If she’s paying for it, then she has no obligation to spend her money on anybody, let alone people who dislike her so much that they don’t want to attend her party. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/46 "2005-11-13T17:06:36Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I work for a Fortune 50 company and have seen a lot of Xmas parties. This smells like a non-corporate function. In other words, Dr. Hunchface is paying for the soiree out of her own pocket and is therefore free to establish any rules she wants. Call it a bonus, call it a gift, it doesn’t matter. If she’s paying for it, then she has no obligation to spend her money on anybody, let alone people who dislike her so much that they don’t want to attend her party. Depends on where the bonus comes from. I have a feeling the good doctor is paying for the party out of pocket (although she probably writes the whole thing off as a business expense), but I’d be shocked if the bonuses came out of her pocket. If the two are getting confused, there may be an ethical issue. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/47 "2005-11-13T23:11:23Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > They’re probably just compensating for those unfortunate last names. They msut have had very difficult childhoods. You know how cruel schoolchildren can be. God help me, I’m still chucking at that three minutes later. These Dr.'s sound like real pricks. Asking for an X-Box? How unbelievably tacky. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/48 "2005-11-14T00:17:07Z")
Along the lines of shitting in the coat closet, how about: Go to party with a bottle of syrup of ipecac in your pocket? Eat and drink heartily, collect your bonus, and then take a nice big swig. After you’ve made as big a mess as you can, apologize profusely. You were feeling ill, but you _knew_ how much it mattered to her if you attended – and really needed the bonus – so you came any came… Bonus points if you manage to unload into the punch bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/49 "2005-11-14T00:58:16Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Along the lines of shitting in the coat closet, how about: > > Go to party with a bottle of syrup of ipecac in your pocket? Eat and drink heartily, collect your bonus, and then take a nice big swig. After you’ve made as big a mess as you can, apologize profusely. You were feeling ill, but you _knew_ how much it mattered to her if you attended – and really needed the bonus – so you came any came… > > Bonus points if you manage to unload into the punch bowl. No-no-no. Vomit down the front of her gown. Do this once, and she’ll never invite her workstaff again… ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/50 "2005-11-14T01:26:49Z")
If your bonus is written into your contract, then you most certainly get it whether you attend the party or not. As others have said, sounds like the party is at the expense of the doctors, but the bonuses come from the company money. Surely she can’t call the shots on how it is given. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/51 "2005-11-14T01:42:10Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > These Dr.'s sound like real pricks. Asking for an X-Box? How unbelievably tacky. I suggest that you have a few staff members practice in order to get really good at an X-Box game. On the night of the party, spend a few hours kicking Dr. Donkeynose’s ass. Act like it’s the first time any of you have played the game. ---
**Author:** ![Barrels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Barrels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrels)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/52 "2005-11-18T14:46:22Z")
> [@misstee](#): > > My mom works for a company that does not give out Years of Service awards unless you attend the very boring Chirstmas parties. I know they are very boring because I always go with her just so she and her table mates have some comic relief during the parties. I think your mother and I work for the same company :dubious: Is it a “Dynamic Communications Company” Also called the TH? Barrels ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/53 "2005-11-18T14:54:55Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Maybe he got the idea from the bosswoman? Maybe she told him that’s how it is there? He might not be grasping, merely clueless. Hmmmm. The phrase “pussy whipped” comes to mind… ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/54 "2005-11-19T05:50:43Z")
if the “bonus” is issued by the company a complaint should be made to Human Resources. I am sure Lady Mung has been around long enough to be able to drop a mention into the right ears. If the Dr. is making the gift out of her own pocket then it’s a gift and they can hand it out however they want as long as it doesn’t violate federal discrimination laws. As far as having to chip in for a present. Stand up and say no. I finally got my nerve up a few years ago and said I didn’t want to be in on the “Secret Santa” “gift exchange” whatever you want to call it. I tell them I can’t afford it. I tell them I have made other plans (I plan to spend the money on me), I tell them that according to MIss Manners, employees shouldn’t be giving gifts to their employers, it should be the other way around, I have just smiled and " no, I don’t choose to." Whatever works. I think gifts have no place in the work environment. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/55 "2005-11-20T13:59:31Z")
I take it that “no bonus” means no bonus at all, as opposed to no bonus cheque distributed at the party by Dr. Santa, but instead bonus cheque popped in the mail sometime after the party? I only raise this because at our office, bonus cheques are given out at the party, but otherwise mailed out after the party to those who do not attend. Last year someone new to the office was mistakenly under the impression that if she did not attend the party, she would not get a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/56 "2005-11-21T05:30:59Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > If this is the worst inequity your GF ever experiences in her professional life she will > be very fortunate. Pick your battles carefully and don’t burn bridges unless you’re > sure you won’t need an avenue for retreat. On the arrogance scale, of 1 to 10, this is > a weak 3. If you think life is fair you’re very naive, or a damn fool. Picking your battles carefully and not burning bridges is good advice, and most of us know life isn’t fair, but this kind of business really stinks and I would be in here bitching about it too if I worked for someone this morally repugnant. I don’t think I’ve ever worked somewhere where we were expected to buy gifts for the management; it has always been the other way around - management is expected to buy gifts (usually in the form of a nice Christmas party) to show appreciation for staff. If I was asked to chip in for a gift for management, I would not participate unless I actually wanted to buy a gift for the manager in question. ---
**Author:** ![SpaceDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spacedog/32/9932_2.png) [@SpaceDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceDog)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/57 "2005-11-21T16:19:56Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > If this is the worst inequity your GF ever experiences in her professional life she will > be very fortunate. Pick your battles carefully and don’t burn bridges unless you’re > sure you won’t need an avenue for retreat. On the arrogance scale, of 1 to 10, this is > a weak 3. If you think life is fair you’re very naive, or a damn fool. Whilst this is a good comment I’m compelled to say a few things. Life isn’t ‘unfair’, life is random and arbitrary. **People** are unfair and, at times, mean, nasty, and downright evil. People can also be fair, forgiving, understanding and capable of great things. You have to take note of the difference, because saying “Life isn’t fair” means that we dismiss the unfairness as just part of the fabric of the world and go on regardless. Worse it allows you to rationalise (perhaps unconsciously) times you’ve been unfair or mean because, hey, “life ain’t fair.” Accepting the truth the “people aren’t fair” and “people can be mean” allows you to look at things differently, and hopefully to recognise the times when you’re the person not being fair. It encourages you to look for ways to make things fairer for everyone. That said, pick your battles and you’ll know the ones to pick. And rant about the ones you can’t change here, it helps. I just cringe when people say “Life ain’t fair” because frankly I think that’s bollocks. IMHO. SD ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/58 "2005-11-21T19:06:26Z")
Aptly spoken. Life is great…it’s people that F it all up. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/59 "2005-11-21T19:56:29Z")
There is always the possibility that this person has never been given feedback that what she is doing is morally corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643/60 "2005-11-22T15:20:01Z")
Excellent points, **SpaceDog**. I will note that for future reference. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-to-the-christmas-party-or-no-bonus-huh/330643.md?page=4)