It seemed like 10+ years ago, almost every business gave out Christmas bonuses (renamed holiday or year-end to not offend non-Christians). The fast-food place I worked at gave me $10, my first professional company gave me anywhere from 2.5 to 5% of my salary.
Then then next company I worked for didn’t. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d started with them mid-year. They did have merit bonuses, but you basically had to work your butt off to get noticed by a high-enough up manager to be nominated. Those were only $100 apiece. I did work all of 1998 for them, so I knew then that a bonus wasn’t withheld before because of my short-term status. (My direct manager did give me a $15 gift card at Blockbuster. :rolleyes: )
I left the last company, and started with my current one, in June of 1999. So 2000 is my first full year with them, but no bonus appears in sight.
How many of you still get bonuses, and how big (dollar amount or percentage)? Do you depend on them for Xmas spending, or do you not budget for them and are pleasantly surprised every year?
(Even with maximum taxes taken out and the fact that it was based on my much-lower salary at the time, I really could use the bonus from my first company. )
Being a gov’t employee, well, there ain’t no such thing as a year-end bonus.
My husband works in private industry, and this year is the first in 10 that he’s getting a bonus - not a very big one, but enough that we can afford to complete some remodeling lots faster than we’d originally planned. He also got a Thanksgiving “gift” - a $10 gift card to Food Lion… generous, huh??
I recall about 25 years ago, my dad would get bonuses 2-3 times bigger than my annual salary was at that time, but he was a VP with a lot of years with the company.
I’m self-employed now, and before that I had only one full-time post-college job, for 5-1/2 years. IIRC, my bonuses were about 2% of my salary. I know that bonus amounts were awarded on a combination of time served and merit. The amount of your bonus was supposed to be confidential, but of course everyone (else) went around asking “How much did you get? How much did he get?,” comparing notes, and griping if one’s bonus was not as much as expected, or less than someone else’s who was perceived as a “lesser” employee – or a suck-up. (Being one of the more conscientious and skilled employees, I fell into the latter category, which was why I kept my relatively large bonus amount to myself.)
I didn’t go for the comparisons. I always considered my bonus just that. It was extra money that the boss didn’t have to give out, and I appreciated it. Nobody gives me a bonus these days – I have to earn every last penny. (On the other hand, my company Christmas party usually consists of me, Mr. Scarlett [Chief Cook and Bottle Washer], a bottle of champagne, and a roll in the hay. Much better than a mediocre dinner at the Eagles club.)
Funny, I wasn’t sure if I was getting the short end of the stick or not, but then I read this thread. Seems I’m a real lucky guy.
I’ve been with my company now for about three years, and we get bonuses. Bonuses for Xmas/end of the year, bonuses for Easter/our busy season end/aka mid year, a retention bonus for staying long enough; the more years here, the more you get, and anything else they can think of to help us wonderful employees want to stay at this wonderful company.
I’m pretty sure this is in replacement of a raise though, as I haven’t asked for one, but wouldn’t need to considering the amount increase in my salary between last year and this year alone in bonuses.
Bonuses tend to increase by a week or two weeks pay each bonus where I work. Not a “generous” $10 or a gift card. I’m talking real mula. So I suppose it all depends on whether you’re working for a private firm/company, and the quality of company you work for.
I’ve just counted myself real lucky. And I vow never to complain about my income and bonuses again.
The company for which I work is generous to a fault. Just in the last six months, I got a cost-of-living raise when I moved from Ohio to Virginia, a salary increase at my review in August, a merit bonus, and two “scheduled” bonuses. Everything we do is based on market share, so we get bonuses at fairly regular intervals ranging from 2-8 weeks’ salary.
Last year, when we hit 52% market share, I received a bonus of about 12 weeks’ salary. If or when we ever work the company up to 57.5% (we are around 54-55% now), I will get one year’s salary as bonus.
All told last year, I made my regular salary plus about an additional 30% in bonuses.
I work for a non-profit. We get the week between Christmas and New Year’s off as paid vacation. This is considered our bonus. It’s not bad, but it’s not cash, either.
My boss always gives me a very thoughtful and usually costly gift as well. I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m scrutinizing the cost of the gift, I’m just very impressed that she took the time to buy such nice things for the people who worked for her.
My company gives three bonuses a year: End of year, April (tax time), and their year-end (August). I am not sure what to expect in terms of how much. In August I was still a temp-to-hire and only recieved a $50.00 gift cert. to a department store. But no matter what it is, it’ll be more than getting nothing, so I’ll be happy
Just to represent the other end of the spectrum, my Christmas bonus this year is getting laid off at the end of December. And getting moved into the printer room to finish out my last couple of weeks. I’m not bitter AT ALL about this
My company has a performance program that gives out 2 bonuses a year (June and December) and are merit-based. The bonus size depends on the amount of savings we acheive during each 6 month period and is then distributed according to the rating you received on your review.
My bonuses have been around $1K each time, (which is on the high end–some of them can be as little as $100) and will probably be the same this year, but we never know exactly how much until we actually get it.
Great program, good incentive, except that this is instead of regular, merit-based raises. So if I’m at this company for 15 years, I’m never going to get more of a bonus or paycheck for being a loyal employee. I’ll get the same thing as the new guy who happens to get the same rating on his review as me.
And also, the bonuses are taxed at 40%, which the company tells us “we will get back at tax time” but which we all know is not true.
In defense of my company, they do give “market fluctuation” pay raises to keep our pay competitive within the market. We got a 3% across the board raise in June and will get another 3% across the board in December when they give out the bonuses. So this year has been great, but if they determine next year that our pay rates are still competitive in the market, no raise.
What I don’t like about it is that there is not a lot of room for me to be rewarded for my hard work and longevity. I suppose my boss has the discretion to give a raise if he wanted to but that has never happened.
At two places I’ve worked, I received $50/year of service. One place was a $20 gift certificate (to a grovery store I used to work at!) or a bottle of booze. My current hell-hole gives $25 cash. And reluctantly at that. Our Christmas “party” will be a low country boil in the warehouse. (sarcasm on) I know, I know, you want to know where I work so you can get in on the action. Too bad! (sarcasm off).
We get anywhere from a minimum of 1 week salary, to a theoritical maximum of 52 weeks salary (it would never happen). Generally, you end up with between 4-8 weeks as a bonus, which imho is damn good. You want to know what though? There are -still- people that bitch it isn’t enough. Screw you, and get a different job.
I use my 1996 Christams bonus everyday!
It’s a large tin of popcorn and it makes an excellent footrest here at work. I have often speculated whether or not the popcorn is still edible… I believe it has/had cheese flavored, carmel, and regular. It’s seal is still intact, but it sounds odd when I shake it.
Anybody want to try some?
My bonus is an entire Heavenly Ham, which I’ll use to make ham and cheese omlets for my family on Christmas Day, a long standing tradition in the aerie.
I have a part time job at a small law firm (2 lawyers 1 paralegal 1 file clerk -me-)We have done very well in the last 3 years and last year I recieved a 500 dollar bonus, at the time I was making $9.00/hr and working about 14 hours a week, I also get bonuses when we settle cases, depending on the dollar amount it’s usually between 300 - 600 dollars, we settle about 4 cases per year (multi-million dollar settlements) I never relized how good I had it
I get throughout the year 10-35 dollar bonuses for performance. I got one today! 35dollas! As for Christmas they tell us to screw ourselves and make us all work holidays. I figure, geive us a freaking gift certificate for a turkey and I’d be happy.
My Christmas bonus is an 80 hour workweek from now until the end of the year.
Friggin’ ecommerce company.
(No, I’m not griping about my job. Yes, I know I don’t have to work long hours. No, I’m not looking for another job. Yes, I’m happy at my job, and enjoy my coworkers and the challenge, which is why I’m still here.)
I work at a public institution so no holiday bonuses here.
However, last year as part of my raise I got a “merit bonus” for the hard work I did on developing and then executing (on a weekly basis) a real pain-in-the-neck prediction model. I was totally stunned. It was about 3.5% of my salary. It was also a genius move on their part, because this year when I am struggling with making sdjustments and updates to the model, I bitch about 75% less than I did last year. I sit here and hum like a contented llama for having been recognized for it.
Last year I got 100 dollars in gift certificates to the mall, able to use them in any store. I am not sure what the bonus will be like this year. A recent memo seemed to imply it would be a cash gift, but it might be the gift certificates again. Either way, it’s nice.
Michi
