Tell me about your Christmas/Holiday Bonus

[OKDem08]

I was expecting a good one this year to concur with my over-the-top efforts for the year but was sadly disappointed.

My husband commented, "Did they leave off a zero"?

[DesertFlower]

1. no bonus. lol.

[cthulu2016]

2. A set of steak knifes... I was lucky!

[OriginalGeek]

6. lol, one of my top 10 favorite movies

of all time.

[tblue]

110. I know someone who got a $10 gift certificate for 'meat.'

I guess that was supposed to buy a turkey.

But I thought that was so funny.

[Ilsa]

3. Bonus?

I don't think I've ever been in a job that offered a Xmas bonus.

[caraher]

12. same here

I've had good jobs as far as benefits, vacations... but never a bonus in several decades of work

[Lyric]

53. +1 for me and Rhythm

The only "bonus" I ever got was a free turkey back when I worked at the turkey processing plant 15 years ago. Rhythm has never gotten a Christmas bonus that I know of.

[freshwest]

152. Same here.

[elleng]

4. Voila!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/123531

[OriginalGeek]

5. we got a 25$ Amex giftcard at Thanksgiving

And I was damn happy to get it. I don't think we'll get anything for christmas except go home early on Friday and be off work monday (and the week after monday for new years). That part doesn't matter much to me as I always take the week between christmas and New Years off anyway.


We did have a pretty darn good pot-luck lunch and I got a bottle of Luksusowa vodka in a gift set with two shot glasses in the departmental gift exchange. It's still all there now. It won't be by New Years.

[eilen]

7. We got a letter telling us "No raise this year" d/t Medicare cuts.

I wondered if this also included the GNs who are supposed to get a raise once they pass their boards.

[Bozita]

8. In 1988, I got a frozen turkey.

Forty employees, one turkey.

So, ... there was some kind of raffle.

And I won.

[OhioBlue]

9. I got my standard one

I work in an office that is a city/county department. We used to be city - and they spun us off... I fought to keep the same benefits as I had when I was a city employee and they had education and fiduciary stipends that were to be awarded no later than November 1... the stipends are minimal and my board tried to argue the carry over... they wanted to just make it part of our salary... I argued to keep the stipend.... they relented. I'm glad that I argued it b/c we took pay freezes and pay cuts over the last few years. At least I still get the few hundred dollar bonus at year end. I do miss the bonuses from my previous employment. they were a grand or better - even tho I was clerical.. It was always fun money to have an extra $800 to $1200 net to spend just before the holidays.

Edit to add: in my previous employment, it was called profit sharing - not a christmas bonus... I don't know if the employees still get the generous bonuses that we did 10 years ago. In my current employment, I think the $300 fiduciary stipend that was allowed by the City was a token for employees that were not allowed to join the union b/c of their positions.

[daleanime]

10. You'll have to explain....

what is this 'bonus' and why would a working class american get it?





Wish I was joking.

[Prism]

11. I got the payroll tax holiday my employer never gave us all year

It was a (somewhat) innocent oversight. Somewhat.

[rsmith6621]

13. I Got a $25 Bonus From My Last Employer That Let Me Go In April

...I was quite surprised cause I was honest in my exit interview.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

14. My what?

[Maw Kettle]

15. No bonus so far.

Maybe they'll surprise me and Fedex me something, but I doubt it. They're a cheap bunch.

[Tunkamerica]

16. never gotten a bonus.

[sce56]

17. $125.00 Visa Card

two years ago it was a $250.00 Visa card. But they have to blow somewhere between 1/4 to 1/2 million this month use it or lose it!

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

18. Everyone in the company got the greater of an extra pay period or $2000

We don't have much turn-over.

[pinto]

19. 3.6% COLA

Social Security...

[RebelOne]

97. My bonus also. Well, it is better than the nothing COLA raises in the past 3 years. n/t

[Systematic Chaos]

20. Only cash holiday bonus I ever got was from working at a 7-11, believe it or not.

The owner gave every employee a cash bonus at the end of the year, based upon job performance and seniority. For the one Christmas I was there, I got $300 and I'd only been there 8 months. This was in 1990. The long-timers all got upwards of $500. Back then only two slots on the payroll included people who hadn't worked there at least 5 years. Me, and one other random, rotating person.

The owner also did profit sharing, and my friend who worked there about 15 years got a check for nearly $30,000 when he quit due to pain issues from being on his feet so much, maybe a year before the owner sold the store. You don't see that kind of thing every day in the c-store business!

Funny thing was, this was a "neighborhood" type of 7-11 which didn't sell gas and only did cash business. But every summer day it was still nearly impossible to keep the cooler stocked with beer and soda for more than an hour. They sold probably 200 hot dogs and 100 platters of nachos every day. Cups for the fountain had to be stocked not daily but twice per shift. Replenishing the candy aisle every week when the shipment came in took the owner's daughter over half a shift. HUGE volume.



Contrast that to my last job at a now-closed Strip casino here in Las Vegas. The company (MGM Grand was the final owner of the place before it got imploded to make room for the still-unfinished City Center) paid no sick time and a maximum of only two weeks of vacation per year. For either Thanksgiving or Christmas (can't recall which any longer and frankly don't give a shit) you were given the option of either a frozen turkey or three fairly small catering pies. Many employees gathered up the food from those who didn't want it and would donate it all to our local food banks.

[bermudat]

21. Last time I saw a Xmas bonus was in the 1980's

[Ikonoklast]

22. I was told that the floggings would only be for fifteen minutes instead of the usual twenty.

I wept for joy.

[OKDem08]

23. Haha! That was great!

The beatings will continue until morale improves.... : )

[BlueJazz]

131. LOL!

[MedicalAdmin]

141. DUzy

Lmao.

That is the funniest thing I have read today.

[FirstLight]

24. ...

doesn't one have to be employed to qualify for one of those? .................Or haven't they gone the way of the Unicorn?

[safeinOhio]

25. I have done such good work this year

they have rewarded me with more good work added to my job this year. My total bonus for the year, for meeting sales goals, has been $98.00. This has been added to my weekly total of minimum wage for an average of 24hrs/week. Good thing I collect a pension and SS. I'm always putting in apps for other jobs that might require a little less work with better pay and not have to work from 10 at night until 6 in the morning. The other 3rd shift worker was robbed at gun point last month. So far I haven't faced that. I'm employed by a major oil company that has made obscene profits this year.

[NBachers]

27. A couple of weeks ago, everyone got a crispy $100 bill with their paycheck

Then, the next week, it was year-end review and raise-or-no-raise time. I got a 40 cent raise; I'd been hoping for a fifty cent, but, I'm grateful for any raise. It puts me in the target range I wanted my hourly wage to get to.

I used the hundred bucks to buy an air-powered rivet gun for some projects I'm making down in my garage- they're projects for the company I work for. It's voluntary work, but I enjoy working in the reflection of my labors. It also keeps my department looking better, organized, and opens up more space for new products.

Then I had to go out and buy an air compressor, hose, and fittings to go with the new air rivet gun. I bought the compressor at the place I work, so I got a discount.

But, man, what a difference using an air rivet gun instead of squeezing a hand-riveter.

[Hissyspit]

28. I got a major award.

Last edited Thu Dec 22, 2011, 06:28 AM - Edit history (1)

It came in a large wooden box that says "frageelee."

It has the warm glow of electric sex.

Seriously, though, what's a bonus?

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Don't go to the basement and mess with furnace!!! Call it a hunch!

[jdadd]

39. This?

[jorno67]

66. Fra-gi-le

Old Man: Fra-gi-le...it must be Italian!
Mom: that's "fragile" dear.
Old Man: oh...right.

[JCMach1]

29. Christmas was the end of our weekend, so 3 days off in a row!

Yay!

Explanation: Weekends are Fri/Sat in the UAE...

[tXr]

30. A one-year membership to the jelly of the month club.

It's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!

[AllyCat]

92. I've been thinking of that the whole time I've read this post/comments!

That part of the movie is what I believe dates it the most. Christmas bonus...funny! The rest of the movie is priceless. Cousin Eddy quotes abound in our house this time of year.

[flying rabbit]

146. Dammit! thats all I got too!

Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?

[XemaSab]

31. $125 gift card

Since I'm only a part-timer, I was pleasantly surprised.

[AngryOldDem]

32. What's a bonus?

I'm even having to work on the scheduled holiday (Monday).

So....what's a bonus again? I think the last bonus I ever got was $5 extra in my check at one of the first jobs I ever held, back in the Ice Age.

And they wonder why worker morale is in the shitter.

[ChadwickHenryWard]

71. What is a bonus, though?

Like, extra money at the end of the year? I've never heard of that before.

[aletier_v]

35. $100 and 4 gig USB

[HughBeaumont]

36. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT.

Bonus . . . that's funny . . .


Oh, wait, you were serious . . . right?

[WCGreen]

37. The last time I got a bonus was back in 1986 when I was working for Sysco Food Services...

Got a ham and 50 bucks...

[jdadd]

38. Last place I worked (2007)

Got a $400.00 Meijer gift card....

[mdmc]

40. $250.oo

[Violet_Crumble]

41. A Christmas bonus? That's an alien concept to me...

I've never gotten one of those. I guess the bonus we get is that work shuts down on midday on the last working day before Christmas day and doesn't open up again till the first week in January and it's not taken out of our leave or anything...

[JustAnotherGen]

42. None

My boss gave me a $100 gift card to Amazon though.

Our annual bonus cones the last Friday in February each year and it is a significant amount of money.

[smokey nj]

43. Mine came yesterday. I got 60 bucks and an assortment of cookies and candy.

Yay me.

[The Wielding Truth]

99. Hey, it was something. Making more than middle income with a position. I got one candy bar one year.

I liked it though... better than nothing.

[eShirl]

44. only Christmas bonus I ever got was Double Time for working on Christmas

(at a community-based group home for developmentally disabled adults)

[michaz]

45. $300. and 4days off. n/t

[deutsey]

46. There's nothing to tell

I don't work anywhere near Wall Street.

[onethatcares]

47. I got $100.00 from my employer

but from the people that actually own the condos I maintain it amounts to almost $400.00.

The company took my Christmas and New Years holidays away this year as a treat.

I wouldn't piss on my boss if he was on fire. I would do anything to help the people out that own.

[JHB]

48. You have something to leave zeros off of?

Mine is obviously stuck in the same place as all my checks from George Soros, the Kennedys, and Moscow in return for "following marching orders".

[2pooped2pop]

49. gm retiree- zero this year.

This is just the newest thing we have been left out of. Decent insurance went as soon as we turned old enough to really need it.


son who works at a foundry got zero and two weeks off without pay. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

[NNN0LHI]

54. About a thousand dollar cut wasn't it?

I feel your pain.

I received the same "bonus", this year.

Don

[2pooped2pop]

69. 700 I think was the usual for the bonus

My sons pay is ridiculous. He works at a foundry and has worked himself up to 10 or eleven dollars an hour. (yeah, worked up to) Two hundred out of each paycheck ,paid every other week, for child support leaves him, not much to live on.

Not that he doesn't think he should pay child support, but with getting his check every other week instead of every week, it sure makes it hard to survive.

Two weeks without work probablly means he will get evicted or I will have to pay his rent.

[babydollhead]

50. usually husband gets 300.00. This year, a bottle of wine and a target gift card n/t

[w8liftinglady]

51. we got a $10 Target gift card. ... um,for saving lives.

[quaker bill]

52. $0

no such thing in a gov't job.

[justiceischeap]

55. $50 gift card. Last year it was $100. Either I sucked this year or

the economy effected the bonuses.

[Riley18]

56. User to get a 10% bonus that was taxed

at 30%, but Rick Scott did away with that little pittance.
Almost forgot to add that Rick did manage to take 3% of my pay away each week. So now my pay is short around $100 each month.

[blockhead]

57. About two weeks worth of take home pay

and for the second year in a row, a trip for the whole crew to the World of Concrete/Masonry trade show in Vegas.

Can't complain.

[GoCubsGo]

58. What's a "bonus"?

Even when I had a job, we never got those. We were lucky if we got a 2% raise every year. Hell, when they laid us all off, we had to threaten to sue in order to get our unused leave time paid back to us. Bonus? Hahahahhaha!!!!

[MilesColtrane]

59. I've never received a Christmas bonus, because I'm an independent contractor.

Actually, every day I can haul my fat, aging carcass to another gig this time of year, I consider a bonus.

[MineralMan]

60. I'm self-employed. I only get a bonus if I do an extra project.

No bonus this year.

[frazzled]

160. I'm in your boat

That mean boss called myself will not be giving me a bonus, but I'll be working through the holidays (like last year): just bad timing on two big projects.

I don't think many people get bonuses unless they work for a large firm in the financial or legal areas. Maybe I'm wrong. It's just a foreign concept to us. My spouse used to work in a museum (now in academia), and at Christmas time he used to ask his colleagues, with a deadpan, serious face, whether they'd gotten their bonuses yet. They got this really alarmed look in their eyes like maybe everyone else had gotten one but them, and then they'd realize it was a joke and all start laughing.

[Le Taz Hot]

61. If the House doesn't get their shit together

my "bonus" will be losing my UI as I'm right in the middle of a transition. Merry fucking Christmas Bohner and, you assbites!

[Lance_Boyle]

62. Bone what?

You aren't supposed to get those unless your job title starts with a "C," right?

[Tracer]

63. My daughter gets a VERY generous bonus.

She works for a company that is quite free with spreading cash around.

In addition to a 25 lb. turkey (which we gave to our church food bank), she gets a bonus in the $5,000 range.

Of course, quite a few employees of that company take the bonus and then give notice the following day.

[Trailrider1951]

64. Yeah, this year was scary

My bonus this year was one tenth (1/10, 10%) of what it was last year. I work for an engineering consulting firm and our clients are the big, small and independent oil companies, as well as state and federal governments. The company president talked to us when he handed out the checks and told us that he and the owner of the company almost canceled the bonuses this year because business was so bad. My time at work was about 48% billable. Last year, I was 64% billable. Three years ago, I was 82% billable. Four years ago, I was 89% billable. It is pretty scary sitting around with nothing to do. Unless business picks up, there may very well be first-ever layoffs next year. Damn, I just turned 60 years old. I may take early retirement at 62, if my job lasts that long.

[jorno67]

65. $0

I work for a 501c3 but 2yrs ago while working in the for profit world I got $5k. I love the job I have know but i sure miss those bonuses! Also...there were no bonuses at my old job this year...

[Marrah_G]

67. I usually get a good one

a little more then a weeks pay. But I am a bundle of nerves wondering if I will get one at all now. Our business has been close to destroyed because of the banks.

[AldebTX]

68. 1/2 Day Off

[Iggo]

70. Like every year...

...it amounts to roughly an extra paycheck.

Since there will be no raises again this year, they gave out merit bonuses. Again, mine came out to the amount of an extra paycheck.

I am neither outraged nor elated.

[newspeak]

72. when hubby had his decent job with benefits

they had an expensive christmas dinner and thanksgiving, a turkey. Well, since the company who changed CEO's and the CEO laid off most of the fifty something managers (hubby worked for the same company for over twenty-five years), he now works as a contractor. Contracting out to a major telephone company for a little over 10.00/hr. and now works on every holiday. Worked on 4th of july, thanksgiving, and now on christmas eve and christmas. Oh, and no time and a half, no christmas bonus, no christmas anything.

[yardwork]

73. No bonuses where I work. Some people took pay cuts. Everybody has more work with less resources.

[Iggo]

74. When my boss called me into his office for the merit bonus...

...I didn't know that was what he was calling me in there for, and I was prepared to take a paycut. That's how sketchy it is for me. I'm 50 and I have a desk job in the construction industry. Last guys to go are the builders and the boss, and I'm neither.

[socialist_n_TN]

75. BWHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Christmas bonus????

[sarcasmo]

76. 43 and have never had a bonus in my life.

[Jankyn]

77. They've been steadily decreasing at my place of employment...

...until this year they became nonexistent.

[Huey P. Long]

78. No Bonus, but thats okay! I am told that the 'job creators' need it!

[riderinthestorm]

79. I'm the boss and I always give a small bonus to all employees

That said, we're just a small farming operation so they aren't large and are always cash - they range from $50 to $300 depending on whether they are part time or full time and how long they've been with us. They always get a big container of home made soup (this year was chili) and a loaf of fresh bread with it.

I get a kick out of giving a bonus. I know how desperate I've felt and then to have a few extra bucks land in your pocket. Knock on wood we can continue to do this for as long as we are in business (20+ years so far). This year was pretty tight. My husband and I gave up giving each other Christmas presents years ago so we could do the bonus' for the employees but this year I cut into the funds I usually allocate for the client gifts and my extended family. We made it - that's all that matters afaic.

But I've never gotten a bonus myself.

[JNelson6563]

95. Thank you for being a good boss.

The world could use more like you.

Julie

[a la izquierda]

129. We need more of you in the world....

and a hell of a lot less Wall Street types.

[SwampG8r]

80. i have a job the day after ...thats all the bonus i need

why is my boss obligated to give me something?
i get a wage we agreed on and his checks dont bounce
maybe im a minimalist but thats all i ever have exoected from my job and its all it has ever offered anyone
there are no golden parachutes in a kitchen and its always what have you done for me lately

[Skeletor]

81. Work in healthcare...

No bonus and they even canned the employee xmas party. Of course the million dollar remodel may of had something to do with it. : /

[AllyCat]

91. Hmmm...we must work at the same facility

Or, this kind of "holiday spirit" is the norm among health care CEOs.

[leeroysphitz]

82. I hear my boss may be giving out hams this year.

Last edited Thu Dec 22, 2011, 06:45 PM - Edit history (1)

If true that will be the only bonus anyone at my company is likely to get.

ETA: That was ungrateful. My apologies to those out of work this winter.

[geardaddy]

83. $25 Amex Gift card

I feel lucky.

[shanti]

84. nothing

as i'm retired, but my sister told me that she and everyone in her office received a new kindle fire, even the temps. some people even cried when they saw their gift.

[redqueen]

85. People still get those?

Must be nice!

[kenny blankenship]

101. Biggest banks expected to announce $156 billion in year end bonuses

Yes, Virginia, some people still get bonuses even though they destroyed America.

Biggest banks expected to announce $156 billion in year end bonuses

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/316448

(For keeping mum and keeping the boss from going to jail.)

[redqueen]

102. Well, I did say 'people'...

not 'parasites'.

But I see from this thread that actual people do still get them sometimes, too.

[badtoworse]

86. I have always gotten my bonus in the March / April timeframe

I started my present job last June, so I'm not sure what to expect.

[mike_c]

87. I am a public employee....

What is this "bonus" you speak of?

[deacon]

88. I got boehner's cooked goose. n/t

[AllyCat]

89. I got a form letter from our union-busting CEO

My husband got the day off after Christmas. You know, it falls on a Sunday and his Rush-worshiping boss thought she could get a free "paid holiday". Someone from a neighboring office pointed out that was actually pretty unfair and said none of their group would be in on Monday. So, she caved... The Christmas bonuses from her stopped years ago.

[slackmaster]

90. Here's a picture of mine

[The Wielding Truth]

100. Oh I get it. I was going to ask if you raised geese. If so that's a nice egg. haha

[Roland99]

93. 2.8% of annual salary

[99Forever]

94. Bonus? Cripes...

.. I have no income, period.

Wow, just wow.

[Doc_Technical]

96. The last time I got a Christmas bonus,

was when I was working at a steak house
40 years ago.
He was one of the few boses I had who
was worth a damn.

[Starry Messenger]

98. I got a nice card and some holiday snacks.

The card from a student who said I taught her favorite class. My students are my bonus.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

103. Nothing. (engineer at a defense/contracting company)

In fact, I've never got a holiday-bonus or holiday anything. I don't really mind.

We do get typical COLA or annual raises, but that is merit based and occurs mid-year.

[Lebam in LA]

104. I am very fortunate to have a very generous boss.

Most of it will be donated to food banks. Makes me feel a little guilty having such good fortune when so many others are suffering.

[kcass1954]

105. We got bonuses at my job, but less than some previous years.

Mine was less than a week's pay, less taxes and 401k contribution. The net was just over $200, and over half of that went to Feeding South Florida/Feeding America.

No raises last year, but everyone in my department (growing and a money-making operation) will get just over 6.5% increase effective in January.

Some of my customers have been very generous with holiday gifts this week - cash, gift cards, wine, Godiva.

[Tindalos]

106. Never had a cash bonus.

My current supervisor did take us all ice skating this year, and gave us each a handmade pen.

[Matariki]

107. two movie tickets

but then, I'm contracting.

[tblue]

108. $100

Cool because that is literally 1 1/2 weeks pay. Not joking.

[Fearless]

109. What's a bonus?

No seriously. Never got one. Ever.

[DissedByBush]

159. Try Germany, most companies give them

However, what really happens is they divide your yearly pay into 13 parts, give you one a month for Jan-Nov, then give you two in Dec, calling one "Weinachtsgeld" (Christmas money).

A bonus by another name is just money they didn't give you earlier in the year.

[Fearless]

162. I think the bottom line is I'm underpaid. Lol.

[Sherman A1]

111. A discount card

to use in store for a limited number of items of the company's private label products. In the past we received a $10.00 gift card but they have changed the program this year to give all the worker bees this new & improved discount card for the store's private label brands. It may be better in the long run or perhaps not. I guess it's something, but the remarks I have heard from co-workers are less than positive.

[Blue Owl]

112. Was expecting a silent thread

n/t

[NYC_SKP]

113. One of my three jobs gave me a $500.00 bonus.

Which isn't bad, I suppose.

Interestingly, however, that job pays the least of the three.

No bonus from either of the other two jobs, but the pay is good.

[TygrBright]

114. Yesterday the ED called the staff together...

...and said that since there was a small but unexpected surplus in the personnel line item, she had decided to divide the amount among the staff (not including herself) on a pro-rata (based on time, not salary) basis.

It wasn't really a "Christmas/Holiday" bonus per se. The organization's fiscal year coincides with the calendar year, so it was more of a "closing the books" bonus.

Not a large amount of money, but since there were no raises for anyone this year, and she'd taken a pay cut the year before, the gesture was appreciated.

Judging by the amount I received (I'm very part time) the full time staff got a little under a week's take home pay, more or less.

Every little bit helps.

amiably,
Bright

[obietiger]

115. how about a $25.00 gift card to WalMart.....

arhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Skittles]

116. bonus, LOLOLOLOL

(P.S.: I work Christmas, New Years Eve AND New Years Day)

[Slit Skirt]

117. here's my bonus...laid off

[Edweird]

127. That sucks. I'm sorry to hear that.

[Slit Skirt]

153. thanks..yes it does suck

it fucks with your head you know what I mean?

[bluedigger]

164. Last Friday was my last day.

But I am home for the holidays, so I got that going for me!

[etherealtruth]

118. What is this B-O-N-U-S ...

... thing of which you speak?

[IrishEyes]

119. Unemployed but I once got a $5 gift certificate to McDonalds.

I'm a vegetarian so I gave it away. I also got a caramel apple.
One place I worked at gave me a candle.
Last Christmas I got another check for a week's pay.

My friend got tickets to broadway show, a week off from work for the holidays and a huge check. She is an administrative assistant. I want to work at her company.

[crim son]

120. I'm a seasonal customer service rep at LLBean. This is my third year

and I got $35. I have no complaints.

[phylny]

121. I work for a very small company,

and do not expect a bonus - if and when we get one, it's a surprise and it's appreciated.

I got a gift card for $150 to Target.

[taught_me_patience]

122. Our bonuses are usually in march - 5%

This Christmas, our company gave an extra 4 days off... tues-friday, so next week is completely off. I'm very thankful.

[glowing]

123. Just got it:

$200.00 in cash and a opal necklace/ earring set... very pretty.

[LibDemAlways]

124. My husband is lucky. He was given $200.00 in

American Express gift certificates because a customer praised his efforts in front of the boss. It's the first time in his life he's received a bonus. He's 60 and it will probably never happen again.

[Auggie]

125. Self-employed. My bonus is not having to commute.

[Edweird]

126. I got a ham. But, I have decent wages, good working conditions and excellent equipment.

I'm good with it. Plus, given the fact that layoffs happen in a heartbeat in my trade, I'm thrilled just to remain employed

[valerief]

128. My bonus? A pink slip! nt

[1monster]

130. The only Christmas Bonus I EVER received was when I was in college and go five $1.00 McDonald's gift

certificates from my McDonald's employers.

[Turbineguy]

132. I used to organize my own bonus.

If I had to call the Home Office, I'd put in for one hour of overtime. If they yelled at me, it was two. If they yelled and cursed at me it went to four hours of O.T. My last year at that firm I called the office enough times to qualify for a $1900 bonus.

[MarkCharles]

133. Lunch out with the boss, and all employees, once

in a 45 year history of employment from 17 onward.

The bank I worked for in college, where I pointed out a $12,000 against our favor mistake of my college graduate supervisor got my transferred to another division. I was rewarded with a dinner with the big guys once that year, because I had saved the bank $12,000 when average annual salaries were about there.

I got 3 turkeys the 3 years I was there, on Thanksgiving, nothing at Christmas but the 2% annual raise, (when banks nationally were making 6% profits a year). The small local bank, now part of BoA, had a special deal with a turkey farmer or two where they held mortgages on their turkey farm, and the bank had 50 employees, the turkey farm sold about 40,000 annual turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I bet the bank just forgave the late fees on the mortgages to get those turkeys.

[efhmc]

134. I gave one to my one employee. Not much but he was pleased.

[Charlemagne]

135. I have friday

and monday off. That means that we can go as a family and drop off presents to the neighbors. Thats good enough for me.

[MrModerate]

136. Pretty depressing to read this thread . . .

My company does "Reward for Performance" and "Profit-Sharing" and a few other odds and ends, so I'm not especially disappointed. It was more than I got last year.

But based on the responses here, I see that my experience is not that common — unless no one else who got a decent bonus felt like replying.

[neverforget]

137. I'm waiting to hear how much longer my company is going to keep

the office open. The Bonus for me would be employment for another year.

[dems_rightnow]

138. Gave a total of $3,000 to my 4 employees.

They ranged from $300 to $1,500.

[Politicub]

139. $50 Amex gift card

Woo.

[Curmudgeoness]

140. I got an interesting bonus.

$100 and my boss said he will pay my gas bills for the next three months. So I don't know what that will come to, but it will be so nice to not worry about keeping the thermostat down to 50 degrees! I like it.

But I will say, we had one of the best years we have had in the 10 years I have worked there. And....the profit is enough for my boss to be worried about taxes. That is usually why a company gives out bonuses at the end of the year----give it to the government or give it to the employees and get happier employees to boot. I can't figure out why he didn't do decent bonuses with the state of the company profits.

[freshstart]

142. Nada, zip, zilch, nothing....

The last raise we got was in 2008. And, to top it off....my employer sent a letter to all employees to tell us the salary freeze for non-union workers (1/5 of the workforce) was over and they would be getting raises and bonuses. As for us union employees....nothing and they don't have time to "negotiate" until February at the earliest. It is all an effort to bust the unions.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

143. Like Harlan Ellison has said about his impoverished youth "we had phlegm for the holidays"

[Generic Brad]

144. The last holiday bonus I got was in 1988

Companies still do that? There are employers out there who actually do that?

[Motown_Johnny]

145. $400.00

and spent over $200.00 on repairs to my truck as soon as I got it

[Honeycombe8]

147. I get a hefty bonus every year.

It's prescribed in the firm manual and hasn't been discontinued because of the recession. But the firm did other things to save money, so......

I hesitate to admit it. I notice that no one else who got a good bonus has admitted it.

But let me say that I considered the firm's bonus policy, as well as other benefits, when I applied for the job 25 years ago. And I have stayed with the job, when many would not have. It is highly stressful and can be downright unhealthy and unpleasant at times. So, yeah, I got a good bonus. And the firm has a workhorse in return that it really does work like a horse. Many's the night where I worked all night without being allowed to get sleep, or have been sent out of town on short notice, requiring me to scramble to find a place to kennel my dogs and pay the hundreds of dollars' bill for the boarding. Etc., etc.

Yes, I got a good bonus. And I am grateful for it. And grateful for the job. It has paid me well over the years. I am very lucky. (But if I'd been a teacher, as I had wanted to be at one time, I'd get several months off in the summer and a great retirement package, which I would much rather have than a good bonus.)

[lynne]

148. 2 yrs. ago I was laid off for Christmas -

- have a different job now, less hours and less pay. I got no Christmas bonus. Just hope I manage to keep the job.

[peacefreak]

149. I lose a day's pay

because I usually work on Sunday.

[Luciferous]

150. Bonus?! Hahahahaha...

[SmittynMo]

151. Bonus? Are you fricking kidding me?

Only the 1% get bonuses. I am currently unemployed, not receiving an unemployment check. The job market totally sucks. I spend hours each day looking. And I have 20+ years of IT experience. If it weren't for my wife's income, I'd be on the street along with the millions there already. She has been working for the same company for 25 years, and her bonuses went out the door at least 5 years ago. And back then, she got a turkey. My bonus was I sold a router on craigslist for 20 bucks. Whoop dee doo. Bonus? What Bonus.

[cheapdate]

154. Bonus was good this year...

Bonus was a hair over $3,000. I work for a small engineering group (~25 employees.) We got a few good-sized jobs this year. The biggest job was working for a Japanese company that's building a manufacturing plant in Memphis, TN to produce electrolytic materials that will be used in the batteries for the Nissan Leaf, (Nissan's all electric car.)

The funny thing is that I'm the only Democrat in the office; they're all rabid, Obama hatin', conservatives. And what's funny is how they bitch all the time about Obama's policies and politics, while at the same time, not only the electrolyte job, but probably 50% of our business last year was directly related to the Obama administration's spending priorities; including green energy and air pollution control.

[progressoid]

155. Haven't had one of those in years.

[DRoseDARs]

156. Not for me, but corp just decided to demote our op mngr and force more front desk hours on her...

...cutting hours from other front desk staff starting first of the year. All her current op duties are going to be transferred to the mothership on the east coast because that's exactly what our members have been asking for: Zero face-to-face customer support. Today, one of the owners sent us a couple of trays of sandwiches, some chips and soda. Hey, sorry about fucking you guys over yet again, here's some food. Asshole. My department's hours were "temporarily" cut last spring for the slower summer season. You think we've seen any of those hours returned to us since September? Hell no.

[donheld]

157. 2 movie passes

yup that's it.

[DissedByBush]

158. I got my first one in my entire life

$150.

Hey, it's something.

[Missy Vixen]

161. My husband's employer gave a holiday party earlier this month

We brought home $100 in gift cards from Best Buy, Target and AMC Theaters. I have no idea if there is another bonus coming, but we were happy to get some gift cards.

[TheOther95Percent]

163. It was a tad under 20K

This is the first year I will make more money than I did in 2004 when I lost my OT pay when the Bush administration revamped OT pay for people in my line of work. I'm only making more money this year because I got a significant promotion (and raise) and the potential bonus pool about doubled from 8 to 15%. I'm putting in the bank because MrOther95 may lose his job soon.