United axes its employee bonus program, replaces it with a lottery, saving millions

[kaotikross]

59. NEVER trust The Boss to "give" you anything. Always a catch.

I worked for a company that was known for it's tight fisted Boss/Owner. Suddenly, out of the blue, after years, he's gonna "have a cookout for the employees". I told a coworker- "Dave, you don't wanna go to that, don't eat his food, I'm telling ya.." . I think the Boss knew nobody was going to come so suddenly it's mandatory attendance. We grunts shuffle in, most hit the food table- not me! I just take a seat and wait, and sure enough, here comes the Boss- the whole thing is a beat down in disguise about how we need more productivity, more "teamwork", etc, etc. A big pep-guilt- talk on let's all work harder for the same pay to make him even more money.
He'd make eye contact, and the ones with mouthfulls of his food couldn't keep it, i did, and smiled right back. Unsurprisingly, he and his Missus left on vacation to the Bahamas the very next friday for two weeks, which suddenly explained why he wanted a few extra bucks poured in from our sweat.
On the flip side of that coin i also worked for a guy who went above and beyond for the employees and as a result- we loved the dude. We would have literally fought anyone who had a bad word to say about him. He didn't hide when you wanted to discuss a raise, and if he couldn't , he told you why in detail. Gave out Turkeys for thanksgiving, Hams for Xmas, Toys for Tots, you name it, he did it or was helping to do it. I would have did anything he asked with no questions. Just an outstanding human being and employer- and it showed, we made the guy pretty wealthy. He deserved it. He was always first to work and last to leave, unlike the first boss i discussed who was the exact opposite. He sold the place to some jerk who wasn't anything like him, and it went right into the crapper in two years.