Christmas Bonuses?

Well, for years, we got a $25 gift card to a nearby grocery store. Then 2 Christmas' ago, they sent everyone a hillshire farm cheese sausage gift pack thing that EVERYONE complain about. So, the last two Christmas' we have received nothing.

I am receiving a fat little "relocation" bonus to move less than an hour away though, so no complaints from me.

I have a little bit different situation since I'm one of the owners of the company.  I'm the one here who decides what gets given out and the last few years we've had pretty nice bonuses.  This was a really tough year for us so the bonuses were about 15% of what they've been (this year $250-$500) but I've always warned people that they are based on profit, not to be counted on as regular pay.  Hopefully we can go back up next year.  I felt like crap, like the boss in Christmas vacation giving out fruitcake of the month level bonuses to people expecting swimming pool level bonuses.  The only reason there was any bonus at all was because I couldn't sit in front of people and tell them there was nothing after all of their hard work.  It was not pleasant.  For the record, I took no bonus at all, although none of them know that.

Very nice!

I guess i work for a pretty good company.  With my bonus I had my eyes on a set of Zipp 404's.  Then two days after I recieve the bonus I find out we need front and rear brakes and some transmission work on our van.  I HATE being a responsible adult sometime

Chris

The largest health care group in my area.  We got a 20 buck card good for WalFart.  I bought beer and dog food. 

But the pathologists gave all the lab folks a 50 buck certificate.  Bought new bed sheets.

Your comment reminded me of this story, hope it is ok I posted it here.

I feel it's good food for thought.

 An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.  He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family.  He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.  They could get by.

     The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.  The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not at work.  He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.  It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

     When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door key to the carpenter.  “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

     What a shock!  What a shame!  If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he built none to well.

     So it is with us.  We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort.  Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built.  If we have realized, we would have done it differently.

     Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board or erect a wall.  Build wisely.  Even if you live in it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously, with dignity, integrity and creativity.

     The plaque on the wall says, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.”  Who could say it more clearly?  Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past.  Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Stolen from Cindy Violette, Professional Poker Player

http://www.cyndyviolette.com/ 

Happy New Year,

Jim