Christmas Bonuses: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

When I was in high school and working part-time at a grocery store, I got a frozen turkey as a Christmas bonus. A few years later I recall getting a $25 cheque when I worked in retail. I can't say that too many Christmas bonuses have passed my way since then.

At my current workplace we have a Christmas party instead of a bonus. At this event about a dozen names are pulled out of a hat and the winners are given prizes: chocolates, hand towels, wine and the thing we all covet -- a half-day paid vacation. For two years in a row I have watched the same co-worker win a half-day vacation. For two years in a row I have not won a bean. Not even one.

But I'm over it now.

Yes, some employees get gift cards, cash, IPODs, an extra week's wages. One kindly stable owner even bought a race horse for her staff, who has produced over $90,000 of winnings for said employees.

I have nothing against these "gifted" people. I hold no resentments, unlike, perhaps, the man who received a ham and a can of peanuts despite his company making a huge profit.

And then there are the "winners" from the The Corporate Scrooge Contest that Slate ran three years ago, some of who received:

• A food basket filled with little paper cartons of dehydrated apple soup
• A "slightly damaged ornament"
• A bag of potatoes

Makes the frozen turkey look pretty good.

For More Information:

• Christmasbonus.info
• Timeline: Christmas Bonus

kathyo