If you make $70k/yr is a $400 Christmas bonus a slap in the face?

[Crono]

An actual slap in the face is a slap in the face.
Getting a smaller bonus (not even a part of my work vocabulary) than expected should be a slight disappointment.

It's in the "what can you do?" category, same as tips. If you aren't deemed deserving by the powers that be, oh well. I'm not trying to be mean or cold as some might, but really that's just how the system is. Be thankful you make $70k and any bonus should just be a welcome surprise.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

It's a bonus. You shouldn't EXPECT anything.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I don't think I've ever gotten a Christmas bonus, in the traditional sense. We have a bonus program, but it is entirely based on your performance and it doesn't pay out until well after Christmas. If you don't have a defined bonus program, bitching about getting $400 seems kind of silly.

 

[Engineer]

I've learned not to ever expect anything. That being said, I make just a little more than you but received $2,300 this year (not sure whether to call it a Christmas or year end bonus). The boss said that we made money this year, not great but made money, and when we make him money, he gives us money. I donated 10% to a local food bank and placed the rest into savings.

I can understand, to a point, the OP's disappointment though. I worked my ass off last year trying to get every project out on time and really focused on saving money. The bonus was $500 for that year. It felt like I had worked my butt off, specifically with goal of pumping up the bonus, had been for nothing. I can relate....

 

[TrueBlueLS]

I'm going with don't be greedy and be happy you got a $400 bonus. The level I'm at with my work, we don't get Christmas bonuses so I would be grateful for anything even if it was a $25 gift card for gas.

 

[mmntech]

IIRC, I get a 1% bonus this year. Which will end up significantly less once the government has had their way with it.

 

[FirewolfX]

Did everyone spend too much time at the beach? There are a lot of sandy vaginas in this thread.

 

[Jadow]

In the past I'd have thought of it as a bit of an insult, but now with a kid on the way, and more responsibilities in my life, I'm just happy to keep getting that paycheck and value job security over salary/income.

 

[MagickMan]

Is $400 a slap in the face? No, not getting a bonus at all would be. Consider yourself fortunate, you could have gotten a subscription to the Jelly of the Month club (the gift that keeps on giving the whole year).

 

[Angry Irishman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HEUEi2fVSA

 

[ichy]

1%er bragging and noted

Lol, only in dmcowen loser land is being successful something to be ashamed of.

 

[ichy]

Better than getting a pink slip.

Lol, yes.

I used to get pretty nice annual bonuses. The best one I ever got was worth about 10% of my salary at the time. Over time our company became more and more mismanaged and business dropped off so the bonuses disappeared. This year I got a notice that I'd be laid off after Dec. 31st. Sure makes the no bonus years seem good by comparison :\

BTW, if you do get a nice bonus then I'd strongly recommend stashing it away rather than assuming that the gravy train will last forever. You can't control your employer but you can set yourself up to be more financially independent. I used that big bonus I mentioned to increase the size of my down payment on my house which made for smaller mortgage payments down the road. A dirt cheap mortgage really helps take a lot of the stress out of job hunting.

 

[ichy]

really? how common are 15% bonuses?

I think that at my soon to be former employer bonuses were sort of viewed as a way to increase employee retention. People in this area and line of work hop between jobs quite a lot and giving people a nice little chunk of change at the end of the year served as an incentive to stay around.

 

[KlokWyze]

man you are a sucker!

I get paid $70k a year and got a $10k bonus! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah... I got a $25 gift card this year. Quit whining!

 

[OBLAMA2009]

your "bonus" is really money you earned. they just didnt give it to you until the end of the year so they can play santa claus and make you think theyre nice. if you only got $400 id be pissed as hell

 

[Viperoni]

Have never got a bonus.

 

[AlienCraft]

WE get nothing.

 

[AlienCraft]

$250k is hardly a 1%er. But keep up the class envy bullshit, it's funny.

Class envy is a prerequisite for Capitalism to function. Aspiration and Aquisition are key elements as well.

 

[zephyrprime]

I have never received a christmas bonus at any company I have ever worked for. I think they are falling by the wayside. I got a $50 giftcard this year. Whoopdeedo.

 

[nageov3t]

at the risk of sorting through 194 posts... did the OP ever say what industry he was in?

I know at a lot of financial/Wall St companies, large bonuses are expected and built into the overall compensation package.

working in IT, I've seen bonuses ranging from $0 - $500 for non-management.

 

[sze5003]

at the risk of sorting through 194 posts... did the OP ever say what industry he was in?

I know at a lot of financial/Wall St companies, large bonuses are expected and built into the overall compensation package.

working in IT, I've seen bonuses ranging from $0 - $500 for non-management.

Depends what industry in IT. If its in finance IT world, depending on the company you can get nice bonuses.

 

[SketchMaster]

Friend of mine just got notice last Friday that his department didn't get their contract renewed, he has less than a month to find a new job.

Merry Christmas to him.

 

[sze5003]

Friend of mine just got notice last Friday that his department didn't get their contract renewed, he has less than a month to find a new job.

Merry Christmas to him.

That was the same with me 2 years ago. Worked for the state education department as a developer and the pay was good, no bonuses but funding was cut they did away with pretty much everyone there. I luckily applied in time to man places.

Hopefully your friend will find something. No reason to complain when your paycheck comes and u can pay your bills and survive

 

[brianmanahan]

i got 5$ at the company cafe, is that a slap in the face?