What are your Xmas bonuses like?

[Syringer]

So we run a company with 4 cofounders, and have one employee earning mid-30s a year, and times have been time for us but we want to give him a bonus. At what point is a bonus "too" low to consider giving him one?

Obviously $10 or something would be insulting, but would there be a minimum amount that makes it "worthwhile"? Or if it's going to be a low amount, say $250 would you prefer a check as abonus or a VISA/AMEX gift card as a gift?

 

[HannibalX]

$500 or don't bother - put it in his pay check, don't fool around with gift cards.

 

[PricklyPete]

My wife worked for a small design company...they usually gave $500 and made similar money to what you are quoting above...no one complained.

 

[FoBoT]

p00p
failure to read, on my part

give the guy 1%, so $350 , he love you long time

 

[zinfamous]

what's that?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Not once have I ever received a Christmas bonus. The closest was a pen back in 1999.

 

[MichaelD]

what's that?

Word. What is this "Christmas Bonus" you speak of, OP?

 

[ultimatebob]

I got a $25 grocery store gift card this year. Last year, I got a box of food items and soaps worth about $40.

 

[slackerinabox]

Last year we got one weeks pay as a bonus... I don't know if we're getting one this year, since we didn't have any raises

 

[dullard]

I'm a state employee. I get $0 bonuses. I think my wife gets 10% yearly bonuses (we just got married and I never asked her outright, but from her hints, it seems like it is 10%).

Honestly, the guy would be happy with anything when times are tight. But anything below 1% is quite insulting. Heck, the guy costs you probably nearly $4k/month after benefits and taxes. That is just under $1k/week. Your $250 suggestion is less than 2 days worth of what it costs you to employ him. I think you can do better.

If times are tough, why not just give him 2 days more paid vacation in addition to your $250 suggestion. That would be more in line with reasonable bonuses and he'd probably really like it.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I don't get a Christmas bonus. We're having a pot luck lunch next Friday.

 

[HannibalX]

Last year they handed out frozen turkeys to us...

 

[slackerinabox]

as mentioned, $500 would be much appreciated - especially since someone making that little will be a bit concerned about January's rent, since they spent most of their cash on gifts

 

[spidey07]

Used to be 4 weeks salary, now it's just 2.

I'd say a weeks of pay would be sufficient for him, nothing less.

 

[MichaelD]

Last year they handed out frozen turkeys to us...

Free food is good too. At least they went through the effort of buying and lugging them to your place of business.

 

[AdamK47]

A one year subscription to the jelly of the month club would be more than what I got... which is nothing!

 

[SunnyD]

What bonus?

 

[Jadow]

you could give him 250 or 500, I wouldn't bother with anyhting less than 250.

I work for a large company with 40,000 employees and get a 2500 to 3000 dollars a year in March.

 

[CPA]

If you give him cash, make sure to gross it up for the taxes. Otherwords make sure it's $500 net, not gross.

 

[mcurphy]

The last 3 companies I worked for all gave 1-3% of my yearly salary. I was happy with that, even when I received 1%, it was better than nothing.

 

[chin311]

self-employed sooooo ZERO.

 

[James Bond]

If you give him cash, make sure to gross it up for the taxes. Otherwords make sure it's $500 net, not gross.

Exactly. I got hired at a new company a few years ago and had to relocate. To compensate, they were giving me $1000.

When I received my compensation check, it was for like $650... Several hundred was missing due to taxes.

I went to my boss and asked her WTF? She gave me this look like, "well that's how it works". I wrote a nastygram and received a new check for $1000 later that day.

 

[CptCrunch]

I got a $20 xmas bonus, i have no idea how i'm going to spend all $12 of it

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I got a $20 xmas bonus, i have no idea how i'm going to spend all $12 of it

Ornament hooks and blow pops.

 

[RoloMather]

Exactly. I got hired at a new company a few years ago and had to relocate. To compensate, they were giving me $1000.

When I received my compensation check, it was for like $650... Several hundred was missing due to taxes.

I went to my boss and asked her WTF? She gave me this look like, "well that's how it works". I wrote a nastygram and received a new check for $1000 later that day.

So you got $1650?