Christmas Bonus? (a dilemma)

Ok, say you work with a group of really cool people that you get along with very well, whom you even consider friends. Now say that Christmas comes along, and with it Christmas bonuses. However, the twist is that not everyone is getting one. But it turns out you are, even though the only main difference between those getting one and those who don't are the length of your employment there; everyone does the same work, and some of the harder workers will not be getting anything. Consider also that in years past, everyone got a bonus, even those who only started a few months before (one who started mere days before), and work quality didn't seem to be a factor.

Do you keep the bonus, or do you return it on the basis of fairness? Would it be stupid to reject it, since you do feel you earned it?

 

I'd pocket it myself.

I know it seems unjust but that's the way it is with capitalism. There is often no parity between work and reward.
For me, a teacher should earn more than a sportsperson, a man who has to do hard physical work, a miner say, should recieve an equal reward to some businessman who spends half his time on the golf course or in lunches with clients.
But it doesn't work that way.
If you give the money back, you won't be helping your workmates who don't get a bonus - just contributing more to the company's profits.
Maybe if it bugs you, donate some of it to a good cause.

 

Well, I cannot say whether or not the bonus has been earned. Only the one receiving the bonus can say that. However, if you feel as though it is unjust, then you might split your bonus with one or more of those whom you feel deserve it. You might just give it all away. Neither of these is detrimental to you (as a bonus is really "extra" money) and does good to those around you.

You can keep the bonus and express that you feel it is unfair that some received bonuses and others did not or that the bonuses were not based on work quality, but on longevity. It is NOT hypocritical for you to assert this and still keep the bonus (if you feel as though you have earned it).

At the very least, I would advise spending a small portion of the bonus on small gifts for those who received no bonus that you feel should have.

 

if you don't want it, "the heifer project" could get a few goats with that money

 

I would share it or use it to buy gifts for those who didnt get the bonus.

 

To pocket, or not to pocket? That is the question.

Depends on what you think of capitalism. If you're Captain Capitalism's sidekick, then you should pocket it and chalk it up to you working there longer and deserving it more than anyone else.

If you're like me and are Captain Capitalism's arch nemesis, you'd take the money and throw it in your employer's face and demand to QUIT your job, if they decide not to be fair.

That being said, also consider the nature of the bonus. You say some people get it and some don't, based on how long they've worked there. Some businesses have rules like "you are only eligible for x plan or y bonus if you have worked here longer than 75 days." If you think about it, that rule is there not because of capitalism, but rather because of workplace safety; they want to reward only reliable employees which plan on staying with the company. That doesn't have to do with seniority, it just has to do with length of employment.

However, if its based off of seniority (say, you worked there 5 years and another guy worked there 4 and a half, and you get the bonus but he doesn't) then that's totally unfair and I'd threaten to quit over it. That's just me of course, but ... I would never work for an unfair employer to begin with.

 

Personally I think it's your bosses $$$ and he should be able to do whatever he wants with it.

Once he gives it to you you should be able to do whatever you want with it.

Also I think senoirity counts for something; I'm a kick-ass worker myself, but I change jobs like I change my socks (at least once every cpl months). If I were an employer I'd value the guy I knew was going to be here for the long haul (or has been already) just because he adds some stability to the business, more than someone like myself.

A good mule's worth more than a race horse to a farmer.

Maybe he feels like he's rewarding your loyalty (?).

Anyway, what I would do (if my conscience was botherring me) is I would take some of the money, and cruise the thrift stores looking for a few toys I could donate to Toys for Tots or sleeping bags to give to homeless people.
Or maybe just put some of it aside until you run into someone who's having a hard time.
One thing you know about your fellow employies is they have jobs, so there are people worse off.

 

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your input. I haven't even opened it so I don't know how much I got, but it's probably not more than a hundred bucks (based on past years). So it wouldn't go far if I bought gifts for people, there'd be too many of them. I already plan to quit in a few months for other reasons, so I'll probably hang onto the job.

I'm not Captain Capitalism's arch nemesis, but something about this doesn't seem right. Mostly because almost all of these people got a bonus last year (some weren't employed there at the time, but everyone else who was, got one). I don't know for sure who's getting one, but if my cousin doesn't, who's been there 2.5 years, I'll be pissed.

I'm liking the idea of donating it to someone. Maybe I'll just cash it and give it to the first homeless guy I see. Not that I see too many of them around here...

 

You might not want to give cash to a homeless person. Cash has this nasty habit of magickally turning into heroin.

 

Every Man has a Vote in Affairs of the Moment; has equal title to the fresh Provisions, or Strong Liquors, at any Time seized, and use of them at Pleasure, unless a Scarcity make it necessary, for the good of all, to Vote a Retrenchment.

 

That bum will have to get his christmas fix somehow....

 

Let the hero in, no matter what form it takes.

 

you mean the sandwich, right?

 

Not at all. I meant God. If you need to shoot God into your vein to feel God, then that's what you should do. Everyone has their own path, some are bumpier and quick. Those blessed with the short rough ride get to die a little younger. Some of us are kept around longer. Sighhh...

 

Ok, well, it turns out everyone got 30 dollar gift cards to Target, while some (myself and a few others) also got an additional bonus. So now I feel a bit less guilty about the whole thing.