My company used to have a tradition that they would pass out bonus checks the day of the holiday party. That always served as a nice warm-up to getting co-workers smashed.
Now the bonus has been moved to March, so we don't really get a Xmas bonus anymore. But hey, the holiday party still has 5 hours of open bar with no restrictions on calling drinks, so it's all good.
Since I'm an IT project manager I tend to float between industries and you can tell the differences.
Insurance companies flat out suck. No party, maybe a holiday lunch if you were lucky. No bonus, maybe a thank you e-mail from the president.
Pharmaceutical companies are better. Our department heads set up holiday dinners for each group that was paid for by the company. Bonuses were occasional, and gift cards were always included.
I'm now in the corporate office for a large scale construction company and it is the best I've ever seen. We had a party last weekend at a nice hotel, we have a catered luncheon tomorrow in the office and bonuses are going to be awarded after New Years.
I'm lucky. We have a Christmas party in early December with small (actually as large as $200) cash drawings and an open bar. We also have a bonus/profit sharing deal. My cash bonus was the equivalent of a regular paycheck and I have the same pre-tax amount contributed directly to my 401-(k). All in all it amounts to about 6% of my salary, so I am very fortunate.
University of Kentucky basketball isn't a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that.
Wow... after reading this post I realized that A: The "Xmas bonus" thing is not a given and B: I am very very fortunate.
I work for a small IP law firm and every year round this time I get my pay check for the week and also a 2nd check that is roughly double what I make for a regular work week. We also have either a get together at one of the partner's house or they pay for our lunch on the last day of work before xmas (which happened today, so free Pizza Uno's for me).
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Food prices aren't coming down anytime soon. The weather is getting warmer. Green is in. Even the Obama's have dug up a patch in the South Lawn. Are you planting a vegetable garden this year too ?