Office/apprecation etiquette...would this bother you?

[Anonymous]

If you just gave them out a couple days before Christmas, they may be in the throws of holiday planning/hosting/traveling and planning to write a thank you note in the new year (or saying thank you in person once back in the office). This is a busy time of year so I’d take a beat before assuming people are ungrateful.

That said, I am a fed so my bonuses aren’t even coming from my boss’s own pocket in any way. But I make sure to let her know I appreciate the cash and time off awards I receive because I know she has to put in names for those as there is a limited budget for them. I don’t write a formal thank you card because that seems a little awkward, but at least informally mentioning to your boss you appreciate their support is just good office social graces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Own a small business. Have 7 employees. Business was tough this year for a host of reasons but we hung on.I looked up what the normal small business holiday bonuses are and many sites said $100-$500 or some said they just give a bottle of wine, box of candy,etc...

I gave $2000 to my main person and $500 to everyone else. NOT ONE text call or email to say thanks. I handed them out on Tuesday.I feel 100% sure they were opened. When I used to work for someone I always gave my boss a card with a box of candy or a bottle of champagne..something just because it felt right. I am good to these people in an industry that is hurting, they are all lucky to have the job they do. I am an easy boss, easy going and understanding, but this to me, really hurt me. Am I expecting too much?

Coal in the stockings for next year. My boss used to give us gift cards of $50-100 for the holidays and we always made sure to thank him sincerely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I think that saying thank you to cash or a bonus check would feel like saying thank you for a paycheck. It’s just awkward. So that might be the disconnect. You see it as a gift and expect thanks, and they see it as additional compensation and perceive that it would be inappropriate or unprofessional to acknowledge it in a personal way?

Agree 👍🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I think that saying thank you to cash or a bonus check would feel like saying thank you for a paycheck. It’s just awkward. So that might be the disconnect. You see it as a gift and expect thanks, and they see it as additional compensation and perceive that it would be inappropriate or unprofessional to acknowledge it in a personal way?

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP YES they are very lucky they al make Prox 30-40% anove the going rate so
yea indeed they are very lucky. They know they are getting paid much more also. but i am a good and fair boss always understanding and always generous. Very few i know have any kind of bonus so to me, i went above and beyond The lack of manner and appreciation. however me thinking future bonuses at all.

Maybe it's your drinking that's the problem?

[Anonymous]

All the posters who think it's inappropriate to thank boss for bonus because it's like saying thank you for a paycheck...is there anything you would thank them for?

I mean, when you get hired do you say thanks? Or were you entitled to the job the way you sen to feel you are entitled to a paycheck? Entitled to extra money?

[Anonymous]

A gift should always be thanked!!! Where are peoples manners? Such entitlement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP YES they are very lucky they al make Prox 30-40% anove the going rate so
yea indeed they are very lucky. They know they are getting paid much more also. but i am a good and fair boss always understanding and always generous. Very few i know have any kind of bonus so to me, i went above and beyond The lack of manner and appreciation. however me thinking future bonuses at all.

Maybe it's your drinking that's the problem?

.

Drinking?funny but I don’t drink-nice try

[Anonymous]

Firstly, it's still Christmas 'break', so theres plenty of time to thank him Monday. Secondly, $500 is a paltry amount to lord over. What is that? Just over one days take home pay for a $90,000 a year job?

I know youre not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but if I showed up to work on time every single day and my thanks was.... a single day's pay.... yeah... I wouldn't be jumpimg for joy to thank him.

And having worked for several small busnesses that were kept alive more by people the likes of me than the owners, I've pretty much lost any sympathy for the "you better be grateul you have a job" spiel. How about they better be glad their labor showed up every day?

[Anonymous]

When someone gives one a gift ANY gift a proper thank you is due. Stunned that none of them. did that. Especially when so few businesses are giving any kind of
gift. OP any updates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I think that saying thank you to cash or a bonus check would feel like saying thank you for a paycheck. It’s just awkward. So that might be the disconnect. You see it as a gift and expect thanks, and they see it as additional compensation and perceive that it would be inappropriate or unprofessional to acknowledge it in a personal way?

This was my first thought.

Or they may have thought the bonus was your way of thanking them, thus they didn't need to thank you for the thank you, even though it would have been nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like you have a good heart and I’m sorry to hear that they responded that way. I would take that reaction into consideration in determining next year’s holiday bonuses and to be honest, I wouldn’t blame you for not giving one if you didn’t. That may be harsh but when I was working (retired now), we always told the boss thank you for whatever we received.

15 years ago a large accounting firm gave us college hires $5 gift card. That’s equivalent to a cup of freshly squeezed Orange juice in NYC.

The same college hires are still mocking them to this day. What a joke 😆 the gossip value far exceeds the gift card value.

[Anonymous]

A bonus is different than a Christmas gift. This was a Christmas gift.Absolutely needs to be acknowledged and thanked! Many businesses especially this year stopped giving them period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Own a small business. Have 7 employees. Business was tough this year for a host of reasons but we hung on.I looked up what the normal small business holiday bonuses are and many sites said $100-$500 or some said they just give a bottle of wine, box of candy,etc...

I gave $2000 to my main person and $500 to everyone else. NOT ONE text call or email to say thanks. I handed them out on Tuesday.I feel 100% sure they were opened. When I used to work for someone I always gave my boss a card with a box of candy or a bottle of champagne..something just because it felt right. I am good to these people in an industry that is hurting, they are all lucky to have the job they do. I am an easy boss, easy going and understanding, but this to me, really hurt me. Am I expecting too much?

If you really think this way, you have every hallmark of being a sh boss.

Ummmm. NO. And shame on you for suggesting this. They ARE lucky to have the job. Don't be an idiot.