Expected Donation to Bosses Xmas Fund!!!!

Dazi

Sorry, not read all the replies.

Way I see it, if you don't buy boss a pressie, you might not get your bonus? You pay tax on this? so its not really a present is it, just a bit extra in your wages. Can't understand those that say oh well if your boss gives you a bonus you should pay so much back for a present.

Don't understand this. Your boss is your boss. If you should get the bonus you should. I get a bit of a bonus at xmas, tis £50 does that mean i should buy my boss at head office a present, does it ****

Can understand why you don't want to contribute to the bosses pressies, I think nice cake or cookies is a good present to give to a boss, just to say, hey its xmas, I thought of you etc. we got our local boss a bunch of flowers, but thinking about it now, it cost me nearly half what head office gave us, so this year I will not do it, she can have cookies or a cake and lump it!

I am in my 50's have worked since I was 16 give or take a few years off when kids were small, no way have I given my boss a big pressie at xmas, in fact am very happy now that my boss is a Jehovah, so don't need to do the pressie bit, just the cake or flowers and as said above, she aint getting flowers off me this year. Ok I am tight, but there are far more people I love and want to spend money on at xmas.

£45 is more than I spend on people. In fact its more that I spend on most people, and in the last couple of years me and OH have not got each other anything to save money. Our limit has been £30 for grandkids and stepdaughter, less for couples, but wrapped in a way that it looks more so if I was suposed to pay £45 for my boss that would be :eek::eek::eek:

If I was you, I would tell the rest of the office no way, think you would find there may be others who agree????

Vaila

spoke to my mum about this thread, the only time her worked clubbed together for a gift for their boss was when he was leaving ! i think giving a cake or something similar would be better and honestly more thoughtful than just throwing some cash to the cause

lostinrates

DH gets nothing from his secretary, and gives nothing to his bosses. There is ''requirement'' to gift to his secretary though. £250 pounds from him personally, and she will get a company bonus too (I think 25-50% of her salary). Although DH is well paid and wouldn't dream of shorting his secretary what is expected the £250 at an expensive time of year has to be carefully budgeted for, and yes, its much more than we spend on each other or other family presents...and I sometimes wonder if the recipients realise that. Its not resented but I do think its a little OTT...a hangover from easier economic times perhaps?

FWIW if she gave dh a gift other than a very small one he would feel embarrassed. The secret santa thing where people waste £5 between peers (yes, for this there is a £5 cap, lol) is also silly, a they are always joke gifts....it would be better imo if the each put £5 into a mutually agreed cause.

LilacPixie

we stopped gifting in our workplace chosing instead to club together the £10 secret santa budget and donate to a local charity, we usually choose either the salvation army or caring for kids that ensures children have a pressie to open on christmas day.

That being said if your office protocol is to 'donate' back a small part of your bonus (which is likely to be discressionary) to buy the owners/bosses a gift as a thank you then I cannot see how you can get out of it other than to suggest that maybe the bosses would be embarrased by such a gesture and a charity donation to their fav charity may be more appropriate then set a tarrif from there.

pjcox2005

One other comment to add as well as moving this away from the bonus discussion:

You state that the bosses are very accomodating, presumably giving time off as well as pay when your children are ill etc. In the current way businesses work this doesn't has to be done, so perhaps you may feel that a thank you is appropriate?

*Louise*

mrcow wrote: »

It equates to £11.25 per boss - seriously just pay it and smile when you open your generous bonus paypacket.

A few people seem to be missing the fact that it is £45 for 4 people, not one boss.

No, I wouldn't spend £45 on a boss either, but I would spend £11.25, especially if I was gaining £162.50 back ...each

katglasgow

Given that the workplace is nice and they are so accommodating, I would pay it, as I would not want that situation to change. Its only October now, so you always have the option of reminding the collector that you are a single mum and a bit broke and asking if you can pay in 2 installments to spread the cost. That shows willingness on your part to "tow the line" but subtley reminds her your financial circumstances are perhaps different to others. You may well find they suggest that you pay less.
In my previous job I worked on a much lower pay band than my colleagues and was also only 18.75 hours emplyed. I was always told when collections went by it was asumed I would put in less because of this.
K x

donquine

Dazi wrote: »

Don't understand this. Your boss is your boss. If you should get the bonus you should. I get a bit of a bonus at xmas, tis £50 does that mean i should buy my boss at head office a present, does it ****

I think a lot of people seem to be missing the difference between a salaried boss and an equity partner.

Dazi wrote: »

Ok I am tight, but there are far more people I love and want to spend money on at xmas.

It's less of a case of spending £45 on the bosses' presents as it is paying £45 to get £650 back. Personally, if the offer was open to everyone, I'd be posting it on the Grabbits board.

Dazi wrote: »

If I was you, I would tell the rest of the office no way, think you would find there may be others who agree????

Worth losing £605 over?

sassyblue

*Louise* wrote: »

A few people seem to be missing the fact that it is £45 for 4 people, not one boss.

No, I wouldn't spend £45 on a boss either, but I would spend £11.25, especially if I was gaining £162.50 back ...each

Absolutely, just what l said, not to mention the fact that they still pay the OP when she's off with her child.

I kept looking back here yesterday to see if the OP returned and l could see a clear difference between posts before 5pm(ish) and those afterwards, maybe in the daytime people at home who control the purse strings tightly and those afterwards coming in from work and seeing the £45 as as 'investment' towards keeping her job and bonuses harmoniously?

kazmc

Blimey, didnt expect such strong feelings on this subject and such split opinions too !!

I have come to the decision that yes I will pay it but as someone suggested will ask if I can make it in a couple of payments rather than one big hit. They are a lovely company to work for and I do appreciate how good they are to me.

To the person who said something along the lines of 'how can you be broke, youre getting a bonus....' - well I have credit cards debts mounting due to buying lifes essentials (like food) on them and would like to have tried to pay some of that off. I also have loads of Christmas and Birthday presents to buy along with the normal Christmas costs. Its scary when its all down to you as a working single parent

Just to throw open the debate a little more though.....
we have been asked over the years if we would incorporate our bonuses into our salary and just receive a higher monthly salary.... now if I had accepted I think I would have received different opinions?????

Thankyou one and all for your opinions....... even the mean ones!!