Are work xmas parties (and bonus) dead?

DCFC79

I wouldnt mind working for an employer who treated us to a nice meal, even once a year would be appreciated. At my current workplace my work colleagues are bringing in they're own tins of sweets for everyoneyet not 1 tin has been bought and given to us by the head honcho.

brutus1983

Subject: Christmas Party

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: 4th November 2008

RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...please feel free to sing along.

And don't be surprised if the MD shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1.00p.m.. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time, however, no gift should be over £10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets.

This gathering is only for employees!

The MD will make a special announcement at the Party.

Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

Pauline

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: 5th November 2008

RE: Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognise that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our 'Holiday Party'.

The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians. There will be no Christmas tree or Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.

Happy now?

Happy Holidays to you and your family,

Pauline.

FROM; Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: 6th November 2008

RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, 'AA Only', you wouldn't be anonymous anymore!!!!How am I supposed to handle this?

Somebody?

Forget about the gift exchange, no gift exchange allowed now since the Union Officials feel that £10.00 is too much money and Management believe £10.00 is a little cheap. NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

Pauline.

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: 7th November 2008

RE: Holiday Part

What a diverse group we are!

I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs, perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party - or else package everything up for you to take home in a little foil doggy bag.

Will that work?

Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the toilets, Gays are allowed to sit with each other, Lesbians do not have to sit with gay men, each will have their own table.

Yes, there will be flower arrangements for the gay men's table too.

To the person asking permission to cross dress - no cross dressing allowed.

We will have booster seats for short people.

Low fat food will be available for those on a diet.

We cannot control the salt used in the food we suggest those people with high blood pressure taste the food first.

There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, the restaurant cannot supply 'No Sugar' desserts. Sorry!

Did I miss anything?!?!?!?!?! Pauline.

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All F****** Employees

DATE: 8 November 2008

RE: The ******** Holiday Party.

Vegetarian *****s I've had it with you people !!!

We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the 'grill of death', as you so quaintly put it, you'll get your f****** salad bar, including organic tomatoes, But you know tomatoes have feeling too, They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream.

I'm hearing the scream right NOW!!

I hope you all have a rotten holiday, drink drive and die.

The ***** from HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FROM: John Bishop - Acting Human Resources Director

DATE: 9th November 2008

RE: Pauline Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pauline Lewis a speedy recovery, and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, the Management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and instead, give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd December off with full pay.

DKLS

Haven't done too badly at all this year.

Had the official works do, was supposed to be limited to £40 per head for food and drink paid by the company, but one of the directors put his card behind the bar, which kept most of us going til the early hours.

Tomorrow is the team do, all paid for by the director, which is going to be very messy also had a total of 24 bottles of wine and a small mountain of chocolate so far, some from work and the rest from suppliers.

Bonus has been awarded but won't be paid til February payroll.

londonbabe73

Worked in the public sector as a contractor , never got a thing isn't it funny when the unemployed get a Xmas bonus for doing nowt and the people who basically ensure they have money and a roof over their heads usually without a thank you get nothing .....

chewmylegoff

Had the afternoon off for a team christmas lunch, which we had to pay for ourselves. Got a departmental christmas party which we have to contribute £10 a head towards, think the company is paying about £45/head or something like that. We also get half day on christmas eve (or 23rd this year) and 1/2 day on NYE. No christmas bonus, bonus comes in April.

bendix

We have a huge and very prestigious annual Christmas party for 500 people, plus we have a summer party and an end of financial year party also. In addition, I have yesterday taken all my department out for lunch.

Bonuses are seperate - they are done at the end of the financial year and are based on company performance and individual performance.

brightonman123

the last works 'party' i went to was on a monday, using soem free tickets to a club that our new boss had blagged..

some us of didnt even get the night off- expecting to work til 9pm, then drive to the club and back..

vinnygal

Since starting my current job (as PA to the company MD) I have always received a 'small' cash bonus (so small it wouldnt pay for the turkey!!). We organise our own christmas night out and pay for it ourselves. This year we have been told that we will not be getting paid before christmas but on the last working day as normal and there will be no bonus. In the 7 years I have been with the company we always got paid the week before Christmas. Difficult economic conditions have been blamed even though the company profits increased this year! Anyone wishing to leave early on the Friday before Christmas must take it out of their annual leave. Decorations are not allowed (due the health and safety - dont ask!!)

I work approx 1 1/2 hrs unpaid overtime each day but do not receive so much as a card or box of sweets at Christmas. Who says the spirit of Christmas is dead! I think a lot of company's are trading on peoples fear of losing their jobs and can now get away with taking their employees for granted.

TrickyWicky

Only had a xmas bonus in one job and that was if we had less than so many days off sick. The only time I got it (and thought woohoo we'll have a great xmas) and the cars gearbox blew itself away. When I say it blew up I mean it seriously blew up - bits of metal teeth blew a hole in it. So.. my only xmas bonus went on that and xmas that year was cancelled. Never had a christmas party in any job that i've worked in. My partner has never had any xmas perks either but they go out with colleagues for dinner etc.

Companies these days don't respect staff. You can have few qualifications and work your backside off far harder than most of the staff and they'll dump on you. Be the laziest person on earth and they'll move heaven and earth for you as long as you're up in management.

I've worked hard in every job I've had. I've gone out of my way even when suffering physical pain (in a physically demanding job) and for one of them I even used to drive 50 miles every weekend for them with no fuel contribution. All they did was throw crap at me and try to screw me at every opportunity. I won't do it again, I have no more good will left towards companies that need you to go the extra mile to achieve their goals. It's their problem now, if they get themselves into a fix and need someone to help them out they won't be getting any offers of assistance from me.

@vinnygal: I wouldn't bother doing the unpaid overtime. I used to be like you, I'd go the extra mile and all I got for it was the dogsbody treatment. Don't do it, they won't appreciate you for it.

Triker

I work in the public sector and nope, never get a bonus, etc, etc....our team is bringing in a 'christmas buffet' type affair, all of us bringing something in on thursday. HR are meeting with us in the morning to tell us we will no longer exist after march.

Merry christmas.