Are work xmas parties (and bonus) dead?

paddedjohn

Can anyone tell me if there is a limit to what you can get as a bonus before it has to be taxed? Last year our company got into trouble with hmrc for giving out vouchers so this year we are getting cash but it is going in with our wages and taxed.

WelshSun

paddedjohn wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if there is a limit to what you can get as a bonus before it has to be taxed? Last year our company got into trouble with hmrc for giving out vouchers so this year we are getting cash but it is going in with our wages and taxed.

Its £10 Not much at all!

tincat

At my work each department organises their own thing, but the company allocates about £35 per head to do so. We were given mince pies and drinks in the morning, then went for a big Christmas lunch at a good restaurant, and then after that we went on to a pub at our own expense. We were told not to return to work if we had had a few, (so everyone had a few :rotfl:).

My OH's company (global) puts on a huge ball - dinner and dancing, and massively subsidises 4* hotel rooms for those who want to stay over. Unfortunately he was travelling on business last week so we missed it. All employees also get given vouchers which are valid at loads of different shops. I'm not sure if they all get the same but he was given £100. He also gets an annual bonus around now too.

We're also being given friday afternoon off.

Peater

This year was the first time i have been to a 'paid for' works do.

Every other company i have been at we have had nights out organised and paid for by ourselves, usually departmental.

I'm of the opinion that i get paid fairly in exchange for my services, i never 'expect' a bonus or perks like the xmas do. However, it was enjoyable and makes you feel like a valued member of the team. It's all a PR excersise at the end of the day.

Intoodeep

We finish work at noon, then paid up till 5pm, FREE bar till early evening, FREE 4 course meal,FREE transport to dinner, and also received a tidy bonus (well into the hundreds) :beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

cavework

ska_lover wrote: »

I

I think companys these days are not really bothered about 'goodwill' to employers etc. Or even a pat on the back when you have earned the company 50k in a day would be nice, but no.

I think you mean employees?
Perhaps you should thank your employers for keeping you employed in a year that has been really tough for business and where many people have found themselves unemployed because of this.

FBaby

well had the report on the Christmas party that took place last Friday and boy am I glad I didn't go. People end up rushing to hug seats so some were left seating with those they don't care much for whilst others sat with who they are closest to and see outside of work anyway. There were two tables, so not very friendly, then there was another Christmas party taking place at the same time, people were very loud and you could hardly hear yourself speaking. Many said they didn't like the food (I wasn't impressed at all with the menu which only affirmed my decision not to go) and everyone was ready to go home after the meal. One of our staff had a bit too much to drink and started making very innappropriate comments to female staff.

In the end, it was an average meal at best, nothing special, and nothing exciting happened. This was the best £30-40 saved!! (paying for the parking ticket I got the day before, there is no justice!!)

aliasojo

OH's employer does nothing for the workforce at Xmas but the customers he 'services' usually give him a bottle. We have several bottles of whisky piling up (neither of us drink whisky) but he's also had the odd bottle of vodka which of course I'm only to happy to help him with, since he doesn't really drink much full stop.

cavework

Ska lover .. you have really made me angry.
I run a small business and for 12 months I have fought long and hard to keep the customers we have.
I have had to deal with customers who are trying to reduce our cost to them, staff who want a pay increase, fuel bills that have doubled , supplys that have increased in cost.
What do I do?
Cut the cost to my customers by laying off employees or stand my ground and hold my prices because we deliver a good service. I chose the latter and 6 people still have a job in the New Year ..
I think they would prefer that to a Xmas party!

TrickyWicky

@cavework: I don't think anyone expects a miracle from a small company like yours but for larger companies who make £millions in profit that they then stash in the bank, a couple of grand on the staff for xmas isn't going to hurt is it? - Yet many still choose to make their staff feel undervalued.

Last company I worked for makes over £500million per year but despite driving 50 miles for them every weekend they wouldn't even give me anything towards my fuel and the first opportunity they had they were more than willing to take money from me. THAT is what I think most people are talking about, big companies that can but won't.