Christmas Bonus

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The most eye opening thing to me in the last few years I worked was how unappreciated the grocery store gift card traditionally given at Christmas. Especially among the under 30s. Apparently some of those folks don't buy groceries, they eat all their meals from restaurants.

When I was in college I loved grocery gift cards for Christmas. It was usually what I asked for. But this was pre-doordash, uber eats, and all.

It probably would not be the thing to give now as food delivery is quite common and utilized by many all the times so giving a gift card to door dash would be a logical thing over a grocery gift card (if you're going for a food theme). Times change, either you get on board or you complain to everyone out there how the under 30s are this and that

**Said in a light jest here.

 

[tvguy]

You know the weirdest people.

Well, I did work in an industry known for it's diversity and unique personalities..

 

[easyas123]

I've got a bit of a different viewpoint on the grocery gift cards:

We have employees who work (and live, myself included)in a rather rural area, where doordash and uber eats isn't a thing. I wish it was, I'd use it myself! Many of our employees are laborers are the sole support of a family, and they don't want anything to do with restaurant gift cards, which they sell, but they can use and do want the grocery gift cards. I think it all depends upon your target group and the area of the country and other factors as to who would or would not like a grocery gift card. One thing if for sure, you can't please everyone all the time, so you try to give what you think would be appropriate, needed and useful if nothing else.
We had a good year, and were also able to provide a raise to all employees.

**For what it is worth, I don't know anyone - over or under 30 who only eats out and never cooks so has no need of a little grocery $$$

 

[SirDuff]

Well, I did work in an industry known for it's diversity and unique personalities..

Except, apparently, all the people you work with are the same as each other.

 

[tvguy]

Except, apparently, all the people you work with are the same as each other.

I'd give you about 8 hours in the newsroom sitting through a few editorial meetings before you would agree with me. And that is WORKED with with, not WORK with.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've got a bit of a different viewpoint on the grocery gift cards:

We have employees who work (and live, myself included)in a rather rural area, where doordash and uber eats isn't a thing. I wish it was, I'd use it myself! Many of our employees are laborers are the sole support of a family, and they don't want anything to do with restaurant gift cards, which they sell, but they can use and do want the grocery gift cards. I think it all depends upon your target group and the area of the country and other factors as to who would or would not like a grocery gift card. One thing if for sure, you can't please everyone all the time, so you try to give what you think would be appropriate, needed and useful if nothing else.
We had a good year, and were also able to provide a raise to all employees.

**For what it is worth, I don't know anyone - over or under 30 who only eats out and never cooks so has no need of a little grocery $$$

True but we all know tvguy's coworkers were not the demographic whom you speak of There's years worth of stories about these types of coworkers.

I would assume a place of business is aware of what is around them and wouldn't give food delivery cards in a place that well that doesn't exist and if they did boss be rude. They also probably are aware of the general situation of employees too (speaking towards your employees being laborers).

My husband actually never cooked a meal in the 5 1/2 months he was in TX on an assignment. It was expenses paid and while the corporate apartment had cookware he never used it. Whether he got groceries or didn't the company was paying for it anyways. But no on an average day us early 30s peeps I know eat home much more than out.

Food delivery is just more common in the past. I doubt the employees were actually unappreciative but probably wondered why in 2021 they were getting a grocery card over food delivery. Around here also people all have their own places they shop for groceries and everyone sorta sticks with those (also a risk for restaurant gift cards too).

Any gift is a good gesture but some make more sense than others should one be given in the first place.

 

[tvguy]

True but we all know tvguy's coworkers were not the demographic whom you speak of There's years worth of stories about these types of coworkers.

That is ironic since it is a business whose success is dependent on demographics. My first boss 44 years ago made a big point to reminding us, we are not our customers.

 

[RedAngie]

I’m of the opinion if someone makes it known that a supermarket gift card isn’t appreciated, they can get nothing next year, not even a lump of coal.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That is ironic since it is a business whose success is dependent on demographics. My first boss 44 years ago made a big point to reminding us, we are not our customers.

Demographics of laborers? How interesting..

**I know what you're talking about given you've explained it's radio business you were in.

 

[tvguy]

Demographics of laborers? How interesting..

**I know what you're talking about given you've explained it's radio business you were in.

No, of the audience.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No, of the audience.

No really I understood that's who you're talking about..that's what I mean radio biz and all. I'm a little dense today but not that dense

 

[tvguy]

No really I understood that's who you're talking about..that's what I mean radio biz and all. I'm a little dense today but not that dense

Well radio is similar but not TV. I left radio in 1978 so not up on all that. Very few news radio stations anymore anyway.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well radio is similar but not TV. I left radio in 1978 so not up on all that. Very few news radio stations anymore anyway.

tvguy really I know what you're talking about. tv radio whatever you've mentioned both enough same diff when it comes to speaking about demographics (although I know you know that wasn't who I was referring to when talking about coworker demographic). You're retired now anyways go and enjoy it the pesky coworkers days are past ya now.

 

[ronandannette]

We don’t get Xmas bonuses, but we get bonuses for every quarter, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4. All dependant on your performance, and other merits. Our Q4 just ended, but they are always a tad behind, so it’ll be paid some time in January.
We did receive a nice “thank you for being on the front lines, etc”, and an extra two weeks added to next years vacation. I am very happy for that, at this age time is very important to me.

Do you work for a private-sector employer? Here in Alberta dispatch for all forms of first response is centralized and they are all provincial employees. I've never known of bonuses being paid out of public funds. My DH worked for our City for a number of years and his union contract certainly didn't provide for anything like that.

 

[mommasita]

Do you work for a private-sector employer? Here in Alberta dispatch for all forms of first response is centralized and they are all provincial employees. I've never known of bonuses being paid out of public funds. My DH worked for our City for a number of years and his union contract certainly didn't provide for anything like that.

No, I work for the Province. This is pretty recent and due to covid. Bonuses have Been paid out of public funds here since they were losing so many healthcare workers, mainly nurses, aides in homes, etc.

 

[ronandannette]

No, I work for the Province. This is pretty recent and due to covid. Bonuses have Been paid out of public funds here since they were losing so many healthcare workers, mainly nurses, aides in homes, etc.

Interesting, thanks. That's Quebec, right?

 

[mom2rb]

I bought my niece and nephews grocery gift cards for Christmas. They can get food or gas, both of which young people need. All three of them appreciated their gift.

 

[NotUrsula]

They don't even use their microwave, that would be cooking to them. They eat all meals out.

Do they buy toilet paper? Deodorant? Soap? All those things can be purchased at grocery stores.

That said, there is often objection to our company's grocery "bonus" because the amount is so small: $20. I don't think it's a case of looking a gift horse in the mouth; I think it's more a case of resentment of other things that money is spent on instead at this time of year. If those "fluff" expenses were eliminated, the bonus could be a more substantial amount; enough to perhaps provide more than one cheap meal's worth of groceries for a family. As it is, I think the expectation is that it will be used to buy liquor, either a middling bottle of wine or a 6-pack of good beer.

 

[disney212]

We get a year end performance bonus and it's 100% performance based. This year our owner gave everyone an additional bonus due to the way everyone has stepped up during the pandemic. I was extremely pleased with mine.

 

[tvguy]

Do they buy toilet paper? Deodorant? Soap? All those things can be purchased at grocery stores.

That said, there is often objection to our company's grocery "bonus" because the amount is so small: $20. I don't think it's a case of looking a gift horse in the mouth; I think it's more a case of resentment of other things that money is spent on instead at this time of year. If those "fluff" expenses were eliminated, the bonus could be a more substantial amount; enough to perhaps provide more than one cheap meal's worth of groceries for a family. As it is, I think the expectation is that it will be used to buy liquor, either a middling bottle of wine or a 6-pack of good beer.

I have no idea but my DS and DDIL never go to the store, they order things like toilet paper etc from Amazon.
I think for some the objection with the gift cards is not only that they don't use them, but the dollar amount is taxable income on something they don't use.