What does your company give you for Xmas

[Happy vacationer]

I work for a small hospital. This year we got a $600 bonus (after tax), profit sharing that will go into our 401k, Christmas Day as a paid holiday, a Christmas party at the local hall with dinner/drinks for all employees and 1 guest per employee, and a Christmas dinner during the work day for all employees that included prime rib, shrimp and a wonderful dessert buffet to chose from. After typing all that out it makes me feel almost embarrased to receive so much. I live in Michigan where times have been extremely hard and I am just so blessed to have such an awesome job.

 

[Robindianne]

The pleasure of working for them I'm a teacher. Public dollars = no "company" gifts. But on a serious note, I really do love it and love the kiddos. No complaints here.

 

[barbeml]

I got a very nice year-end cash bonus, a 2% raise for 2010 (less than usual, but I expected no raise given the economy and am happy to have a good job), and a contribution to my company-paid retirement account equivalent to 8% of my salary. We are a small staff (4 plus two college interns) and are all very friendly, so we will exchange personal gifts tomorrow. We had a nice company-paid lunch at a local restaurant last week, and get Christmas and New Years Day as paid holidays.

A few of our members and vendors (I work for a trade association) send us small gifts, some for the staff as a group, some individual. We get many nice cards from members as well. I definitely feel appreciated.

DH works for a very small engineering/surveying firm, and has not received a raise or a year-end bonus for 5 years now, although he works more and more hours and never takes even half the vacation time he is due (they are busy, but keep getting stiffed by architects who refuse to pay).

 

[jensen]

Wow! I'm glad I read this today... I guess my boss does more than most. It's just that my previous employers have always given at least 10% bonus either in cash or shares. plus paid holidays and holiday parties. I just started with this company mid-year last year and the holiday bonus last year was smaller than I'm used to - but still several hundred dollars. I had only worked half a year, so I assumed I'd get, at least, double this year. I was very disappointed when he handed me the check today and it was only slightly more than last year. We do also have a company paid Christmas dinner with drinks and paid holidays.

Guess I should be counting my blessings based on this thread...

 

[lisabarr]

Ok I am going there!!! Flame suit on!!!

Seriously, teachers are complaining about not getting paid holidays off. You guys work 9 months out of the year. Get every single holiday off and in my area of the country you make between 40 to 50k a year!!!! Not too bad. Also, I know the teachers in my kids school gets tons and tons of gifts from their students.

I work 50 weeks a year got like 6 paid holidays and 40 hours a week.

Well, in my area of the country, we get nowhere near 50k a year. and we are paid based on the time worked. So if a 10 month employee, that is your yearly salary. If 12 months, then you make more.
I think that if you are so resentful of teacher's and that high salary, perhaps you should change careers. Of course, don't forget to figure in all the out-of-pocket expensives we pay for the student's on their behalf before you spend that whopping salary.

 

[christa112]

I am not jealous what of teachers make I am just saying there should be no reason to complain about not getting a paid day off because it is in your contract.

Well, in my area of the country, we get nowhere near 50k a year. and we are paid based on the time worked. So if a 10 month employee, that is your yearly salary. If 12 months, then you make more.
I think that if you are so resentful of teacher's and that high salary, perhaps you should change careers. Of course, don't forget to figure in all the out-of-pocket expensives we pay for the student's on their behalf before you spend that whopping salary.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Im a little cooled down about this situation, so I feel I can post this now. I do want to say that I am thankful for my job and I do enjoy it, but....

I am a child care specialist at an adult education building. I was apprached this week about everyone else going to be gone for a meeting and wanted to know if I could come down and make all of the kids lunches or if I rather them order pizza for us. I had no problem making our lunches. Didnt think much of it, thought it was odd the lunch lady was gonna be gone, but o well.

So that day comes and my assistant asks what the meeting is going to be about, the person laughs and says what meeting? They go on to tell us that there is a staff Christmas lunch. Hmm, we were not invited, we werent even told about it, we were LIED to about this. The whole building went, even the janitor. We were very hurt over this situation. Yes, we had children to take care of, but we do have a sub on call every day who could of been there, they did have subs for the adult teachers. I think what upset me most was that I was lied to about this and told it was a meeting. And, my boss is a very good friend of mine, one who I would consider my closest friend.

So, I got nothing. Was thinking maybe we would get a gift card, maybe even a Christmas card would have been nice. But, no.

Everyone else got a all you can eat catered in meal that gave them three different buffet options, Mexican, Italian, and homestyle and a variety of desserts. There was also awards, prizes, and drawings.

Today was the last day before Christmas break, which I have to take off and do not get paid for, and not even a card was given to us. Guess I know where I stand.

That is awful! I am so sorry!

I teach 150 eighth graders. Probably 30 of them brought in gifts! Wow!

WOW! I never get much, which is totally fine, but usually at least some. This year I got NOTHING---which is also fine, I don't expect gifts---but SCARY because I think it's a reflection of how many of my kids' parents are out of work.

I teach. The principal and vice principal make us lunch on the last day of teaching before vacation. Very sweet of them.

That would be nice---I also liked the post about waffles! I got a little treat bag with candy and a cheese & cracker thing, which I also thought was nice...and it's just one elementary principal, a large staff, and she does it for most holidays. And we are a very chocolate-oriented staff

We have a dairy farm. We ship our milk to land-o-lakes. We get cheese, butter, and ornament, and a 5lb bag of nacho cheese goo.

The nacho cheese goo made me giggle
I'm also in WI, and we used to get cheese & sausage at one school from the PTO.

Ok I am going there!!! Flame suit on!!!

Seriously, teachers are complaining about not getting paid holidays off. You guys work 9 months out of the year. Get every single holiday off and in my area of the country you make between 40 to 50k a year!!!! Not too bad. Also, I know the teachers in my kids school gets tons and tons of gifts from their students.

I work 50 weeks a year got like 6 paid holidays and 40 hours a week.

I don't think anyone is complaining---I'm happy to have the time off---but I think there's a perception that we get paid for those days, which we don't. I am satisfied with my salary, especially for my area of the state/country right now, but if they were contractually paid holidays, my salary would be higher. Also, keep in mind, we do get plenty of time off (all unpaid, which is fair), but we don't get to CHOOSE any of it, it's all dictated for us. Not trying to complain as I love my job (and really hope it continues to be there given the economy!), just wanted to clarify.

 

[Gr8dan2]

I got a $500 bonus and my husband $1250..taxes were not taken out. Both very generous!

I had a holiday party at a nice restaurants, but my husband's party was cut (which is fine since the bonus was very generous).

just a head's up, you probably will want to set aside the appropriate amount of taxes on those bonuses. Your company is required to report them as income if its over (get this) $25. So it will be added as income to your W2 and could mess you up when you do your taxes (as in end up owing taxes on $1750 of bonuses that you didnt have withholding on).

My company gave out much smaller bonuses and we had to have everyone sign off on something saying they understood they'd have to pay taxes on it.

 

[brandip22]

I also just wanted to chime in about the teacher stuff. I was a manager at a bank for 15 years, but always wanted to teach. I used to think that teachers got 3 months of vacation and all of that blah.....Well

Now, I'm a first year teacher and know all too well already that teachers not only do not get 3 months of paid anything, they work more during that time and their regular work days than I ever did as a banker. I spend $100s a month on my classroom, which I never had to spend a dime of my own in my previous jobs. I also leave home at 6:15 AM and don't get home until 6PM at night- and I just teach Kindergarten. My school goes from 8-4:30- longer than my old hours. I get one 15 minute break as my lunch at 10:45. My kids don't get naps, my Ancillary time is actually time I have to sit in on meetings and development- so no break there, either. And you know what? I love it! I work harder than I ever did and I love every second of it. Sure, I get 3 months off. But, it is not paid. I also put in over 50 hours a week. If I have to leave early for a Drs appt, I get docked. But, when I get there early or leave hours late, I do not get paid for that time. However, it is required that I do so in order to keep my room up and get everything done.
So, please don't start on what teachers have off or anything when you have no idea what is all involved in teaching until you do it yourself. That comes from someone who thought she knew all about the perks of teaching! My 3 months off will be spent working on making my room and lessons better. And no, those months are not paid for- I'm a 9 month employee and make a salary based on those 9 months, not on a whole 12 with 3 months off.
And for the OP, we had to put money in for a Christmas lunch. But, then we all had to bring food and the money ended up going to buy our Admins gift cards- didn't bother telling us it was going for that! As far as gifts, I work for a school in a really poor area. I got a little snowglobe and some lotion. But, even better than that, I get to work with kids who finally have someone to teach them who loves it. And whom they can trust and love back. There's no greater gift than touching the lives of young children who have nothing but their teachers to show them the possibilities in this world.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I think what the other poster was saying was that a teacher gets a salary for 36 weeks and THAT salary (which can be spread over the full year) is MORE than many that work for the full 52 weeks without ALL those holiday breaks/days off.....

Some say it is too much, others say not enough....JUST opinions and points of view.....

By the way, you teachers need to move to then Northeast...salarys are MUCH higher, geeze, our gym teachers are in the high 70's, NUTS, but thats another thread...........and I come from a FAMILY of teachers, all levels and all areas......

Good Luck to you Brandip22 in your new position. Teachers that LOVE to teach are the ones we want with our children.......

 

[monorailsilver]

I work in a nursing home & last year we got a $15 GC to Walmart as we have for a few years. It used to be a $25 one but they cut back.

Oh & we get a turkey for Thanksgiving.

 

[bridget]

I'm a teacher also, and I got a surprise $25 check from the PTO. I thought that was such a nice gesture!!! I teach reading, and it has a pretty high percentage of free and reduced lunch. I don't get gifts from students, and I don't expect to get any. I did get some very nice cards!

 

[Inigo]

There's no greater gift than touching the lives of young children who have nothing but their teachers to show them the possibilities in this world.

I you

 

[greens_in_WA]

I'm in banking - lucky to have a job!

 

[phragmipedium]

My husband is one of those overpaid teachers (making less than $50,000) and he also has 10 cut days this school year for which he is not paid. He works well over 40 hours a week - so, so much "non-contract" time goes into what he does in the classroom. He's always in by 6:30, has 25-30 minutes for lunch that's rarely uninterrupted, rarely gets home before 5:00, and spends several hours each evening and during the weekends planning and grading. While his pay is spread over 12 months at his election, he is paid only for the contracted time he works (roughly 10 months), even though much of his summer is preparatory work for the upcoming year. If he were actually teaching for 12 months it would be a higher yearly salary. I think there is a misconception that teachers also receive vacation time in addition to the school schedule - my husband gets sick time and one personal day a year, but he does not have elective vacation times. There are no bonuses in our district and some of the teacher-gift threads here are shocking to me! He received a $10 Starbucks giftcard and many homebaked goods from students, for which he truly appreciated the thought but chooses not consume. It's so kind of the students and families to think of him, but it's certainly not the gift grab that some may think. I guess my point is he's not getting rich off of teaching nor is it a cakewalk, but that's not why he went into the field...and as a third year teacher, he's definitely at risk of getting laid off if some tax measures don't pass in our state. So we're definitely thankful for his job and hopeful that he gets to keep it, because he LOVES what he does and worked hard for the education that lets him do it.

I'm a state employee. We have the holiday off, as well as 8 hours of governor's leave for use on a day before or after Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's. So, that's nice. No bonus, of course, and 12 furloughs over two years, salary freeze, etc. I do still have fully paid insurance premiums, and a job, which I am very thankful for. But much of that is thanks to my union, not the state, which wanted twice as much cut through state employees which would have meant loss of jobs, 24 furlough days, reduced insurance premiums etc. I'm very thankful for my job and hope things improve before our next bargaining session...for our job outlook and the whole country.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Nothing, really... well, nothing I consider convenient.

The fellows I work really hard FOR (not our company) tend to give me nice gifts out of their own pockets so that makes up for it.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Ok I am going there!!! Flame suit on!!!

Seriously, teachers are complaining about not getting paid holidays off. You guys work 9 months out of the year. Get every single holiday off and in my area of the country you make between 40 to 50k a year!!!! Not too bad. Also, I know the teachers in my kids school gets tons and tons of gifts from their students.

I work 50 weeks a year got like 6 paid holidays and 40 hours a week.

Are you serious? First off, teachers work way over 40 hours a week. Most come in early, leave late, work at home, work on weekends, spend summers preparing for the next year. They don't get paid anywhere close to what they should. And not all teachers get paid well. In our state they get around $30,000 and it is ridiculous. If you break it down, they get paid squat compared to other jobs. And not all teacher receive gifts at Christmas from their students. Think about teachers who work in poor areas. Teaching in itself has its rewards, but not in monetary value.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I do not get anything special from my job for Christmas. We do get holiday pay for Christmas Eve, christmas day, new years eve and new years day. I am working 3 out of those 4 days, but I still get additional holiday pay. I don't expect anything else.

My husband got nothing. Last year he got a $50 gift card and a bottle of wine.

I do get a nice gift from my students. Of course, I homeschool so the gift is from my daughters.

 

[DawnM]

I really don't know how some teachers make it in NC if they have to support a family and are fairly new teachers. In our area, to get family health insurance, you have to pay $600/month.

So, you make $30K and you pay $7,200 for health insurance? I don't know how you can even get an apartment, gas, car, or food to feed a family.

I make more (or did when I was working) because I have 15 years of experience and a couple of MAs, but still.


Dawn

Are you serious? First off, teachers work way over 40 hours a week. Most come in early, leave late, work at home, work on weekends, spend summers preparing for the next year. They don't get paid anywhere close to what they should. And not all teachers get paid well. In our state they get around $30,000 and it is ridiculous. If you break it down, they get paid squat compared to other jobs. And not all teacher receive gifts at Christmas from their students. Think about teachers who work in poor areas. Teaching in itself has its rewards, but not in monetary value.

 

[DawnM]

Oh dear.

Yeah, when I was teaching, they gave us all a nice breakfast too and they usually gave us a nice pocket calendar for the new year with the School's name and logo on the front.

Dawn

I am a teacher. The Principal and Cafeteria staff made a luncheon and everyone brought in dessert. That was really nice.

The administration gave everyone a card and a Christmas ornament. While I appreciate the gesture, I'm Jewish.