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65 Ridiculous Company “Bonuses” That Employees Were Better Off Without
It’s always awkward to ask for a bonus or a raise. You’re worried about getting a negative response, potentially putting your job at risk, and, well, no one wants to deal with the uncomfortable atmosphere that comes with discussing money with their boss.
Which is ironic, considering we work to make money. But then again, not all bosses will say no. Some will happily give you that bonus. Others, however, might offer you some… unique alternative perks, if you will. And so, today, we bring you a list of netizens who shared the ridiculous things their bosses offered them instead of, well, more money.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This was in 2004. Our 'Christmas bonuses' were hyped up for months. We got a pizza party in the breakroom with a DJ (the guy who ran the mailroom) and they handed out envelopes to everyone.
It was a Target gift card with $5 on it. My department was so angry we decided to pool our cards and buy supplies for a chemo care package for one of our people who was fighting breast cancer. That made us feel a bit better.
StumblingThroughLife 1 day ago
The fact that they decided to use the money to help pay for chemo care, says so much about the govt/s they have - especially when treatment 'free at the point of use' (public healthcare), is a thing - to at least ten countries I can think of right now. Why do they even pay taxes if they aren't getting things like this from it?
RELATED:
#3
I left my job shortly after receiving this prize for my good work
StumblingThroughLife 1 day ago (edited)
The only difference between employers like this in the country above and employers in the UK/Europe, is that the latter have employment laws that protect the employees. I can imagine that one day, the people there are going to get so peed off that they decide to rise and kick govt arses.
We’ve all dealt with some insane things at work, but few things compare to management refusing to admit they’re wrong. Apparently, a 2016 study conducted by economist Dan Ariely explored this very issue. The study found that semiconductor workers were offered a $30 bonus, a text message praising their work, or a pizza party for meeting their targets, and they had to choose one.
By the end of day one, pizza won by a hair, and thousands of HR managers have cited the study ever since. But what they often leave out is that, by the end of the week, cash and praise had both outperformed pizza parties. The cash group also worked harder, as workers felt more valued.
#4
"Flexible work hours."
Must be in office between 8 and 5, but you can show up even earlier or stay even later if you want.
#5
Here’s a new one. If our store makes the most sales competitively we earn a pizza party not for ourselves but for our bosses
#6
Feeling the #appreciation my employer is showing to our dwindling overworked nursing staff
#7
The Monopoly Money My Job Gave Me Instead of a Raise in 2018
And, to no one’s surprise, several studies have found that workers prefer monetary bonuses over other types of rewards or incentives. In fact, a Randstad study found that 83% to 93% of workers preferred cash bonuses to office holiday parties or team dinners.
The same study also found that companies spend an average of $400 to $5,000 on holiday parties and gatherings, money that could instead go toward employee bonuses.
#8
Instead of getting a raise this slice of pizza was used as a motivation at my last job
#9
Employee “Appreciation”. The company I currently work (pawn industry) for is having an employee “appreciation” day this week. Here is a comprehensive list of all the “prizes” we can earn on said day. To earn a spin on the wheel we have to make a sale of over $100 or a pawn of over $300. For the balloon pop it’s a sale of over $500. This company is worth over $100 million and THIS is how they “appreciate” the employees that make them their money.
But where did this idea of bonuses even come from? History shows that year-end bonuses originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when factory workers received a literal share of corporate profits to help them afford holiday meals.
But by the 1980s, things had started to change. Corporate America shifted away from financial rewards and profit-sharing toward non-monetary perks that show appreciation. And that brings us to what we see today: pizza parties, branded plastic bottles, and even motivational stickers. Yay.
#13
Employee appreciation gift. This was what our company gave everyone for employee appreciation week. A rock. I’ve been here 4 years and haven’t received a raise since 2021. A rock.
#14
They got a food truck to come out and park behind the building for us. They didn’t pay for any of the food or consult us on the type of food we wanted. So basically the benefit was “you can pay for your lunch if you happen to like this food” but they hyped it up as some grand gesture.
#15
Instead of raises we get "Work bux" to use on a "store" for Ramen and granola bars. At least other people get pizza. We get Ramen and granola bars.
#16
This is the “thank you” our ER got for the horrible month we’ve had. One of the worst.
#17
My reward for 5 years of not being late and never calling out. Frick you, I quit.
Funnily enough, these non-monetary incentives can do more harm than good for employee motivation. Organizational psychology suggests that giving someone a token gift in recognition of their efforts isn’t necessarily seen as a small, positive gesture. Instead, it can come across as an insult, triggering negative feelings.
It can even have the opposite effect on motivation. Rather than working harder in the hope of receiving monetary compensation, an employee may scale back their efforts to match the value of the cheap reward. Essentially, they may stick strictly to their job description and refuse extra tasks unless they’re compensated for them.
#18
Meals (1 per person) we get at my job for shifts up to 12hrs
Nicole Weymann 1 day ago
Snack =/= meal. Imagine someone without clothes comes to you to provide, and you hand them a plastic tiara and a ring from a bubble gum machine, telling them "See? now you're not náked any more!" Though that "bread" in the picture might be counted as a G-string, I suppose.
#19
instead of raising wages, this is the reward, I can't name the business or location due to consequences if this pic links back to me in real life lol
#20
I worked at a radiology clinic where they would
Provide a single bread roll for staff for lunch on Wednesdays. No fillings or spreads. Just a plain white bread roll.
#21
A vacation to a lake in Kansas (didn't know there were lakes there) where I would cook for my bosses friends in a waterski tournament. That guy hated me forever for calling him out and declining the vacation.
This shows that money can be a powerful motivator. In fact, a synthesis by Edwin Locke for the Incentive Research Foundation found that money is one of the most effective ways to improve basic job performance. Offering higher base salaries can also help companies attract better talent and reduce employee turnover.
But let us know, Pandas: Do you get monetary bonuses at your job, or do you just get an empty bag filled with love, like some of the employees in this list? Let us know in the comments!
#23
Took one of those employee surveys at work today, and they gave me this as a gift bag. 3 pieces of candy from 1972 and a pen that doesn't even work. Sure feel appreciated!
#24
Free pizza parties if everyone chips in 5 bucks.
#25
I get free gym access at a local gym, but it's not walking distance from the office and the free access is only up til 3pm weekdays... during which time I am working.
#26
This banana my boss gave me to celebrate 1 year of work
#28
Meijer Cashier Incentive
Nicole Weymann 1 day ago
Currently at #30 and so far I can say that not a single one of all the motivational initiatives, incentives and appreciation gifts would do anything but royally píss me off and insta-kíll whatever shred of engagement I had.
#29
Who needs a pizza party when you get a pizza cutter??
#30
Employee appreciation lunch - one of the top medical centers in the tristate
Nicole Weymann 1 day ago
A top medical center caring for their workers with just about the most unhealthy food possible: nothing but salt, empty carbo hydrates, fat, sugar, and additives from sweeteners to preservatives. And after lunch they'll be advising the next diabetic/obese patient on balanced diets, as per job description. Rant over. Sorry, but the double standards as represented in this lunch (which is definitely not OP's fault!) bother me.
#31
Why is nobody partying? I specifically requested it?!
#32
This is what we have to eat at work during 12h day/night shifts.
#33
We got an email telling us to click on a link for a holiday appreciation gift from the company. If you clicked on it, you had just fallen for a phishing test to see if you would click on links in emails. Your gift was three hours of mandatory security training.
Rali Meyer 19 hours ago
and the security training entailed not clicking a link a hundred times?
#35
The place I work at gives a "bonus" as an incentive for higher production rates. Let me introduce you to my departments bonus
#36
Employee Appreciation from my employer who generated 27b profit in 2022
#39
This prepaid AMEX card that doesn’t work at any retailer at all so far - was given to me for 5 years at my job
#40
A record week. but we don't get a bonus nooo. just a root beer float party
#41
The company I work for is asking us to pay them for the Christmas dinner they are hosting for us
#42
Work tells us we have to pay for the snacks in the office. The packets on the chips says not for resale and the box they come out of is a 20 pack worth $5
#43
My jobs lazy way to celebrate employee appreciation day. A candy bar with a printed sticker on it
#44
This is our "employee appreciation" gift. a first aid kit, complete with a children's activity book, and CRAYONS. I work at a factory.
#45
I found out today that it's employee appreciation week at my work. Apparently we're not even worth a pizza party anymore...
#46
They signed a deal with a gas station chain, employees would get a certain amount off on gasoline/diesel. This was paraded out with a full company meeting and everything.
The price reduction was less than normal customers that got a card with that gas station chain.
So they had spent months working out a deal that was worse than what anyone could get by signing up at the gas station chains website.
#47
Staff appreciation bbq where all the staff was invited, but we still had to cook for all 300 employees. Everyone got to go but the kitchen staff and they never made it up to us.
#48
I was working at a shop and was actively pursuing a job as a teacher, which was not a surprise to anybody. I got the job with the understanding that when I finished my degree I’d be pursuing a teaching job.
I needed to come in late one day due to an interview. Literally just needed to be an hour late. Boss said “go ahead and take an extra 15.” I thought he was being nice. Turns out, dipping below 7 hours was what he needed to deny me a lunch break that day.
#49
Worked crazy OT for a month to get vital computer security updates done (every computer had to be touched individually). Those of us who were salaried were promised we would be taken care of for the 20+ hours of overtime each week.
Hourly people earned time and a half.
Salaried people got a company embroidered baseball cap as a 'thank you'. Oh, and so did the hourly people.
#51
It’s employee appreciation week and this is what my girlfriends employer gave her. She’s a PA at a community health center in the city
#52
I work at a college dorm. This week is freshman move in where I’m working a 12 hour shift. I was told not to pack a lunch because a free one is provided. This is my free “meal”
#53
Happy employee appreciation day! 🤡 I feel so valued 🙄
Skywitness 18 hours ago
I bought a bunch of those seasoning mixes on sale for 10 cents each. I wonder if their management scored the same deal?
#54
"Free water for the employees"
Wow thank you!
#56
I worked for a big Chinese corporation that offered ramen noodles packet if you stayed till 9 pm.
#57
Paying me on time. It’s not optional... You have to pay your staff on time, they have bills to pay?
#58
We had a Christmas lunch party, on premises kinda deal. There was a raffle for prizes. A full 75% of the "prizes" were fire extinguishers. The small kitchen and vehicle ones.
#59
At the major bank, they told us they would allow us to turn our cameras off during meetings on Fridays.
#60
Reward I get at my 13$/hr job for finding over 15 million in missing funds
#61
No raises this year, but they gave us this for “employee appreciation day”
#62
"Employee Appreciation, provide your own lunch"
#63
For teacher appreciation week, the school gave us a ‘gift card’ to Chik-fil-a, to be redeemed for a free breakfast sandwich. Also, it could only be used at one specific Chik-fil-A near work, and it had an expiration date.
A coupon. That’s called a coupon.
They also fired me a few weeks later, which was honestly a much better gift… because that school is really bad.
#64
My brother works for AT&T, this is what he was given for working through the pandemic…. A silver coin.
#65
My job brought us “treats” for employee appreciation
Elladine DesIsles 20 hours ago
I am familiar with chocolate flavour, and white chocolate flavour (neither to be confused with actual chocolate), but I am stumped and frankly concerned about the taste of "white flavour". Which is perhaps just as well, as the white portion with its mysterious flavour seems to have melted and adhered to the cellophane.
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Heffalump 1 day ago (edited)
I can't understand why managements won't grasp that giving nothing is infinitely better than giving something worth pennies. The ridiculous thing is that it doesn't have to be a big thing, just something that isn't cheap and insulting. I remember 25 years ago the company I was with couldn't do a bonus one year, so they gave us (a bunch of software engineers) a Leatherman micro and the smallest Maglite. It amounted to about 2.5 hours pay. And we were thrilled. A bonus is just numbers on a pay-slip, but these were shiny things in our hands. If they'd just given us something worth pennies, or something we obviously wouldn't want, we'd all have started job searches. You have to allocate budget.
StumblingThroughLife 1 day ago
I'd had enough by #4. It is so enraging. I feel so bad for the employees 😖.
Heffalump 1 day ago (edited)
I can't understand why managements won't grasp that giving nothing is infinitely better than giving something worth pennies. The ridiculous thing is that it doesn't have to be a big thing, just something that isn't cheap and insulting. I remember 25 years ago the company I was with couldn't do a bonus one year, so they gave us (a bunch of software engineers) a Leatherman micro and the smallest Maglite. It amounted to about 2.5 hours pay. And we were thrilled. A bonus is just numbers on a pay-slip, but these were shiny things in our hands. If they'd just given us something worth pennies, or something we obviously wouldn't want, we'd all have started job searches. You have to allocate budget.
StumblingThroughLife 1 day ago
I'd had enough by #4. It is so enraging. I feel so bad for the employees 😖.
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