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Corporate gifts have become a bit of a standard among many companies in terms of employee motivation. Whether it’s a personalized birthday gift or a gift given to everyone over the holidays, it’s definitely a great way to show the employees that their hard work and loyalty to the company have not been ignored.
Unless you’re like these folk on Reddit who themselves, or their friends and family, had to endure getting gifts that leave much—much—to be desired. It does beg the question of whether getting nothing would’ve been a better choice.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My mom’s boss gave everyone a pen (a really cr*ppy, normal pen) with their names printed on normal white printer paper that was scotch taped down the side of the pen. This sounds made up even to me as I type it, but it’s still in our junk drawer.
sbj 1 year ago
I bet this was done to stop people taking pens from the stationary cupboard limiting everybody just to 1 pen each
Fat Harry 1 year ago
It's easy to steal pens from a cupboard that doesn't move.
Load More Replies... Verena 1 year ago
Depends. The one in the photo is Parker, they are expensive, have a perfect weight balance, good quality (even the colored "plastic" ones), write well and smooth. I got a couple over the years and are happy with them.
Melody 1 year ago
That’s just a stock photo selected by the person who compiled this list.
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Kel_how 1 year ago (edited)
I'm a special ed teacher and during COVID, the special ed department in our district sent out Christmas gifts. It was basically a postcard with the district people's face on it. And they "generously" sent pens to all the teacher...but only the general education teachers. Not one special ed teacher got a pen. Luckily they were just the crappy pens you get in a box of 100, but how could they have royally f*cked that up so badly? ETA: the district also hyped up a gift that all the schools would receive. It was a f*cking poster with more district people's faces that said "heroes work here." The pictures were all selfies because all of the district people were WFH. Thanks for literally nothing. Next time, save the money and time.
Suby 1 year ago
The school system is notorious for that. You know what I got for my 20 year anniversary with the district? Nothing. Not even a phony email. Like I don't even exist.
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RELATED:
#2
Not me, but one year the company my brother works for gave each employee a CD of the owner playing Christmas songs on the harmonica.
Michael Steber 1 year ago
The CEO where I worked gave everyone a self-published book of inspirational quotes. These weren't quotes from famous people, but his own quotes. I keep it just laugh at the hubris and narcissism.
#3
A small, nickel-sized, heart-shaped rock sent in the mail. It was supposed to represent their appreciation for the extra work during Covid. All I could think of was Charlie Brown trick or treating, “I got a rock.”
THEVibingShark92 1 year ago
Pro life tip: Start sending your employees random stuff you find in your driveway instead of making them feel appreciated.
Trillian 1 year ago
"Sorry I can't work any overtime, but here is a small stick in the shape of a middle finger in compensation"
Load More Replies... White Sauce Hot Sauce 1 year ago
I'm sure several of those rocks would find their way through the CEO's car windows.
It goes without saying that corporate gifts are a good idea, if done right. It was reported that 42% of businesses claim relationship management is their top reason for why they’re gifting things.
Corporate gifts are considered a pretty effective tool for humanizing the company and thus strengthening coworker relationships.
#4
That year the company decided it wasn’t going to provide basic office supplies for the break room. Coffee, tea, eating utensils, napkins, nothing. That year for Christmas we all got a brown paper bags fashioned like lunches. Inside was a metal straw, cloth napkin, a child sized set of plastic cutlery that fit in a travel case, a copy paste printed piece of paper with food puns in relation to our job, and a single fun sized hundred grand candy bar. This Fortune 500 company had over a billion in raw profit that year. Oh, and the cutlery ended up getting recalled due to some terrible forever chemicals in them.
GirlFriday 1 year ago
Before covid, our company had adopted a "no disposables" rule as an environmentally friendly thing. They purchased coffee cups and tumblers for everyone, gave us all lunch bags with glass food containers, bamboo cutlery, the works. It was so nice and thoughtful, until two things happened. 1. Everyone put the exact same lunch bag in the fridge and we had to open them all up to find our lunches, and 2. When Covid hit, we had to go back to disposables so that cups weren't accidentally switched and you picked up the wrong cup and drank after someone. Now that we are back, I still use my cups and lunch bag every day, though.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Seems like the bigger and richer the company, the greedier and stingier they become
Ronnie Beaton 1 year ago
It's a sad fact that the bigger a company gets, the more reluctant the bosses are to put their hands in their pockets and spend their money on the things the ordinary workers need to do their jobs.
#5
A letter from the CEO telling us how he is going to celebrate Christmas with his family up north to go skiing. That was all.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Too bad being a human being disqualifies anyone from being a CEO. You have to be a sociopathic beast to get that job.
Kelsie Marx 1 year ago
I would have emailed him and say, “Since you can afford a sky trip, where’s my bonus?”
#6
Two free tickets to a cinema. The issue was that the closest cinema in that particular chain was about 800 miles away from me.
Regina Holt 1 year ago
Take the company car, charge for mileage, as for overtime to get there . . .
Besides that, corporate gifts are a meaningful way to express appreciation for the hard work employees do. Not only are the employees happy to be appreciated, the company can benefit from it too with increased business growth.
And it’s not just employees—corporate gifts work just as well with business partners and inter-company relationships too.
#7
An email that only upper management would be getting the end of year bonus (sent to entire company by accident instead of just upper management). Then laid off 2 weeks into the new year. Found out from a friend in the company a little while later that the board of directors held a vote. They keep their car allowances at the expense of a wave of layoffs, or lose their car allowances and 10-15 people get to keep their jobs. Pretty sure it was unanimous. No matter how many times a company says you’re family, just remember that it’s the type of family that would gladly cut your throat to make sure the fat cats get to eat.
Ralph Watkins 1 year ago
The VA where I worked, all of the nurses who worked during the pandemic was supposed to get hefty bonuses per VA HQ in DC. The stipulation was they all had have an above average rating. Upper management then changed all of their ratings to average & took the bonuses for themselves. From that point on when management asked the nurses to do any extra projects, the nurses said they were no competent enough to do so. Management gave themselves an excellent rating so they can managed to the work themselves.
Nykky 1 year ago
I've been treating my new job like this. I've made baked goods and gotten a few birthday gifts when I think of it, a long with doing some of the "team building" stuff they've set up, but I don't talk personal life, I don't ask them intimate questions, and I make sure I stay out of everyone's drama. We recently had a big chunk of meetings because there was drama going on, that was big, that I knew nothing about because I just don't involve myself.
Seadog 1 year ago
Then the company fails because they lay off the people who actually make money for the company while the leeches at the top just bleed it dry.
Brent Echols 1 year ago
It's a standard approach especially since the 80s. Churn and burn
Load More Replies... #8
Jelly of the Month membership instead of my Christmas bonus. I wanted to put a pool in the backyard but nope.
Lemuel Botha 1 year ago
It's just a joke. This is what happened in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
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Kim Landfather 1 year ago
I want to look him straight in the eye, and I want to tell him what cheap, lying, no good, rotten, four flushing, low life, snake licking, dirt eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, bloodsucking, dog kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat assed, bug eyed, stiff legged, spotty lipped, worm headed sack of monkey s**t he his! Hallelujah! Holy s**t! Where's the Tylenol?
#9
Noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones. I'm sure they were good and useful to some people, but I'm legally deaf.
Stargazer Lily 1 year ago
I get if they decided that was a nice gift, good quality headphones can be $100 or more. They could have easily given you a check for the amount or a gift card for some place they know you like. Maybe they thought they would be seen as discriminating by treating you differently, but this is a case where they should have done better. If they were worried about that, money is one size fits all and they could've given everyone a check.
Ash Conner 1 year ago
That is not cool. If I had someone who worked for me that was legally deaf, I would go out of my way to get that person someone elce that they would like. They do not value people at all
Nike Pancakes 1 year ago
I don't think the invisible magic sky man created eBay - or anything else.
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Other reasons to use corporate gifts include providing an opportunity to stand out as a company, overcome physical distance barriers (especially in light of remote work and the pandemic), and it allows everyone to focus more on the positive. That last one in turn can foster a more effective relationship if trouble arises.
#10
I worked at a hospital in the billing department. I got a travel thingy of hand sanitizer. Meanwhile, the IT department who shared our building got North Face puffy jackets. Jokes on them though, it was Christmas 2019 and I had hand sanitizer for COVID. 😭
Jeremy Bolanos 1 year ago
I have some really nice jackets, vests, hoodies, and shirts from companies I've worked for over the years (lots of startups).
Ash Conner 1 year ago
That is not cool. That sends a message that they don't value certain people
Daniela Lavanza 1 year ago
So you were definitely given the most precious gift back then. Nice life plot twist!
#11
We were told we were receiving our Christmas bonuses soon, and then we were all given a poinsettia. The poinsettia in itself wasn’t so bad, mine is actually still alive years later, but the fact that they had the audacity to call it a bonus was absurd.
USAFfan 1 year ago
Maybe if they phrased it as gift rather than bonus it would have gone over better
AMaureen Dance 1 year ago
Even then, not everybody is a plant person. Some of us kill cacti by underwatering.
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AMaureen Dance 1 year ago
If my boss gave me a poinsettia, I'd ask why they want to kill my cat.
#12
I was gifted a ham for the holidays…..I’m Jewish.
Lee 1 year ago
That's when you donate it to a worthy cause. That in itself is a mitzvah. That's your gift- a good deed.
AMaureen Dance 1 year ago
That's what my Muslim neighbour did. Our family was struggling at the time, so it was much appreciated.
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Panda On My Balcony 1 year ago
The caterers for my cousin's engagement party seemed to have had a special offer job lot of ham and pork to use up. Since his fiancee is Jewish (which the caterers were aware of) and several of our family don't eat pork either, there was an awful lot of food wasted.
Charles McChristy 1 year ago
I was given women's socks that looked like they would be a tight fit a 10 year old. I am a very large man.
Hiram's Friend 1 year ago
Every Christmas for years, a Jewish business associate of my mother's gave us a canned ham. Never missed a Christmas
Tara L. 1 year ago
My job did this once, gave everyone a ham the day before we were off for a 3 day holiday. Myself & many others left the hams sitting on the counters in the break room as protest. Many more dumped their hams into the small trash bins around the office. That place smelled so bad lol they had to shut down for a week & hire professional cleaners. Cost them thousands. They should of spent the money on a real bonus for everyone
Vrinda Rao 1 year ago
And all of you wasted food that could have been donated to a food pantry, yet you're proud of it.
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Alex Bensky 1 year ago
I worked for a government office once where they passed out hams and I'm Jewish. I was the only Jew in the office and I have no reason to believe they could have had turkeys...or gefilte fish...but had hams instead. I thanked the woman who passed them out and dropped off the ham at a shelter for abused women on the way home.
Ralph Watkins 1 year ago
Hold a management appreciation day. Bring in a big pot full of soup to the conference room near their offices. Open it up. Boiled mutton. Let that smell waft into their offices. I love lamb but I also know that many others can't stand the smell or taste of it.
So, what’s the best strategy at approaching corporate gifts? Assuming a budget is set and the logistics are all figured out, all that’s really left is to pick out a gift, to make it personal, and then to put the plan into motion.
In terms of what to pick, the short answer is it depends. On what? You have to pick out a gift that your employees will actually like.
#13
Nurses Week 2022 (height of Delta wave COVID). We were given rocks on a keychain. The rock was engraved with the word “Hope”. We might have gotten some chapstick too.
Kimberley Dillon Chapman 1 year ago
I would never use the "gifts" given by the hospital I worked for. With their name all over! Cheap mugs, "backpacks", etc. I would leave it right there in the nurses station where thevCEO proudly presented it.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Useful. Every time I saw that ":Hope", it would remind me to fill out another job application.
#14
Not me but a friend - all staff at the hospital received a kitchen scrubby for Christmas. Not even themed. Just random browns, greens, pinks, and yellows... seems like the boss bought dollar store multi-packs and opened them to give everyone one piece.
#15
New owners this year. Old owner gave us 10% of our salary as a year end bonus. New guys gave us $100 amazon cards that were drained by the time we got them. Everyone was pissed but didn't wanna say anything so I did. He asked everyone and they claimed to be delighted with their cards. Spineless bastards. Lmao.
Realistic Optimist 1 year ago
I either don't believe this or am dubious about the portrayal. I can't imagine why a group of people would lie about this. One thought that comes to mind is maybe the new owner is vindictive or petty, but I would say you probably shouldn't say anything in that case anyway.
Cheryl Powell 1 year ago
Where I worked, we were bought out by a company I'd never heard of. Due to the sale of the company, HR informed us that no one was getting anything for Christmas that year. Later that same afternoon, we all saw all the supervisors getting the largest gift basket I'd ever seen, containing fruit, candy and small tools.
Ralph Watkins 1 year ago
We had a serious mold problem where I worked. We had a meeting with our director & the union. Admin hands us a list of the mold that was found by an contracted agency. There were redacted types of mold on the list. Including the highest concentration. My co-workers who used to cry coming to work over fears of the mold sat there quietly accepting the sanitized list. They all looked to me & I demanded to know what mold types were stricken from the list. Even the spineless union rep would not speak up. I then just said that I give up. Too much corruption & cowardice.
The general rule is to find gifts that would be both personalized and practical. One of the more popular approaches is choice-based gifting, which commonly takes shape in the form of gift cards.
Alternatively, you can compile a curated collection for employees to choose from.
#16
An ultra-religious self-help book so we could become less miserable, incompetent and immoral.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Religion? Ok, put up a big poster saying "The laborer is worthy of his hire. 1 Timothy 5:18"
Guess Undheit 1 year ago
Giving out religious porn on the job would make for a great harassment lawsuit.
PurpleKU77 1 year ago
or one saying Hail Satan and that they can't fire you because of the new freedom of religion laws. 😉😉
Windrunner 1 year ago
Bruh no one is forcing you to work there. The company can support what the company wants.
DC 1 year ago
At the very least, you can upcycle these to give you some warmth. I wouldn't advise to do that in public, or even celebrate it, but just silently thrown in the oven along with a chunk of wood, this type of book does its most valuable service to whoever was tricked into ownership of that evil propaganda.
#17
Teacher here.
One year, as our Christmas bonus, we got a defective plastic keychain that read "I love teching!" Spelled exactly like that.
Normally, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.. but after the s**t we had been through, with zero support from admin, s**t pay, disrespect, etc. the keychain set us all off. It was adding insult to injury.
Like, not only is our "bonus" a keychain that didn't even work (the hasp had no spring), but the spelling error meant that a) someone didn't even check them when they arrived, and b) someone put them in every teacher mailbox without looking at them.
Admin sent out an email that basically said turn your keychains back in so they could send them back and get corrected ones. So, adding insult to injury.
I appreciated the sentiment, but all of us could've done without that.
Sunny Day 1 year ago
"please deposit your keychain in the circular bin for collection"
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Bols 1 year ago
So not only did they cheap out on bonus but showed 0 respect to employees by not even checking what sh*t they bought instead... Why are teachers so underpaid and underappreciated in so many nations? Their job is so important!
Luttjetrut 1 year ago
I love teching too. It is what we do in theatre when during rehearsals all elements of the show are being put together on stage. Can I have it? :)
Regina Holt 1 year ago
I'd shove them all up the mufflers of the idiots who got them and gave them to you.
James Dye (Sign Wise Academy) 1 year ago
Been with the school system for 10 yr. Never received a bonus was told teachers only. I'm full time substitute writing lesson plans attending meetings and trainings.
#18
Company coffee mug with the company name misspelled. It was a large company.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
One year at the school I taught, the yearbooks were delivered with the school's name misspelled on the spine.
A bonus on top of all this gifting would be to make sure that sustainability is taken into account. So, organic and eco-friendly materials is the way to go. Well, that, and also if you do end up getting something that one person absolutely hates and will likely get rid of it, at least the carbon footprint is minimized. But let’s hope that’s not the case.
#19
During the pandemic, my partner’s company sent employees each an envelope through the mail with a sticker in it for some appreciation week I laughed so hard at that. It literally was a sticker that said “happy appreciation week”.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Well, they truly and sincerely expressed how much they appreciated their employees, didn't they?
#20
I was re-gifted a gift basket given to my boss by a client and he forgot to remove the card that was addressed to him.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Depends on what's in the basket whether I would be ok with that lol
Ash Conner 1 year ago
That is s****y. I mean it would be one thing if the boos whs like hey worker, this client gave me this basket, do you like anything in here?
Noodlepillow07 1 year ago
I'm all for regifting but he should have registered that out of the office.
#21
Starbucks gift card that had no money on it and they had no receipt for it.
I heart Boo-BI-es 1 year ago
They probably either just took one that had a denomination value ($10,$20) not realizing they had to be activated or gave them an old card that had no balance left on it 🤦♀️
It helps to add a personal note to the recipient. It doesn’t have to be a long message—heck, it doesn’t even have to be from the boss per se. From management or from the company can suffice, as long as it shows appreciation. Explain why you are sending the gift, make it personal, and sign it.
#22
A coin commemorating a billion dollars in sales.
#23
Expired food.
geezeronthehill 1 year ago
Every year we got Christmas hams. One year there was a spoilage problem with part of the batch that they bought. Boss came out of his cubby and shouted "Everybody smell your hams!" Production ground to a halt as everyone burst out laughing. Boss got redfaced, went back to his cubby.
#24
A pack of 10 tissues at the onset of COVID.
Kel_how 1 year ago
They didn't say whole tissues! Could have been 10 half tissues.
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But if gift cards don’t sound like the best idea, consider compiling a gift box that might include some of the following items:
Hydro Flask, reusable lunch containers, work essentials for remote work, DoorDash coupons, mug warmers, plants like succulents, personalized alcohol, subscriptions to learning or self-development platforms, wireless chargers, books…
#25
Not me but a coworker at last year's raffle got a Nintendo DS cleaning kit. For a normal Nintendo DS, not even a 3DS. They aren't being made anymore.
Fenchurch 1 year ago
I mean it's a cleaning kit, it's not device specific. This will shock many I am sure but I use glasses cleaner on my phone! Oh won't somebody think of the children! /S
Sami-Jo Ross 1 year ago
I think the point is that it was probably an old thing that was sitting around for Lord knows how long.
Load More Replies... #26
I used to work in a record shop in the UK and usually got a bottle of wine as a Christmas bonus. Then the company was bought by Virgin and our Christmas bonus was a copy of Richard Branson's (Virgin's CEO) autobiography.
Basko 1 year ago (edited)
Yes, but Virgin Wines cannot become NY Times bestseller by giving away loads of free stuff that no one wants.
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Charles McChristy 1 year ago
Bawhahahaha, what a POS! He just wants to artificially inflate his sales.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Wow, someone's got a massive ego. Wtf makes him think anyone cares about his life story?
#27
My last job the company broke all sorts of financial records and gave everyone a very expensive glass thing with a decal of the refinery. Not only did it suck but all employees ended having to pay 75 dollars in taxes on it. So the 'job well done' cost 75 bucks.
Queeqec 1 year ago
Where do you need to pay taxes for a present? (Not talking about properties/houses)
Jrdiver 1 year ago
Company given ones almost always show up on the pay slip later...
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… wireless speakers, item tags, noise canceling headphones, beauty and health care packages, eye wear or other accessories, DIY boxes, coffee, tea and anything in between.
And then don’t forget to slap that personal note on top of it and you’re golden. And if not, leave a feedback form and improve upon it.
#28
5 dollar Subway gift card. My boss made me come in on an off day to pick up because, “she did not want me missing the company bonus”. I really wonder if our managers need how much was on the cards? We talked about it for months.
Catlady6000 1 year ago
Sooo....less than nothing, if you the cost of travel, including your time. Wow, an actual neg gift
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Probably spent more in gas just showing up to receive that lame, insulting gift.
#29
A long sleeve denim shirt with the company logo in the front above one of the front pockets.. In Florida. Plus we couldn’t wear denim at work so the only time we’d be able to wear the company shirt is on our own time (not happening) or when we’d have dress down day (again not happening). When a coworker inquired where we could wear this since we can’t wear it to work they listed places (like a BBQ joint, the movies, etc.) and said we should be grateful since most places don’t give their employees gifts. It was a call center. Could’ve given a blanket (since it was cold in the center), travel mug, anything except a shirt we can’t wear.
Kira Okah 1 year ago
Embroidered or iron on? Seam ripper will get the first, heat/alcohol/adhesive removers will get the second.
Guess Undheit 1 year ago
Get all the employees to shred HALF the shirts and toss them on his desk, and throw away the other half. When he freaks out and asks who did it, have everyone say "it wasn't mine, I got rid of it" because it's true, you got rid of it. ("Boss" is double-S-O-B backwards.)
#30
At a company Christmas party they would raffle off prizes; one prize for each person. They guy in front of me won a Budweiser mini fridge with LED lights. The guy after me won a LG flat-screen TV. My prize? A Pepsi baseball hat with broken snaps.
Panda On My Balcony 1 year ago
I got a nylon T-shirt too small for me with a local rugby team logo on in our Christmas draw. My teammate landed a beautiful $200 piece of chinaware I'd been eyeing up in the shops for months. I'm still mildly envious, especially as he didn't appreciate the item he got.
Joann Hart 1 year ago
Offer a trade or tell him, I'll take it off your hands
Load More Replies... Charles McChristy 1 year ago (edited)
My company handed out a pair of holiday socks for women, one piece of chocolate, and a tiny bar of scented soap. I am a man and 6'1", so I ended up giving the socks and soap to a friend.
Barbara Novak 1 year ago
each year my husband's company had a drawing at Christmas for those that signed up the most new customers. Each year, the prize was a new car. When his name was chosen, he won an out of date projection TV. It turned out to be a great TV but still...
Agent of Karma 1 year ago
We got lucky at the last party we attended. It was 3 bottles of wine, only we don't drink.
So, ever got something from your job that made you silently say “what the flip?” Share your experiences and thoughts on anything you’ve read here today in the comment section below!
And if you want more insultingly stupid gifts and perks that companies thought of giving, then look no further than this article.
#31
An email from the boss saying he is donating "on behalf of the company" to a charity he is a chairman of.
Snorkeldorf 1 year ago (edited)
Aha! My former employer did this also. In addition, during the holidays, we were allowed to select a gift. It was always a choice between something like a golf shirt, windbreaker, scarf and hat, etc. All items were emblazoned with the company name and logo and had to be in the company colors. After ten years, I had quite a collection of ugly items. The last year I was there, I asked marketing if instead of an item of clothing, I could opt to donate the cost of the item to the charity we supported, in the company's name of course. They checked with the president and his reply was "maybe next year." I wasn't there the next year so I don't know what happened. The cost was probably so insignificant that it would have been embarrassing even if everyone opted to donate (we weren't a large company).
Ash Conner 1 year ago
If it were to saint Jude's or a charity of your choice, then that would be cool
#32
A compulsory invitation to the holiday party. Technically, I wasn't required to attend but it was a career-killer if you didn't. I had to spend money on a dress just for the party since I didn't have anything that was suitable, so not only did it cost *me* money, but I had to spend a precious evening pretending I liked my coworkers.
Jenna Kay 1 year ago
I had to attend several of these for my husband’s former employer. You were expected to be there, with your spouse. I knew almost no one, had to chit chat with execs that were out of touch with reality, politely decline boozy advances from those who went to the cash bar, and eat sad cold food, because the upper level people were always served first 😫. My poor hubby would be so embarrassed and end up taking me out somewhere nice when we managed to slip away!
Lyoness 1 year ago (edited)
At Toyz R Uz there was both a Christmas "party" and a yearly black tie Gala. You paid for the Gala tickets, you needed a floor length formal gown or a tux and you were expected (aka had) to attend because it was "supporting charity". I figure those 2 events cost more than $500 each year. Plus you were expected to buy the boss a Christmas gift. A boss that made 10x what the employees did.
Agent of Karma 1 year ago
Try borrowing from someone else you know. Or see if a rental is cheaper.
#33
A pink slip. And I don't mean lingerie.
TableAssault:
A pink slip (in the US anyway) can be a notice of termination of employment or the title to a vehicle. I’m guessing OP didn’t get a new car as a gift, so… got fired.
Realistic Optimist 1 year ago
Sort of, but I would say no. SHORT ANSWER: Being made redundant is a reason someone can be terminated, but not fired. Some people use these two terms interchangeably, but in most systems 'fired' is a way of saying we got rid of them for a very good reason. LONG ANSWER: In the US, employers may terminate someone for almost any reason, with the only exception being discrimination. If someone is fired on the other hand, it is essentially the company denouncing said employee. Unlike terminating employment, getting fired would disqualify the former employee of any benefits, unemployment, severance, or references. It's a punishment. It's also rare to see, since it takes time to fire someone in most situations, and very easily can end up in court.
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#34
A cheap plastic key ring with the company logo on it after working 16-hour days for months to win a massive contract. No overtime paid either.
Susan Bosse 1 year ago
Idk what country you're in but, if it's the US, I hope you reported them to the Labor Board. That's highly illegal.
Joann Hart 1 year ago
I think I would put in my notice and send the key ring to the company I got the contract saying you can have my bonus.
#35
The first company I worked for out of college gave everyone a “free turkey” around the holidays. It wasn’t really a free turkey, it was a $25 gift certificate to a grocery store that was inconvenient for 75% of the people working there. And $25 didn’t cover a turkey, of course. Turns out, the company owners had a stake in the store.
Diana Lucas 1 year ago
A smaller turkey would definitely be under $25. A very large turkey for a dozen people or so would be more than $25.
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Russell Rieckenberg 1 year ago
Was the card only good for a turkey, or was it just a $25 gift card?
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
Good question. Still, if the store is inconvenient for most AND the company had a stake in it, well...is that "feathering your own nest" or something like that?
Load More Replies... Seadog 1 year ago
Reminds me of a company I worked for in the 90's. Not a bonus or holiday thing but they changed health insurance to a plan that dictated who you could see. None of the approved doctors were within 100 miles of any of the staff. They had to rewrite the policy to allow for out of program physicians.
Spec Tater 1 year ago
Jesus! $25 for a turkey?! Hardly. But you could get a small chicken, a fryer maybe.
Joann Hart 1 year ago
They do drop in price the closer you get to the holiday but you then get what you get (not as many choices in size)
#36
A bottle of our restaurant’s “signature” steak sauce that no one really liked and that we all had free access to all day, every day at work. This was instead of the standard $100 cash bonus we normally got yearly.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
I'm surprised that the boss didn't find his car's fuel tank full of steak sauce by the next day.
#37
Worked for FritoLay. Went to the corporate headquarters and in my hotel room was a bag of FritoLay snack, all expired.
Joann Hart 1 year ago
Boeing stopped giving bonuses to the people actually building the planes years ago. Only the big wigs get bonuses (like they need more money) . Maybe if they listened to workers and gave them back bonuses .....
#38
Welcome back in office postcard after the pandemic work from home period. We’ve got it minutes after receiving termination letters. Like I was fully expecting it but still it was in a poor taste.
Seadog 1 year ago
I had to cover for 2 other people who got furloughed. One of them my direct assistant who was right in the middle of training. When they called everyone back in, they fired her within a week. Due to the nature of our industry, it takes on average 18 -24 months to find a suitable assistant. I had to threaten to quit to get them to hire another.
#39
Nothing. And I work for a giant company. Not surprised though.
#40
The MD of the company bought himself a boat ‘for the company’. We didn’t get a bonus that year.
Seadog 1 year ago
Local company is well known for letting the guys use the lake house and boat while the female staff gets nothing. That attitude extends into the daily operations of the business as well. I assure you the founder (RIP) of the company wasn't like that. Not sure where his son got it from. I'm told his will states that his children are not allowed to sell off any of the company or it's holdings when he's gone. Which means there'll be a lot of empty property around for a long time.
#41
$50 gift card but only $10 was left.
#42
I had a manager give me a blood pressure monitor once because, in his words, "You're fat, eat unhealthy, drink massive amounts of coffee and seem stressed all the time and the company is afraid you might have a heart attack."
#44
I’m diabetic and my boss knows, but every year he gets me 2 dozen cookies, a tin of caramel popcorn and bag of homemade chocolate turtles.
Regina Holt 1 year ago
I would have thrown each individual item at him, reiterating that he knew he was diabetic. I mean each individual piece. Of popcorn, of candy, the tin, every single piece. Except for what I jammed up his tailpipe (so he couldn't start his car, no inuendo about "tailpipe")
#45
Link to a page from which I can write thanks to my coworkers.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Well, you certainly don't need one to express thanks to your employer.
#46
Invited to a nice restaurant with other employees. Spouses were invited but had to pay their way. We were told to claim our meal on our expense forms. But our boss hadn't cleared it with his boss so all our claims were rejected. So my wife and I went to a nice restaurant, had to pay for both of our meals and had to hang out with our boss while doing it. This was a twice a year date night type restaurant so we wasted one of our date nights with coworkers. Edit: I've been thinking that it is possible this manager did this on purpose. The other thing he did is tell a few of us that we had been working so hard and putting in so much unpaid overtime (we were salaried) that he'd take three of us golfing for the afternoon. By the end of the round he said we should all probably use a half day of our holidays on our monthly time sheet.
PHOTOBOB 1 year ago
Staff dinners are always such fun. I don't like hanging out with these people all day but let's spend a dinner together. At least for us it was paid for. Of course one year they gave us assigned seats so we could talk with cow-orkers we did not know instead of the one person in the office we like. Left tat firm after 20 years. Only stuck around to get my 20 year bonus. My check was literally thrown at me.
Caroline Nagel 1 year ago
When I was let go my colleagues took me out for lunch which was paid with the comany card. There was no boss on sight lol
Freddy M. (He/Him) 1 year ago (edited)
I'm not certain, but wouldn't this count as promissory estoppel? In the States I'm pretty sure you could sue your manager for this
#47
A 10 year anniversary memory book with my name spelled wrong on every page.
#48
A pencil. And it was just some generic pencil, like from a Dollar Store. Thanks BNYMellon.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Choosing Happy! for me would be using the CEO's ear as my pencil sharpener.
#49
As an airline pilot, I worked Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day this year. On Thanksgiving Day, I walk into the cockpit to find one of those $0.75 (silver dollar size) pecan pies in the little cardboard box (the ones you get at the gas station checkout line). On Christmas Day, I found an iced sugar cookie.
#50
Boss gave me a mug, I quipped “a mug from a mug.” HR took the mug off me, made me apologise, then gave me the mug back.
#51
A penny. Specifically, a 1935 penny - representing the year the company was incorporated.
EmbersAreOut 1 year ago
TBH, i collect coins, so i would be happy with this as a gift, but not as a work bonus
Mike D 1 year ago
OK, but why not a proof silver dollar from that year (or at least one graded MS 60 or higher)?
Load More Replies... #52
$20 in company credit lol. Not only is it such a small amount for something that literally goes back into the company, but this was supposed to be the replacement for the end of year bonus that got cancelled, of which I was told has never happened (I joined this year).
#53
After five years, they changed my badge color from white to blue.
#54
My wife got a check for $10. After taxes it was eight and change.
#55
A card from my CEO with a picture of him and his wife. Ripped up and thrown away. idc dude give me a bonus. you’re a $70m a year company.
#56
For Christmas in 2021, McDonald's gave me a $5 gift card to McDonald's. I ate more free McDonald's every single day I worked than that card would've bought, so I ended up just giving it away.
#57
My company is owned by a holdings company so it's a bunch of different unrelated stuff. They keep giving us these vouchers to spend at their store. So I did a tour of the campus, and they brought us to the store. And it's literally elderly medical care stuff, like the things you would attach to your toilet and bathtubs to have bars to hold onto. They also have those super big chairs with all the gadgets and whistles. They're like 4 grand. So thanks for the 5 dollar voucher lol I seriously have no idea what anyone was thinking when they came up with this reward system.
#58
Questionable Christmas Ham, circa 2017-ish. In general, Christmas Ham + canned goods and assorted sweets were commonly given by Philippine corporate to employees in December, sort of to boost the Noche Buena feast on the eve of Christmas. The ham in question did not look very appetizing (think giant block of pale Spam). One of my co-workers tried offering a bite to her dog; the dog refused. Edit: it might be earlier than 2017. I must have been so horrified with the questionable ham, I blocked out the exact year.
Spider Puppy 1 year ago
If the dog won't eat it it's very VERY bad. That, or it's actual dog food, and the dog is like mine, who hates dog food...
#59
I got an email congratulating me on 5 years of service.
That was nice 😐
Panda On My Balcony 1 year ago
I got an A5 certificate signed by the top boss in a plastic frame from the dollar shop as my 'bonus' after 25 years in the office.
#60
One year I got a jacket with the company name on it. It was a nice enough jacket but everyone got the same size - a men’s large. I’m a 5’1” woman so that didn’t work. I donated it, at least it will keep someone warm.
#61
I was given an air tire pressure guage to promote safety. The guage was manufactured in China and promptly exploded when connected to a tire valve.
#62
I worked for Enterprise Rent A Car back when their main business was insurance replacement, in the early 90’s. One year they gave us a print of a kid sitting in an old pedal car, daydreaming. We joked it was the company founder thinking about renting his car out to neighborhood kids.
#63
I worked for one of the largest retailers once. This one Year the store manager decided for gifts for the associates he would just wrap up claims merchandise and give one to each person. Mine was a Picture frame without the glass that had baby on it. This was a done as a Christmas present from the store.
#64
A pewter die-cast holiday ornament of the dead boss's bust. In a velvet lined box.
#65
A coupon for 15% off Panera Bread catering. I forwarded the email to abuse. They said it was real.
#66
After my 32¢ raise and 23¢ merit raise they gave me a used, cheap company pen with a laser pointer. After that I did my 10 hours of work at the beginning of the day and spent the rest of my day looking for another job in my cubicle.
#67
Christmas gift. It was an advent calendar... Delivered on the 15th of December.
Dreaming Spirit 1 year ago
Advent calendar, for me the default version is the kind with tiny chocolate for each day, not sure here :)
Load More Replies... #68
For 15 years of service, I received a hand bell with my name on it. It started to corrode within a week in normal conditions.
#69
My "hazard pay" during covid for being an essential worker was a one time gift card to a local grocery store. Forgot to add that it was one time $10 gift card.
Kaedyn Walsh 1 year ago
Damn. That probably got you one egg. A small egg. Or maybe 3 sheets of 1 ply toilet paper. :(
Elizabeth Patrick 1 year ago
This is horrible Op! I’m not an essential worker and received 2.50 extra pay per hour all through Covid from the govt. and no Christmas gift. I worked a drive thru serving beer and other drinks all of Covid with ppl coming through with grocery lists lol and guess what these ppl wer making : they worked for Honda or hbd or other warehouses and manufacturing they brought home regular weekly pay plus 600 EXTRA DOLLARS A WEEK! They made DOUBLE PAY. Coming through my drive-through buying all this beer and cigarettes and everything else just grocery list and just laughing about how much money they were making while I’m standing in a cold open drive thru making 2.50 extra an hour and all their sick Covid faces in my face. Btw my hourly pay was 12.50 with Covid raise.
Elizabeth Patrick 1 year ago
I almost forgot they also got the other credits of the checks that everyone received 1200 1400 dollars
Load More Replies... #70
A t shirt that says "I ❤️ my job".
#71
A dead plant.
#72
Instead of the usual holiday turkey we received a winter hat with the company logo. Practically every person threw it in their desks garbage can. Following year turkeys were back on the menu.
Regina Holt 1 year ago
maybe they didn't listen, the just saw all of the cleaning staff wearing the hats . . .
Load More Replies... #73
A silver pin with the company's logo on it. It was a gift for working 5 years there. I have been there for 6 years....7 next month. I got it 2 weeks ago.
Jenna Kay 1 year ago
I think there is some company that has a really good sales pitch about how employees really love to receive pins that they can wear absolutely nowhere and serve no purpose.
Seadog 1 year ago
Worked for a national chain where your service pin is actually part of the uniform. I proudly wore mine but when it became 10 years, they wouldn't send it nor let me order it. I even offered to pay for it. Nope. Too expensive (because it has a diamond in it....a diamond chip about the size of the ball in a ball point pen). I quit shortly after that.
Load More Replies... #74
A loaf of bread. The temps that we were working for us all got a $200 check from their temp agency. I will admit that the bread tasted good (it was one of those cinnamon and brown sugar desert loaves),and but man. Worst part was that we were all paid so poorly that we *needed* that bread; it supplemented my food budge for a week.
#76
A major hospital system in several US states, their response to rising medical staff burnout was to send clergy staff around to the departments with a box of gifts and call it “mental health awareness week” Gifts included: A “stress-relief” vanilla scented votive candle without a jar. Laminated paper bookmark with a prayer on one side and the other side was a how-to for taking a deep breath. A tiny travel sized packet of tissues. Lip balm. There was also a smoothie food truck parked outside of the hospital on one of the days but my department is ridiculously short-staffed so not only was I unable to partake in said smoothie-day but also I didn’t get to take a lunch break.
Mike D 1 year ago
Who needs ". . . a how-to for taking a deep breath."?? And what were the instructions? "OK, now take in a deep breath"
Seadog 1 year ago
Having a collapsed lung taught me how to breathe properly. That was in '92. I still make it a point to use those breathing techniques. Helps too when I can't get to sleep.
Load More Replies... #77
A $500 bonus instead of the standard $50 that everyone else got, then an explanation email that they obviously typo'd the check, don't cash it, a replacement and correct $50 is on the way. The correct check never came.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Cash the check, and give them back the $450. When they come and ask for it.
Seadog 1 year ago
Depends. If they report that on your income, you'll pay taxes on the $500 by cashing the check. Remember the 70's TV show Emergency!? There was an episode where John Gage did that and then the guys pointed out how he would pay taxes on the incorrect amount. The thing to do is hold the $500 check hostage until they hand over the $50 check.
Load More Replies... #78
I got a raise once. It was a whole nickel. For my 5 year anniversary, I was given a glass paperweight that weighs 5 lbs. I keep it by my bed in case anyone breaks .
Seadog 1 year ago
Worked for a largest local bank. There were 3 people between me and the president of the bank. My 7th annual was $36/mo. I quit shortly after that, took a minimum wage job ($3.35hr best I remember). After 90 days the boss comes around and tells me they're giving me a 25 cent/hr raise and apologized it couldn't be more but it was after all, a MW job. I told him how much the bank gave me and that he just gave me a $40/mo raise after 90 days, I thanked him with a smile and we went about our business, both better from the encounter.
#79
Self-published biography of the company’s founder written by the official company’s staff historian. Shrink wrapped tennis balls with the company’s logo on it, but they were so cheap they didn’t really bounce and when you opened the package it smelled like toxic waste.
#80
Here’s an umbrella. Seriously and it broke three weeks later on a summer rain storm.
Jenna Kay 1 year ago
I was given a company umbrella as a thank you once. It did a better job than my manager.
Seadog 1 year ago
Store I worked at in the 90's had golf umbrellas on the supply order for store use. We soon found out the store was billed $3 for these. Pretty soon all the employees have several as we got everything at cost + 10%. I still have 3 of them
Load More Replies... #81
The myriad plaques, trophies, signed certificates lauding my best, greatest, most efficient, most improved whatever, all of which I left in my cubicle when I was made redundant after 20+ years of service with 30 minutes of notice. They weren't worth the soybeans they were made of.
Seadog 1 year ago
My enjoyment always came when they decided some snot nosed kid right out of school could do my job for less. Never mind my years of experience. So I moved to the competition and 75% of my customers followed me. Imagine how well it went over when the old employer lost roughly 40% of the entire store sales (75% of my departments sales) in one fell swoop because he wanted to cut payroll by a few hundred bucks a month. He didn't remain a DM long after that. That was 15 years ago, they still havn't recovered the loss.
#82
Probably doesn't qualify but I was offered 2 tacos from Taco Bell for my birthday once. Co-workers started laughing maniacally, but I was hungry so I said "Sure!" Hey it's still two free Tacos!
#83
An apron. They gave us all aprons one year. Then they got mad if we didn’t wear the aprons at work. But the aprons were super thin linen, and the dyes and chemicals we worked with soaked right through them, so I wanted to use the apron at home & just keep using my normal coveralls at work. The CEO literally said we had to wear the aprons bc she wanted to take photos of us working to put on the blog, and she wanted us to look like artists and not mechanics. But we worked in a leather goods factory… i ended up wearing the stupid apron over my coveralls 🙄
#84
In 2020 I was granted a large retention bonus, enough cash that we were going to use it to buy a bigger house. On the day that we were all sent home to work remotely due to COVID, I was given a red plastic tumbler that said "Merry Christmas you filthy animal" on the side. In March. 3 weeks later (4 days before my bonus was to be paid), I was laid off alongside 1200 of my coworkers. Now about once a year I enjoy a stiff drink out of my $270k plastic tumbler.
#85
$25 gift certificate to Honey Baked Hams. A half ham was $45. A pie was $18. The company had no alternate gift for Jewish, Muslim, or vegetarian employees. They literally told them they could take it a or get nothing. The casino I worked for had also recently announced they had record revenue for that property also.
#86
Glasses case (though I don't have glasses).
#87
Well before Covid teachers would get laid off. My first year I got laid off, but I also had to attend a mandatory meeting with the superintendent - a “thanks” for staying. I got a rigid plastic coffee mug and the handle broke off almost immediately.
#88
Ooooh I have a great one. Ten year anniversary, got to pick out of a catalogue, mostly stuff under like 30-40 bucks tops. Slow cookers, blah blah. None of the stuff was appealing so I didn't spend much time and chose a kitchen thermometer because I'm always breaking them or melting them. Nope, what I got was a kitchen thermometer probe. Just the probe and the cord and a cord carrying gadget.
#89
Gift certificate to Tim Hortons. I had a job for ten years that would start at 5am and my lunch would be at 9am. It was so remote that the only place to buy breakfast before 5am or anything resembling lunch at 9am was Tim Hortons and by year ten I was sick of it. So of course they give a gift certificate to there.
#91
A prepaid Petrocan gas card - since I was the founder of the office Bicycle Users Group and didn't have a car.
#92
End of the year gift was a basketball with a note that said “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Now let’s shoot for more commissions in 2015”. Everyone in the sales department got this including the manager.
#93
The worst one was probably the ominous combination of a branded coffee mug and a stress ball. It's like they were saying, 'Here, have something to drink your sorrows away, and if that fails, squeeze this stress ball.' A dubious duo that left me questioning both my caffeine intake and stress levels. But hey, at least it made for a good conversation starter during awkward office parties!
#94
iPads one year for exceeding company revenwue goals. Sister company complained because they didn't get iPads because of their c**p year. Next year we exceeded goals again, but we got towels with the company logo that didn't absorb water for s**t. Sister company also got towels.
#95
I was a minor working closing shift at a McDonald's on Xmas Eve. I had no transportation and had to walk over a mile home (American NE). They game me a f*****g frozen turkey. Like, first of all,what can you possibly do with a frozen bird on Xmas Eve?? Second, I was 17. What was a 17yo going to do with a frozen bird on Xmas Eve? I walked with if for a few blocks and abandoned it on some random person's row home front porch.
Angrykitten 1 year ago
Would anyone actually cook and eat a mystery turkey that they found on their porch?
Load More Replies... Kaedyn Walsh 1 year ago
Hopefully the person woke that morning, saw the frozen turkey and was super grateful because they were near broke, couldn't afford any food other than popcorn and wished they had a ham or turkey to feed their family for Xmas and bam. You were their Christmas Santa who granted a sorrowful made wish and turned it to joy and positivity. ❤️❤️🎅🎅🎅
#96
We used to get 3 scratch tickets, each worth like 2 euros, for christmas every year.. about 150 employees, everyone got 3 tickets. Nobody ever won anything. I say "used to" because in 2022, we sent the scratch tickets, unused, back to our boss. almost all of us.. we didn't get one in 2023.. we also didn't get a christmas party as we used to, instead the boss invited everyone to drive with him to the next big city to "party".. while the rest had to work on their day off to cover the shifts of people going to said party.
#97
Bottle of water, the mini hand sanitizer that you can connect with a bag, and a flavored powder thing for the water. Hahah. It was pitiful. Teacher appreciation by management.
#98
GameStop gave me a 256mb flash drive for working there for 5 years.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
This really depends on when this happened. When they had just come out, a 256mb flash drive would have been a pricey item.
#99
It was a manual radio that you had to crank for like 20 mins to get 5 mins of power. He said it was a survival radio for when the world loses all power or you go camping. He was always getting ready for the end of the world.
#100
5 years was a silver Cross company engraved pen/pencil set. Got that set 2002, and it's never been used to this day. 10 years we got a nice gold company logo'd ring. Boldly displaying the company logo. Was a very nice ring. At 15 years they took the ring, and added a diamond chip. Same at 25 years. I was there 27 years before retiring. I proudly wore it for 17 years. Took off the ring, well because I didn't work there anymore. Let's head to the local gold jeweler and sell it. She weighed it, took into account the diamond chips, and had a sad look on her face as she said it was worth $358. Huh? This thing was solid gold, heavy, nice. Are you sure? $358? I'll pass. Next jeweler offered me $325. C**p. Went back to the original offer, and she wrote me a check for $358. Guess it was a cr*ppy gold, though it looked expensive. Don't know if it's the worst, but it was the worst feeling when I was told it's value.
Seadog 1 year ago
One local jeweler values things at about 15%. Now their selling price is another thing altogether. Not sure if I trust their quality. I've never even considered buying from them and of course never sold them anything after that insult.
Load More Replies... What do you think ?
Caroline Nagel 1 year ago
I'm so happy I live in a European country where it is normal that as good as every employee receives a thirteenth month pay at the end of the year. Thanks to our unions. I'm sure all these happened in the USA. The 'you are not better than slaves'-vibe is strong in these stories.
Maria Hornberger 1 year ago
That's because all the stupid asses in the US voted out unions.
Load More Replies...
Lydsylou (she/her) 1 year ago
I got nothing but tbf at the restaurant where I work I do get free snacks, unlimited free drinks, free breakfast and lunch and a discount on food when I'm not working so that's basically my gift
Bobert Robertson 1 year ago
Wasn't really a "gift" but my former boss handed me a rope and suggested I use it to hang myself because the team i oversaw had poor performance one weekend.
Guess Undheit 1 year ago
I live in an Asian country. Every year, there's a big company dinner, and three years ago it got moved to a place with a fixed menu, they choose for you. They KNOW I have lethal food allergies, and they choose food I can't eat. Then they ask "why don't you go?!?!?!"
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
I wouldn't be at all surprised if a lot of people noped away from a lot of these companies and their stupid, greedy bosses. A bonus should be a bonus, something useful and appreciated! It doesn't have to be expensive, just utile and of good quality. Finally, nothing beats cold, hard cash.
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
One place gave me a slab of beer. I don’t drink alcohol and live alone. Another gave me a company shirt, just like the other five they gave me to wear at work. My favourite bad one was a voucher to spend at one of the other hotels in our chain, it wasn’t enough to cover one night for one person.
CG 1 year ago
Nowadays at my current job, we either get a Christmas bonus, a bottle of wine, or we go out to dinner with the company president, who is an awesome guy. At my old job, I got a $50 gift card for a restaurant chain that I told my boss that I didn't like. And it was only valid at one location that was an hour away from where I lived at the time.
Eric Johansen 1 year ago
Retired after 23 years as Pres/CEO. Had relocated but remained on staff to assist in transition. My entire family was visiting when a box arrived. Opened it to find a cheesy plaque with the wrong name engraved. Um...thanks?
Rhonda West 1 year ago
I worked at a Staples call centre, and for my two year anniversary there, I was rewarded a cheap plastic clock that broke when I tried to put in the batteries. I recognized that it came from a company that supplied us with those "gifts with purchase" items that we gave away. I looked up the price; they were $2 each with a minimum purchase of 500. One of my coworkers quipped "it's symbolic; they're telling us our time is worth nothing."
Caroline Nagel 1 year ago
I'm so happy I live in a European country where it is normal that as good as every employee receives a thirteenth month pay at the end of the year. Thanks to our unions. I'm sure all these happened in the USA. The 'you are not better than slaves'-vibe is strong in these stories.
Maria Hornberger 1 year ago
That's because all the stupid asses in the US voted out unions.
Load More Replies... Lydsylou (she/her) 1 year ago
I got nothing but tbf at the restaurant where I work I do get free snacks, unlimited free drinks, free breakfast and lunch and a discount on food when I'm not working so that's basically my gift
Bobert Robertson 1 year ago
Wasn't really a "gift" but my former boss handed me a rope and suggested I use it to hang myself because the team i oversaw had poor performance one weekend.
Guess Undheit 1 year ago
I live in an Asian country. Every year, there's a big company dinner, and three years ago it got moved to a place with a fixed menu, they choose for you. They KNOW I have lethal food allergies, and they choose food I can't eat. Then they ask "why don't you go?!?!?!"
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
I wouldn't be at all surprised if a lot of people noped away from a lot of these companies and their stupid, greedy bosses. A bonus should be a bonus, something useful and appreciated! It doesn't have to be expensive, just utile and of good quality. Finally, nothing beats cold, hard cash.
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
One place gave me a slab of beer. I don’t drink alcohol and live alone. Another gave me a company shirt, just like the other five they gave me to wear at work. My favourite bad one was a voucher to spend at one of the other hotels in our chain, it wasn’t enough to cover one night for one person.
CG 1 year ago
Nowadays at my current job, we either get a Christmas bonus, a bottle of wine, or we go out to dinner with the company president, who is an awesome guy. At my old job, I got a $50 gift card for a restaurant chain that I told my boss that I didn't like. And it was only valid at one location that was an hour away from where I lived at the time.
Eric Johansen 1 year ago
Retired after 23 years as Pres/CEO. Had relocated but remained on staff to assist in transition. My entire family was visiting when a box arrived. Opened it to find a cheesy plaque with the wrong name engraved. Um...thanks?
Rhonda West 1 year ago
I worked at a Staples call centre, and for my two year anniversary there, I was rewarded a cheap plastic clock that broke when I tried to put in the batteries. I recognized that it came from a company that supplied us with those "gifts with purchase" items that we gave away. I looked up the price; they were $2 each with a minimum purchase of 500. One of my coworkers quipped "it's symbolic; they're telling us our time is worth nothing."
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