Major guilt over Christmas bonus

Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Major guilt over Christmas bonus
11
Tue, 11-10-2009 - 5:06pm

Apparently I like feeling guilty. Angst must be a hobby of mine, although as it turns out DH is mad about this and feels pretty bad about it, too, and he does NOT do angst.

He's a service manager and has about 20 guys under him. They are the only shop in the area making any money right now, and they've actually kept their numbers up almost to where they were before the economy tanked. (I'm bragging - DH has been pulling in new accounts like crazy and, more impressively, some old ones that vowed never to come back from before he was manager).

Well, the owner of the company has decided not to do bonuses this year. We expected it. Two years ago, for the guys they were the equivalent of one paycheck. (It was about a month's pay for us - sigh). Last year he cut them in half and everyone was MAD. Well, now they won't get a thing. They don't get them until the 23rd (or last business day before the 24th), so it's not like there will be any notice, and DH is not allowed to tell them or HIS job/butt is on the line. I bet half of those guys, if not more, depend on those for Christmas for their kids or wives. The rest depend on them to catch up on bills. To me (and to DH), it's just not RIGHT not to tell them. The owner says everyone will get mad and productivity will go down, but some of these guys have been there for 5, 10, 30 years. Always a bonus. Always something. And they'll be plenty mad later, and I doubt they'll cool off after a couple of days off.

I'm not going to judge whether the man can afford bonuses or not, but two things bug me. One, he flat out lied to DH about WHY. He said the company didn't get a bonus that they DID get. Maybe they needed the money for something else or maybe he just plain doesn't want to do bonuses. But to LIE about it, I don't get. DH can't stand being lied to.

The other thing is that the owner spends extravagantly. Everyone who works there knows it, and most know that he does it on the company's dime. It's his company and his right (although I don't think you're supposed to deduct thousands of dollars of personal stuff as a business expense, but again, not my place to judge) but when these guys see how he wastes money and then says there's not enough to give them a bonus, they're going to be mad. You can't blame them. The employees don't have the details that DH does, but it's obvious that the man is spending money left and right and now he's going to blindside them at the last minute. =c(

I KNOW a bonus is a bonus and I know that he's not obligated to give it. I know it's not his fault that people depend on it. But the fact is that they do, and the least he could do is let them know ahead of time that it's not going to happen. I just feel so bad for everyone. I know there's nothing I can do, but I just had to vent a little. Thanks for listening.

In other news, I actually got out of bed today. Good thing it was cloudy - not sure I've seen the sun in a while, LOL.

Photobucket


FIVE KIDS.

Sarah

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Thu, 11-12-2009 - 1:22pm

I already gave my girls their bonus. I knew one was going Christmas shopping with her sisters so I gave it to her early. She totally did not expect it. So a few days later I gave my other girl her bonus to be fair. Now it is over and I don't have to worry about it anymore is how I am looking at.

The only way I would not give a bonus is if I had to declare bankruptcy for the business. I am in the process of applying for more credit for the business and I would still give bonuses. I probably won't get the extra credit..........My staff is so good. They come in when I am sick, they are great with their cash, clean things, and are good with the customers. The bonus is not a lot but it is important. I hope to be able to give more in the future!

I am sorry your DH is going through this and I wish you luck with the lunch.


Pages