Is it legal? ( not poying xmas bonus :( )

ShadowHearth

Hello lads, in the hotel where i work ( full time 45h++ per weak) said to us:

We will not be paying xmas bonus to anyone... I am not even talking about xmas party...

Can they really do that? .

veryangryman

Perfrectly legal

I use the term "perfectly" in irony

I dont get one and never have or will. Bit mean of a hotel not to in any case

dan_d

Yes.
And they're not alone in that. Believe me.

ShadowHearth

Damn . i cant believe they can be such cheap ba****ds...

Thought i knew what i do when i came to work to hotel . So i am busting mine balls all xmas season, and for this they wount even say "thank you" .

Ofc they will make huge money like allways...

Ah well thx lads...

ntlbell

if it keeps you in a job they won't be ba$tards.

be glad you have a job you might not for much longer.

Tom Dunne

Just curious, what makes you think it is illegal to give a goodwill gesture?

Unless it is written into your contract that you are entitled to a Christmas bonus, that is.

ShadowHearth

okay whatever guys, no need to attack me for that now.

Every single place i worked they gave atleast something. And that was fair enought. And i find it strange, that you will be working all holiday season ( we dont have off days or holidays, its actually moust busyest season in year for us).

AARRRGH

veryangryman wrote: »

Bit mean of a hotel not to in any case

ShadowHearth wrote: »

i cant believe they can be such cheap ba****ds...

I'm not sure if you guys know this, but the hospitality indistry in Ireland is in big trouble.

I would not be surprised if your employer has serious financial problems.

ShadowHearth wrote: »

So i am busting mine balls all xmas season, and for this they wount even say "thank you" .

I would understand this if you were working for free, but you're still getting paid though, right?

ntlbell

ShadowHearth wrote: »

okay whatever guys, no need to attack me for that now.

Every single place i worked they gave atleast something. And that was fair enought. And i find it strange, that you will be working all holiday season ( we dont have off days or holidays, its actually moust busyest season in year for us).

13 years employed still awaiting my first bonus

as i said be grateful

Vokes

Have never ever got a xmas bonus before



Well....actually, maybe one time i got a nice bit of smoked salmon and a half day on xmas eve.

ShadowHearth

i asked becouse i have newer had such experience, i allways had xmas bonus. And no need this crap lads: "be greatfull for having job" i am working for mine money, and working hard. So they could be thankfull for me aswell.


anyway i founded out, and i just need to swallow it. Thx for those post who actually answered to this, not just started "be greatfull for having job" rant.

Tom Dunne

ShadowHearth wrote: »

okay whatever guys, no need to attack me for that now.

I'm not attacking you, I am merely pointing out that getting a Christmas bonus is not mandatory.

Actually, in all the years I have been working, I have never got a Christmas bonus. And as I work in IT, I have worked the odd Christmas, including Christmas Day.

AARRRGH

I think what the "be greatful you have a job" people were trying to say is a lot of people (especially in the hospitality industry) are losing their job, so not getting a Christmas bonus should be considered fairly normal at this stage, and you're lucky you haven't been laid off... yet!

No one was trying to say you should be working for free or treated badly.

Shelflife

as an employer i could never understand why staff felt "entitled" to a xmas bonus.

the flip side of the coin is that your boss has paid you every week for the last year, maybe he deserves a bonus/pressie from the staff ?

BostonB

ShadowHearth wrote: »

i asked becouse i have newer had such experience, i allways had xmas bonus. And no need this crap lads: "be greatfull for having job" i am working for mine money, and working hard. So they could be thankfull for me aswell.


anyway i founded out, and i just need to swallow it. Thx for those post who actually answered to this, not just started "be greatfull for having job" rant.

I never worked anywhere that paid Xmas bonuses. I think this is a useful wake up call to go compare your terms and conditions with other places. Don't assume there are all the same, and don't assume that everywhere else is better.

mikemac

Shelflife wrote: »

as an employer i could never understand why staff felt "entitled" to a xmas bonus.

But it's the done thing in many industries.
The OP is feeling disappointed at not getting a bonus.
There are bankers in the IFSC disappointed at getting nothing and they got 5k last year.
If you want to push that further, there are bankers (bankers are an obvious example) in London used to getting good bonuses but disappointed at getting something the OP can only dream of. I'm taking 50k plus, you can only judge yourself against your peers

It's all relative realy.
In my experience hotels are the last place to expect a bonus, they can replace you easily and so no real need. It's tough work in that sector for sure

MagicMarker

I've only ever worked one job that gave a xmas bonus, that was about 8 years ago!

It's quite laughable that you're even asking if this is legal!

I assume you're young, welcome to the first of many disappointments in your working life.

Xiney

aw now

he's just disappointed is all. Perhaps a bit naive, thinking that it's illegal not to give a Christmas bonus, but if he's had one since he started working you can't really blame him for wondering!

No point in rubbing salt in the wound of someone who might have been counting on that money, whether it was wise to do so or not.

trellheim

some jobs have bonuses; it's even written into the contract based on performance or other metric; if metric is made then bonus is earned. Some jobs should be incentivised. Nothing to get overwrought about.

happyoutscan

ntlbell wrote: »

13 years employed still awaiting my first bonus

as i said be grateful

If you're working for NTL you don't deserve one lol (don't take it personally!).

Eoin

trellheim wrote: »

some jobs have bonuses; it's even written into the contract based on performance or other metric; if metric is made then bonus is earned. Some jobs should be incentivised. Nothing to get overwrought about.

Maybe they shouldn't use the word bonus then, as I think the word clearly implies a discretionary payment. Commission could be a much better word if applicable.

The_Conductor

Someone came up to me yesterday and said- if they give people on social welfare a Christmas bonus- now that we're all having a hard time- surely we should all get a commensurate bonus (I think she had in mind a weeks extra pay to help pay for food and pressies for the kids, instead of having to borrow more money). I can see where the OP is coming from, even if I've never gotten a bonus myself (despite often working until 9-10PM on Christmas eve, and on all our public holidays- because they weren't necessarily holidays in the US or on continental Europe). Its disappointing if you have come to expect it- most people are envious to a certain extent of those who do manage to get bonuses.

With us- we get a box of apples and one of oranges and we divide the fruit up among us as a Christmas pressie- and then buy our colleagues something small as a little token gesture to each other (a box of chocolates or similar).

Xcellor

In the last place I worked we got 100 euros worth of bonus bonds. They got rid of this one year. We were all sad. Very sad.

Now I work for a company that doesn't give any xmas bonus and we've been told pay increases are on hold until March :O Ahhh!!

But seriously I'm not pissed about it and no one in these times should be... Ireland and the Irish in general seem to expect and think they deserve it... I'm just happy i have a job and can now afford to buy oil to heat my home!

jobucks

OP it seems that the vast majority of people I've spoken to are not getting Christmas Bonus' this year, sure its disappointing, but I guess if it helps keep us in a job next year then I'm all for it.
The co. I work for have also decided not to give an Xmas bonus this year, (they normally give 1 weeks wages) and they notified all staff well in advance and explained why it was not possible. I for one am happy (maybe not "happy" but willing)to give up my Xmas bonus if it means 1 member of staff can keep their job for at least another few months.

Saruman

Rarely have i been in a job that gives a bonus. Still, in the hotel industry they could at least offer everyone a free night or two for you and the family once its used at a non peak time that way they do not lose any money.

That aside, its not a right. I do not work directly in the hotel industry but my IT company looks after a lot of the large chain hotels and i know there have been a lot of cutbacks.
On the other side, it seems the nightclub business has up to double the numbers this Christmas as it did last year.

John Mason

i work for the government, have never received a bonus and ahve to pay for my own christmas party - not even one free drink

may be it is better to take the redundancy :rolleyes:

grahamo

Most people I know get a Christmas bonus. Lets face it they work hard enough for it and they all speak highly of their employers when they make this effort to show how much they appreciate their employees.
So it works both ways. Workers have some beer vouchers in their pocket to enjoy a couple of nights out over the Christmas and the employers lap up all the kudos.
Everyone's a winner.

MagicMarker

grahamo wrote: »

Most people I know get a Christmas bonus. Lets face it they work hard enough for it and they all speak highly of their employers when they make this effort to show how much they appreciate their employees.
So it works both ways. Workers have some beer vouchers in their pocket to enjoy a couple of nights out over the Christmas and the employers lap up all the kudos.
Everyone's a winner.

I wouldn't call beer vouchers a Christmas bonus tbh.

Buzz Buzz

MagicMarker wrote: »

I wouldn't call beer vouchers a Christmas bonus tbh.

Well if not part of your regular renumeration, then its a bonus right?!

We get a voucher where I work, its **** all and a **** store, but at least it acknowledges the fact that I'm constantly required to work through lunch and do overtime at the drop of a hat.

mountainyman

I've never received a christmas bonus or any bonus not linked to performance.

OP why not make and take your own bonus.

sadista

In my previous two jobs i got a bonus, the first gave me a weeks wages in store vouchers and the 2nd gave 2 weeks wages after 6 months employment, which was pretty decent of them considering they are a shower of Bast***s. In my current job we got a bottle of wine and a box of choccies and a free dinner voucher for the cafeteria. Not great but its better than a hard kick in the face.

PeakOutput

my dad works for a large company works his ass off and saves them millions every year. he earns a good salary(probably very good i dont know exactly) but its the bonus's that have been allowing a certain lifestyle to be led

year and a half ago they saw all this going to **** and stop paying bonus's to anyone in the company. so he is pissed off he hasnt been able to enjoy certain things for the last year and a half BUT he is more than gratefull for still having a job and if they had of kept paying bonus's to keep the employees happy, those same employees would probably be out of the job right now.

also alot of places give out vouchers as they are tax free up to a point, i find this funny as they will now usually give out 'one for all' vouchers that company makes more than 50% of their profit on people not using the vouchers within 6 months so the company is effectively just giving peoples bonus to this other company and people dont care :rolleyes:

corkgal1981

I work for An Post, we spend weeks paying out bonuses (thats a double week) to social welfare recipients and don't get any bonus ourselves!

Shelflife

Correct me if im wrong but if your working for the govt (an post, etc) your job is secure and your pension is topped up every year and you get the pay deals regardless of how efficient your dept actually is ??

i wouldnt complain about no bonus if thats the case.

Mr Ed

When i went looking for a pay rise earlier this year, after years of none and after working my balls off in particular this year. I was told that my previous christmas bonus was always considered part of my gross salary.

Since i didn't always get the bonus, probably 2 out of 5 previous years, am i entitled to claim for the years when i didn't receive it?

I wouldn't mind but i worked my balls off this year to ensure everything went well which it did and i didn't even get a thank you. Before anyone starts, i certainly wasn't paid for working up to 16 hour days. Its very demoralising and really makes you wonder.

PeakOutput

anyone who asks for a rise in this climate is mad but as regards the bonus if its in your contract that your due this extra payment every xmas no matter what then of course you can claim it. it more likely says its a personal performance and company performance related bonus in which case its their decision when they pay

BostonB

Mr Ed wrote: »

... I was told that my previous christmas bonus was always considered part of my gross salary...

And of course you asked them to clarifiy such a vague comment in writing and in your contract?

corkgal1981

Shelflife wrote: »

Correct me if im wrong but if your working for the govt (an post, etc) your job is secure and your pension is topped up every year and you get the pay deals regardless of how efficient your dept actually is ??

i wouldnt complain about no bonus if thats the case.

I don't work for the government. An Post is a regular company sice 1984. We carry out services for some government agencies and this is because we are contracted to (eg National Treasury). Anyway, history of An Post is not the point here, we all work on contract, 2 people were let go in the last five months and more contracts are not being renewed in January. Our jobs are anything but secure, its up to ourselves to take out a pension and as for 'pay deals'??? Never heard the phrase at work.

MysticalSoul

At least you were told that you were not getting a bonus. I wasn't told, and didn't find out that I wasn't getting it until our last day before the hols. IMHO, that is bang out of order, as it seemed to be a guarantee with the way it was worded into the contract.

homeOwner

The staff in Anglo Irish bank got bonuses and pay rises a few weeks ago.

Obviously their industry isnt suffering.

Oh wait...didnt they get bailed out by our taxes......so I guess we paid their bonuses this year.

Kintarō Hattori

Wow after reading this thread I feel quite chuffed. Working in retail I got a bonus this year (which I wasn't expecting all things considered) of two weeks wages.

ShadowHearth

Well. like i was expeting, we did not get anything. And one thing is even more sader now. "Palas foods" ( our suplier) gave to all chefs a small gift, smallest gifts were: A bottle of wine, new uniform. head chef got alot more ofc.

So our suppliers managed give us some " gift", and we did not got a jack sh*t from hotel owners, not even thank you. And this year was really crazy, i am still on 9 days working streak, some of those days i am working 13.5h hours with 30 min brake.Some days I was finishing at 23:00, and next day i was 6:45 in kitchen again serving breakfast!

When i sow the amount of people we served, i ask myself... Where the hell is that resetion? Hotel did made alot of money... If they will start moaning that they had bad xmas season, they will diserve only a spit in to theyr faces.

p.s mine misses worked only half weak, before xmas, got payed for full weak and 1 weaks wages extra...

BostonB

A lot of business used 9/11 crisis to cut costs when they weren't that badly effected. I'm sure the current recession will be the same.
That said I think most business would be wise to be putting money in the bank at the moment. Who knows what new year will bring.
No point getting a bonus if you're out of a job in a month or so.

dubger

Anyone please help. My contract states that i will be given after a year 3000 Euros bonus according to my performance. I have asked the company to give me the criteria for performance. Never gave me. Now a year passed away. I went to asking them for my bonus. Company tells that it is based on performance. Do i have a claim on my bonus if they havent given me the criteria?

Otis Driftwood

How often did you ask them?

The onus is on you to get this kind of information.

You would probably be wise to talk to a union rep (if you have one) or possibly an employment law specialist about the specifics of your contract.