To want to be passive aggressive rather than gracious?

[DoingItForTheKid]

I achieved something outstanding at work. Line management were verbally grateful but it was a direct report that bought me a gift to celebrate.

It's now a few years later and I'm expecting a similar achievement. When I inform management, I want to sign off with something along the lines of "I'm off to treat myself now."

Can you think of a good PA quip, or a gracious one for me to use?

Why bother being passive aggressive when it would be much more effective and to point if you just stamp your feet and demand a gold star on your rewards chart?

Either your employer/ higher ups already values your work enough day to day, ie with good feedback, pay rises, promotions etc in which case a present seems unnecessary, or they don't in which case a present would feel a slap in the face to me.

God you lot are miserable today!!!

I think it's nice / admirable for a manager to reward staff for a (presumably) huge achievement like a qualification or similar?! There's a huge industry solely around reward and recognition for employees so its not exactly an 'entitled' thing to ask for.

Surely it's part of good management to understand what motivates your staff and also what they consider to be landmark achievements. It follows then that it's good for personal development, team morale and company performance to reward / praise those individuals!

However, if OP doesn't work in that kind of organisation then I'd say there's not much you can do apart from yes, acknowledge your own pride about the achievement and find a suitable reward for yourself.

Enjoy it OP and ignore the 'payment for work done is enough' Scrooges on the thread.

It follows then that it's good for personal development, team morale and company performance to reward / praise those individuals!

OP was praised though Line management were verbally grateful.

Congrats on the achievements OP.

I would try not to worry about what your company rewards you with. Be proud of yourself and treat yourself to something special.

If you feel like the achievement is relevant to your professional progression, raise it at your next performance review

If your direct report chooses to do it, that's their choice. Management would be setting a precedent that they'd have to repeat every time.

"a few years later" ?? FGS let it go!

I really hope this one makes it to Mumsnet Madness.

Nothing wrong with saying you're really proud of XX and sharing credit with anyone who helped you, but the treat thing seems ....odd. I have a mental image of you whizzing off for a manicure to congratulate yourself. What do you want? And is it something they usually dish out to people who achieve something?

How about lying on the floor, crying, banging your hands and feet on the floor, and screaming 'WHERE'S MY MEDAL??!! I WANT MY MEDAL!!!'...?

Hahaha this is a bit weird. Even if there's a culture of rewarding achievements with gifts from management and you were overlooked (or even they deliberately didn't buy you one last time for some reason), they're not going to remember years later. You're being precious, soz.

😆 You sound crackers!
Honestly if you pull the PA line with management, don't expect to ever receive any outstanding achievement or whatever it was again!

@slashlover

When I inform management, I want to sign off with something along the lines of "I'm off to treat myself now."

If you said that to me than I wouldn't take it as PA, I'd just reply "Okay, have fun!"

This! Bizarre to think a gift is owed for doing your job (even if you do it well) or that a passive aggressive reply is appropriate. Or that what you suggested is passive aggressive... all very odd!

Who gets gifts for a job well done??? i don't... :'(

About 10 years ago I did a thing that saved my employer (a charity) £5m. I did get a bonus that year...£50. And it was taxed 😂

Is it something done in your own time? Or done in the company's. I would feel slightly more entitled if it was the former.

Surely being paid to do your job is your reward? They've already verbally praised you, which is more than some employers do.

What special treatment do you want? If you expect or ask for any then you will just look like a tit.

@Handsnotwands

About 10 years ago I did a thing that saved my employer (a charity) £5m. I did get a bonus that year...£50. And it was taxed 😂

What the actual fuck😂 I wouldn't be doing anything for them again

Maybe a new sticker for your chart?

Blimey. I used to work in a team where if you weren’t a high achiever ALL the time, you’d be marked down at your appraisal as needing to improve.

It'd be outing to give more detail but yes, I have changed sector so that's a lot to do with it I guess.

I'm glad you all feel fairly rewarded in your roles, and I mean that sincerely, not in a PA way. I hope that's not the MN demographic in a parallel universe again.

I enjoy what I do which is why I put in a lot of toil to achieve similar again, and because it is the right thing to do.

Thanks to the PP who congratulated me on the achievement.

And yes, I'm totally bonkers!!!

I’m HR and you sound like my worst nightmare

Congratulations on your achievement.

In my company we can give monetary recognition for achievements, so a adhoc bonus for a good job, So if your company provide similar recognition schemes and you've not received I can see why your upset. But if your expecting your boss to buy gift out of their own pocket your definitely being unreasonable.

I’m not sure a passive aggressive comment will land several years after an incident where, presumably, your bosses felt they’d done the right thing by thanking you for a job well done.