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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Average Christmas bonus?

324 replies

Legalhelp · 12/12/2020 21:13

My dp started a new job 6 months ago and colleagues have said they generally get a bonus at Christmas.
Times have been very hard recently, but we’ve managed to set money back to get all DD’s Christmas presents, decorations etc.
The Christmas bonus received will be the difference between a tight Christmas meal etc with a few nice bits or a relaxed couple of weeks for us at home.
Is there an average Christmas bonus for staff generally, percentage wise? Is it generally £50 in an envelope or a few hundred or is it completely different according to each company?
Dp doesn’t want to enquire about it and go just wait and see.

OP posts:
motherofawhirlwind · 12/12/2020 21:47

I get a 10% profit share bonus but that's paid in March. Usually have a fully funded Xmas party and a team lunch too. This year we're getting hampers instead.

hansgrueber · 12/12/2020 21:47

Never had one having always worked in the public sector, we even paid for our own Christmas drinks.

Mousehole10 · 12/12/2020 21:48

My DHs company has ranged from £100 to £2000 and completely depends on how well the company has done that year. This year it’s £300 as like many companies finances have been affected by covid. They do have a rule though that you don’t get it until you’ve worked there a year so he might want to check the company terms for bonuses! Also remember it’s taxed so you won’t get the full amount.

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 12/12/2020 21:49

Civil service and never had a bonus. But whatever it is OP I hope you and DH enjoy spending it and get a lot of enjoyment out of whatever you spend it on.

ramblingsonthego · 12/12/2020 21:49

My Xmas bonus this year was redundancy, so my advice is don't expect the bonus, don't plan for it and anything is a nice bonus then.

bitheby · 12/12/2020 21:50

@DartmoorChef

DP gets a pasty off his bosses. 🙄

Does he work for Greggs?

HermioneWeasley · 12/12/2020 21:50

I think you are getting your hopes up and you really shouldn’t. There’s no standard, and even thinking about ideas like a month’s wages it just setting you up to be disappointed

Original poster
Legalhelp · 12/12/2020 21:50

@timeforanewstart They don’t get paid for when they don’t work, it’s complicated but in the contract, we’re in another country so it may be different. It’s pretty stressful as we need to make sure we set money back, but with only being there a fairly short time and still catching up with a few bills, we’ve not been able to set back the full half a months wage. It would have made a huge difference and a great Christmas, but, he has a job and it pays okay so we’re grateful for that at this moment.

OP posts:
Thisismylife1 · 12/12/2020 21:50

How’s he not being paid over Xmas? Is he an employee? If not an employee I wouldn’t expect a bonus

Asiama · 12/12/2020 21:51

My dad used to work for a large company and received £25 in vouchers. I work for a large company too and normally get nothing, this year I'm getting £50 in vouchers instead of a Christmas party. DH normally gets nothing but this year got some alcohol.

FrenchyQ · 12/12/2020 21:52

We normally get 10% of our salary, but we've been told there will be no bonuses this year.

Standrewsschool · 12/12/2020 21:52

Bottle of wine

Pipandmum · 12/12/2020 21:52

Why doesn't just ask his friends? I mean it surely depends on the company. I've never received one.

whatkatydid2013 · 12/12/2020 21:53

Massively varies. Between us OH & I have got anything from a £50 shopping voucher and over £10k. We’ve also had jobs where you don’t get one.

userxx · 12/12/2020 21:53

A bonus is a bonus and not to be banked on. I think many people will be having a very quiet Xmas this year.

Rose789 · 12/12/2020 21:53

£50 highstreet voucher
£500 just before Christmas but then taxed on December’s payslip
Plus a gift off my line manager
And an extra days annual leave.

Last year (same company) I got a £1 selection box and a Christmas card

lioncitygirl · 12/12/2020 21:54

Depends where you work. Banking? Loads. Retail? Prob very little.

YakkityYakYakYak · 12/12/2020 21:55

It really varies. I think companies that do meaningful bonuses tend to do them at the end of the financial year, and performance based. So Christmas bonuses are more of a token gesture.

We all got £1000 this year, but I’ve never had a bonus before in this job (been there 6 years) or any other. I think it was really a one off to say thanks after a particularly tough year in which we all had to cut our pay to avoid redundancies.

DH got a crate of beer in the post.

Original poster
Legalhelp · 12/12/2020 21:56

@Thisismylife1 He’s an employee, I’m not sure I have to have Dp explain it to me, it’s a pain in the arse but is what it is and the job pays well and is much needed at the mo.

OP posts:
InTheLongGrass · 12/12/2020 21:56

Assume you are getting nothing. And if you do get some extra money, its bonus to the Christmas finances.

Peppafrig · 12/12/2020 21:56

I got £300 just eat vouchers

InTheNightWeWillWish · 12/12/2020 21:56

Honestly, it’s just best to wait and see. I understand wanting to plan something out but just because colleagues say they get a bonus, it doesn’t mean they will this year.

A bonus is usually based on company performance but can also be based on individual performance. A bonus is discretionary. A Christmas gift such as a voucher or bottle of wine is also different to a bonus. If the gifts are under certain values they are non-taxable but a bonus is subject to the same deductions as your salary. For those on salaries just below thresholds for the next tax percentage, bonuses may push them over. A Christmas gift to the same value would be given to all employees but a bonus can be different amounts based on seniority, department performance and individual performance. DH’s work tell them to keep their bonus private because people will get differing amounts (not this year) based on their performance. Your husband’s work may also not give bonuses to employees in their first year of employment. If a Christmas gift, it may be a voucher up to the limit of £50 (as that’s the limit for tax), perhaps a bottle of wine, some chocolates and a voucher or maybe a couple of £50 vouchers if they are feeling generous.

helloxhristmas · 12/12/2020 21:57

@whatkatydid2013

Massively varies. Between us OH & I have got anything from a £50 shopping voucher and over £10k. We’ve also had jobs where you don’t get one.
This for me too. This year it's nothing, but been allowed to roll over extra days leave.

I have in the past had 7k pre financial crash but I've also had nothing.

MistletoeandGin · 12/12/2020 21:58

It entirely depends on the company. I’ve had everything from a box of Thornton’s chocolates, to a £50 M&S voucher to £18k (although that was performance related). I’m not sure anyone can really help as every company will be different.
Best to assume it’s a token amount, then it’ll be a welcome surprise if it’s more.

Finfintytint · 12/12/2020 21:58

£1k normally for DH but this year it’s a hamper that’s worth about 50 quid. It depends on company profits. My public sector work paid an extra £1k at Christmas due to additional responsibilities I took on so not really a bonus but nice at this time of year.