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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:
Nancydrawn · 13/12/2020 00:09

As everyone says, it varies wildly. In my non-performance based bonus jobs, I've had between £25 and £3,000. I've also had it paid in time, e.g. a week's extra paid leave. Performance based jobs an entirely different story; I have tech/finance/law friends who make up to 150% of their annual salary as a bonus.

Perhaps the strangest Christmas bonus I ever had was a frozen turkey, two weeks before Christmas. The (retired) founder got one for everyone. We had no notice, so I had to take it home on the bus with me. I didn't even have a bag to carry it, so I had to hold it in my lap like a small child. I got very skeptical looks. My freezer wasn't big enough, so I ended up having turkey all December.

StCharlotte · 13/12/2020 00:09

Last year I got £100 John Lewis vouchers and an extra £100 (after tax and NI) in my pay. I'd only been there three months. This year I was pleasantly surprised to get £650 in my pay, as did everyone who worked through. Those who were furloughed got less. They didn't do the vouchers this year as they weren't sure what would be open which proved wise.

Mind you reviews went for a burton as they were due in April.

DH normally gets a couple of hundred in an envelope.

BluebellsAndBees · 13/12/2020 00:17

It definitely varies from company to company. For years I never had any Christmas Bonus. DP always gets about £250/£300 paid with the wages, although its a lot less after taxes. I had my first and last Christmas Bonus last year, £1.2k and an apology for not being more but I had been there less than a year. Nearly fell off my chair. Can't begin to imagine what the rest of the team got. That's all gone now, as changed jobs last month.

bombaychef · 13/12/2020 00:19

Nothing and pay freeze. Never heard of any one getting more than £10-25 xmas treat

BashfulClam · 13/12/2020 00:34

In one job it was £100 cash in hand but that is the only job I’ve had a Christmas bonus in.

chestnutshell · 13/12/2020 00:50

It depends - what sector? Job?

I get £100 Christmas bonus if I’m lucky (third sector - and not this year due to covid). DH gets thousands depending on performance (private sector - large firm). Friends I have can get up to 50% of their pay depending on industry. It’s really variable.

CliffordDanger · 13/12/2020 00:54

We got a Toblerone

DustyMaiden · 13/12/2020 00:59

DH usually gets a few grand, this year he got made redundant.

MadameBlobby · 13/12/2020 01:01

I’ve never had a bonus. In my last job we got nice presents though. I’ve heard of varying amounts from a token amount up to a week or two weeks pay

RayOfSunshine2013 · 13/12/2020 01:07

@firstimemamma

NHS frontline so bugger all.
This.. Might get a bonus tub of celebrations from the big boss if he’s feeling particularly kind
caringcarer · 13/12/2020 01:58

I got a nice unexpected hamper delivered to my home in July. Just after first lockdown finished to thank us for working through pandemic. DH only gets occasional bonus if he is at end of project and it is successful. No Xmas meals this year though.

MrDarcyismines · 13/12/2020 03:27

My husband always says never expect a bonus and if you get one it really is a bonus!!

I work in retail. We get about £300 usually but this year it'll be about £500 due to working our asses off during the pandemic.

ClarenceBoddicker · 13/12/2020 03:37

Depends on your job. Mine does involve a bonus but it’s a kind of an expected thing in your calculations rather than like that’s nice. Wasn’t expecting that. What a ‘bonus’. Christmas wise nowt as not paid it then. Associate a Christmas bonus with low paid jobs (not supposed to be an insult) as is usually like couple of hundred which

ClarenceBoddicker · 13/12/2020 03:39

I’d think my business was wasting money with Xmas gifts and just say stop being proliferate snd just give us a better bonus

ClarenceBoddicker · 13/12/2020 03:42

My industry bonus is 50 to 200% of your base salary so less of a nice gift and more of something which everyone factors into their package and total reunumerstion

YeahItsJackie · 13/12/2020 05:03

@DustyMaiden

DH usually gets a few grand, this year he got made redundant.
Flowers i was feeling bitter re. My NHS chocolate, but this puts it into perspective
DryRoastPeanut · 13/12/2020 05:18

Where I am now I get nothing. My last job I got about the equivalent of 80% of one weeks wage. (£400) I’ve worked for places where £35/40 was the norm. My DH gets four figures and agin later in the year, his last job was five figures, so asking for an average is not going to get you a very helpful answer.
Just wait for a nice surprise.

PurBal · 13/12/2020 05:49

In a previous job I got £20 but nothing now, DH usually gets a few hundred. BIL £10k. Depends on the job, we all earn roughly the same basic. I think BIL is contractual whereas DH isn't.

swissmummy12345 · 13/12/2020 06:20

In Switzerland your annual salary is divided by 13, you are paid each month and in December you get a double pay month. On top of that a performance bonus of 10% so 18k and 10k of shares.

Onedropbeat · 13/12/2020 06:34

I used to get a few grand at Christmas but nothing this year

DH might get £500 if we’re lucky

I think it’s a shame companies who decide they can’t afford bonuses this year can’t even stretch to a bottle of wine or a £50 voucher as a thank you

Wellyouknowbest · 13/12/2020 06:49

Nothing here, I'm in a care home. Not been off all year, covered sickness, extremely short staffed, not even a thank you. The first year (when it was managed by a different company, that was 4 years ago) we got a cup and some cheap chocolates, but nothing so far this year. But I'm sure the managers will get a treat from head office....

TheKeatingFive · 13/12/2020 07:17

€500 in vouchers and a hamper. I’m in Ireland and it’s tax efficient to give this amount. In previous jobs I got bigger bonuses, but a smaller Christmas gift.

kitschplease · 13/12/2020 07:26

We got a few days extra annual leave which saves on childcare, freeing up money from there.

earlydoors42 · 13/12/2020 08:02

M6 husband's company give a % of all profit made by the company over a set target. This is divided between all staff, but for those who joined part way through the year (like my husband) it is pro-rated. It's also taxed! We worked out it will be about £30, which is better than nothing

Spidey66 · 13/12/2020 08:12

An9ther NHS frontline, so nothing. I want to live in Scotland where it seems Nicola Srurgeon actually appreciates what we did during the pandemic.