Do you give your household staff a Christmas bonus

[BercowsFestiveFlamingo]

From the maids and the cook to the butler and the chauffeur it's getting to be a rather dear do these days what with the leaks in the old roof and the terrible state of the stable block I might have to sell off some of the family jewels.
I suppose one is expected to give one's staff a Christmas bonus but is it really necessary? There's tradition and then there's one's roof and its leaks. Not to mention the damage Great Aunt Annie did to the ruddy estate wall after an ill-advised mixture of tequila and the gardener's ride-on mower. She always was a rum one and that trip to Mexico has a lot to answer for.
Anyway, I digress, back to the question in hand: bonuses-yes or no? They are a good bunch apart from that time they had a soirée orgy in the lodge and had raided the wine cellar and pantry. Great uncle Albert and the cook have not seen eye to eye since. Probably best after the eye-full of her nether regions he got went he went to investigate the noise.
Alas, I fear I may cause a rumpus if the usual bonus is not there this year.

I let them use the billiards room in the West Wing for an hour on Christmas Day. I think that's more than enough of a gift.

@OpalOwl

I buy DH a present if thats what you mean.

🤣🤣🤣

If they did more at this time of year I could understand the reasoning behind a Christmas bonus, but as they already have a good few hours of Christmas day off I couldn't condone it.

I can't believe what I'm reading, with most of you treating your employer's like slaves poor people, still hoping most of the people that have written on this thread is joking 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈.

Yes….the bonus of still being in my employment come the New Year!

Is the whole family assembling at your country pile OP? Is snow forecast that will prevent anyone leaving? Will the power fail meaning you have to use candlelight?

On no account at any point sit alone behind your green baize desk in the study with a dagger-style letter opener before you or a revolver in the left hand drawer.

No, they'd only spend it on drink! Instead we allow them to gather to listen to DH read from Fordyce's Sermons as a special treat.

No, absolutely not. 'Low cost, high value' gestures of appreciation are better received. I allow Cook to make pastries on Christmas Day so we can help ourselves to breakfast on Boxing Day and the staff get a lie-in.

Have you considered giving them a Velvetiser ?

Why take the piss? Many people have cleaners, or employ a gardener once or twice a month, either due to physical ability or lack of time.

Yes we pay our cleaner an extra weeks wages at Christmas.

You think it’s funny?

You think it’s funny?

Obviously... but then humor is subjective. Perhaps this isn't the light hearted thread for you.

@Bluntness100

Why take the piss? Many people have cleaners, or employ a gardener once or twice a month, either due to physical ability or lack of time.

Yes we pay our cleaner an extra weeks wages at Christmas.

You think it’s funny?

I do think it's quite funny. I'm too working class to have household "staff", smacks too much of upstairs, downstairs to me. And I definitely haven't got the house for it, sadly!

@SleepingStandingUp

Maybe I should tip the lady you delivers all my Amazon parcels....

I think you might be on to something...

Also loving the pps still leaving out beer and cash to the bin men. Growing up, my parents tipped everyone at Christmas, from the postman to the paperboy. It seems largely to have died out.

I write all my staff a personal poem expressing my observations on their unique qualities.

That’s so much more valuable to them than actual cash. They’d only waste it.

Instead they can be warm all year basking in the glow of my appreciation.

Thank you cards etc
Money
A smile
Gift cards
A personal recommendation letter written by me
A tin of biscuits
A box of chocolates
A bottle of wine
A copy of a new book gifted to me

Mine all get Christmas Day afternoon off from 3pm - 5pm. I think that is quite sufficient.

Looks like someone didn't get the memo.

@ZaZathecat

Mine all get Christmas Day afternoon off from 3pm - 5pm. I think that is quite sufficient.

Bloody hell, how do you cope? Who is serving post Speech tea?

@Babyghirl

I can't believe what I'm reading, with most of you treating your employer's like slaves poor people, still hoping most of the people that have written on this thread is joking 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈.

No. Deadly serious. We don't joke about our staff, they're human beings after all...

The advantageous timing of not giving one's staff anything until Boxing Day is that I have time to go through my own haul of presents and decide what to regift to the staff.

Loving the framed picture suggestion. So thoughtful!

Of course, six pieces of coal (each) for use in their quarters. They're often overcome with emotion - it sometimes renders them speechless.

On the years when I haven't had my hand forced by their behavior to gift "forbearance", I usually let them go half an hour early on Christmas eve.
Then on boxing day I allow them to use the hoover to clear up as usually we prefer the staff to use them old fashioned eco methods of dust pans and brush.

Gave a cleaner extra money and three presents. I have offered to help her with some translating, which is separate from Christmas so I will give her a bottle of wine then also.

I must leave out some money for the milk lady.

I'm pretty sure my children consider me their maid. DH takes them shopping for a gift for me.