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.

Obvious jokes are obvious.

Irl everyone who comes to my home regularly to provide labor to make my life run more easily have been handed envelopes with cash.

I understand Her Majesty the Queen gives al her staff a Christmas pudding in a ceramic bowl - which they're actually allowed to keep!

That reminds me I bought my cook some new oven gloves for her Christmas present because her old ones are so thin she keeps burning her hands on the Aga.

There were tears of gratitude in her eyes as she accepted them.

I told her not to worry, I’ll spread the cost out over several weeks so she will barely notice the difference in her wages. She’ll have paid them off by the late May bank holiday, just in time for her birthday present (a new rolling pin).

I hope she’s more careful with this set of gloves. Due to her carelessness the old ones lasted less than 20 years!

Yes. Half an hour ago I gave our cleaner her usual pay plus a cash gift, a Christmas card and a bottle of wine, and thanked her for another year of great work.
She's exceptionally thorough, reliable, trustworthy. We're very lucky to have her.

They get new uniforms and an orange each and are very grateful.

I AM the staff darling

This year I've really spoilt myself, a delayed pcr result and a little more rest than usual.

Chin chin

We like to pay them a visit in their charming hovels and gift the urchin children a satsuma each. They are moved to tears.

@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 read the OP as light hearted and jokey and responded in kind.

As I'll be working all over Christmas as the "staff" of society for a bottle of cheap wine it was nice to have something a bit light hearted to start my day.
Apologies for getting above my station.

I only have one member of staff although he is pretty multifunctional. If he is lucky and brings me a cup of tea in bed on Christmas morning he might get a Christmas shag, because giving him actual money is so vulgar.

One item of their own choosing from a carton filled with gaudy items entitled "Celebrations" and a monogrammed lithograph of the hound.

Anything more would be an extravagance and these are straitened times.

Rep22 I admire your benevolence. I am touched by the effort you put into actually letting them choose and from something labeled "celebration" that's really touching 😍🎄

@Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas

Rep22 I admire your benevolence. I am touched by the effort you put into actually letting them choose and from something labeled "celebration" that's really touching 😍🎄

God bless you. It was the least I could do. Quite literally. .

Seasons greetings! x

@DoncasterHombre

I only clip them round the ear once on Christmas morning instead of the usual two they get every other day of the year.

Please don’t even joke about this. It’s awful. Degrading and not funny at all.

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

It’s not funny at all. It’s in fact downright ugly and I don’t understand how people can talk about others like this.

But then I guess you perhaps have to have staff at home to understand what it’s all about and the respect people who make a huge difference to your life deserve.

Im embarrassed to say that we are having to let some staff go. I don't know how we are going to manage without an under butler or valet but DH has been at the gaming tables at his gentleman's club and has had a poor run of luck.

It’s not funny at all. It’s in fact downright ugly and I don’t understand how people can talk about others like this.

You think people are posting about their actual butlers and cooks? Ok then....

The people who actually got the point of the thread are posting amusing satire about fictional staff in an imaginary manor house life. Everyone else is either frothing in horror because they didn't get the joke, or posting perfectly nice things about tipping/giving gifts to actual binmen or cleaners because they also didn't get the joke.

I'd have thought people would have got the hang of this kind of thread by now (and scrolled on by if they don't find it funny!).

You think people are posting about their actual butlers and cooks? grin Ok then....

I don’t for a minute think they’re posting about their own staff.

They are however making a mockery out of people who do these jobs for a living.

The people who actually got the point of the thread are posting amusing satire about fictional staff in an imaginary manor house life

Domestic violence? Amusing?

Jesus. Very funny thread, interrupted by people who take things absolutely literally, and have no sense of humour.

Our staff are allowed to stand facing us as we walk through the house on Christmas Day, instead of having to turn to the wall. The expressions on their faces are all the thanks we need.

Just like HM, we give each and everyone man jack of them a Christmas pudding. Tescos, finest naturally.

@CariadWelshcake

You think people are posting about their actual butlers and cooks? grin Ok then....

I don’t for a minute think they’re posting about their own staff.

They are however making a mockery out of people who do these jobs for a living.

No they're not at all. They're mocking the people who treat their staff like this.

I do tip the bin men, recyling men and post man. But I missed them all this morning as I for they decided to come early for once while I was at the post office.

@CariadWelshcake

You think people are posting about their actual butlers and cooks? grin Ok then....

I don’t for a minute think they’re posting about their own staff.

They are however making a mockery out of people who do these jobs for a living.

Far from it.

We are taking the piss out of the ungrateful upper class twits who employ them.

I'm sure the feline overlords will grace their staff with some form of seasonal bounty again this year.

Fortunately, as it's been a tinsel and glitter free establishment for a while, it will no longer be one of the sparkly disco poo variety.

I don't employ staff, I am staff. I have four cats...

Cats will enslave us all in the end. I used to work in a vets; I've seen the signs. Purring is them saying "Rise, my feline brethren... the hour approaches." The revolution will be swift and silent.