Holiday Bonus

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2018

I've gotten an email that basically said we were lucky to have a job.

I got an email on Thanksgiving one year when I worked in the hospital that basically said "you should be thankful you work here."

It also singled out pretty much every profession in the hospital except for nursing. It said something like "whether you're the surgeon reconnecting a child's intestines or the person who cleans the floors of the OR, the person who draws the patient's blood vs the person who interprets it in the lab, the administrator who checks the patient in or the person working in the finance office, we are thankful for you."

The same hospital did occasionally give out small ($250-$500) bonuses to all employees at the end of the year. It depended on the hospital's financial situation as it was a non-profit institution and non-profit institutions must invest all profits they earn back into the business.

My home health job usually mailed us $25 Macy's gift cards. I think I still have a stack of them in my wallet. Once I used them to buy a wedding shower gift for my friend's sister.

My last job, I was eligible for quarterly bonuses of $2000. We were lucky if we got one bonus/year. And if we met our targets and did earn a bonus, they raised the targets to something completely unattainable for the next quarter.

I am not expecting a holiday bonus at my current job.

Persephone Paige, ADN · Dec 17, 2018

If we work a holiday we get a PTO day. Which is fine for me. Screw the money, I have an objective which is to work as few days as possible and still get paid. Don't get me wrong, I like taking care of people. But the coworkers that constantly call in 'sick', leaving the floor short staffed and the 4:1 patient ratio I was told about during my interview nonexistent, make that difficult. It's always 6:1... The best thing about a 6:1 ratio is that I'm so busy, the days go by quickly.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2018

As mentioned in a previous post - my PRN job eliminated several positions for the holidays.. meanwhile they are buying up and joining with everyone they can.

My full time job typically gives a $100 visa card we can use anywhere. It does get added to our paycheck for taxing.

softrbreeze · Dec 17, 2018

I believe my company gives out "points." After you've saved up enough points, you can use them to purchase something from a catalog. Of course you need an ungodly amount of points to do so LOL

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2018

I believe my company gives out "points." After you've saved up enough points, you can use them to purchase something from a catalog. Of course you need an ungodly amount of points to do so LOL

My mom saved up her "points" for a couple years and bought a deli counter style meat slicer. Sliced meat all around that Christmas!

Ddestiny, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2018

Haven't received anything yet for this year but this is my 4th December at my hospital and each year I've received a $25 gift card to a grocery store for being a FT employee. I'm not one to voice complaints about it at work, but it's kind of sad when you compare it to the fact that in 2009-10 I was getting the same thing from a LTC home where I worked as a CNA/CMA. It was a bit more impactful as a "bonus" when the $25 was 2.5 hours' worth of pay, vs now when it's less than 1 hour's worth of pay. *shrug*

balletomane, ADN, RN · Dec 17, 2018

Does a ham/turkey/dessert tray count?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 17, 2018

40+ year nursing career -- several different hospitals in different states. Never got a significant end-of-year or holiday bonus.

We get a free meal and a cheap little Christmas ornament.

djh123 · Dec 17, 2018

I believe my company gives out "points." After you've saved up enough points, you can use them to purchase something from a catalog. Of course you need an ungodly amount of points to do so LOL

In my workplace, we'd probably need to use those 'points' to buy supplies. :^)

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Dec 17, 2018

I haven't seen a bonus in over 15 years. I didn't even know that they were still a thing

mtnviews · Dec 17, 2018

I work at two hospitals and both give annual bonuses. My full time place does an annual bonus, though it's soon after the financial year is over (which ends June 30th), I forget it's something like $300 for a full timer 40 hours a week before taxes. The other does an annual bonus in the holiday season which is $3000 for full timers, and is also based on hours worked. Mine was $600 for being pretty casual PRN (and a grocery store gift card for my holiday meal).

SaltineQueen · Dec 17, 2018

$.25 x 2080 hours = $520
Why is it silly? I'm just pointing out what it costs to give a bonus that amount,

Because bonuses are taxed at a higher rate than regular income. Maybe you'll some of that back, maybe not. Depends on your tax situation.