'The boss couldn't be mad or retaliate': Workers collectively send thoughtless gifts straight back to their boss

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jan 11, 2024 7:00 AM EST

Working is all about time: clock-in, clock-out, lunchtime, break time, taking a ten, filling in a timesheet, etc., etc. Still, while you might think a watch would be a great gift for keeping track of all of that time… It depends on the watch, and whatever watch your company gives to you says a lot about how you feel about them… Is it a Rolex? Timex? Seiko? Patek Philippe? Or is it just some random piece of junk they got from the bargain bin at the dollar store? One thing's for sure, if you're going to give your employees crapy gifts like secondhand goods, you'd better watch out… because that's going to just tick them off, and then the good times will be far behind you.

This employer saw fit to give their workers an almost insultingly bad gift. They got what was coming to 'em when the workers banded together to send their thoughtless gifts back to their boss.

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  • 01
    Posted by u/explorer-matt 1 day ago Christmas 'bonuses' returned by staff This is my mother-in-law's story. We will call her Kate. It happened about 15-20 years ago. Kate is a very nice woman. Works hard. Doesn't push things. She worked at a nursing home for a while. She was general help - cleaned, helped people, whatever. Pretty low on the totem pole - as were most people. It's a pretty thankless job.
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  • 02
    Her boss was rarely around. The workers such as herself handled all the worst stuff - including things well above their pay grade. Christmas comes around and her boss gets a nice bonus. The boss then turns around gives all the workers at the nursing home a 'bonus' for their hard work. The bonus turns out to be a gift - a watch. A crappy, crappy watch - the kind that costs no more than a dollar or two (if that). These are just ultra cheap and tacky.
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  • 03
    Now, Kate is not a confrontational person. She works hard, keeps her head down - doesn't like conflict. But this I her off. So she helped organize all the other workers, and every single one of them put their 'gifts' into a box - which was then wrapped up and given to the boss as a Christmas gift from the nursing home staff. Someone set a big box on the boss' desk - packed with all the junk he had given them.
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  • 04
    The best part was that EVERY person at the facility tossed in their watch. It was a big, collective middle finger, and the boss couldn't be mad or retaliate at anyone person. My MIL was kind of freaked out by what she helped organize - as she's so non confrontational. But she (and me and wife) were proud of her.
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  • 05
    She didn't last too much longer that place. Megacheap. Sadly, the bosses are all about cutting costs - so they paid crappy wages and pushed limits to cut costs. MIL couldn't stand seeing how they treated the people - both workers and residents.
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  • 06
    Rolaid-Tommassi · 1 day ago Good for her. Sadly, this seems to be a common story nowadays; managers who receive a bonus for cutting costs and increasing profits. Nothing wrong with that but it incentivises bad results for the organisation. And, as you say, doesn't filter down to the actual workers. EXPLORERS POICAST 228 Reply Share 99 explorer-matt OP. 1 day ago The neglect at nursing homes is awful. Just cheap and more cheap. Squeeze out profit. ●●● Reply Share
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  • 07
    Threethumber - 1 day ago I once had an old boss hand me a 25 dollar gift card for a turkey at a run down grocery. As he was shaking my hand i seen what it was and handed it back to him. I told him I already have my turkey picked out and I would never shop at such a cheap store. Ge tried to guffaw at that when another guy spoke up and reminded him of the all the closures from improper food storage and bug infestations. 40 Reply Share
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  • 08
    lysurgical 1 day ago Years ago I worked for a skinflint that gave us all a "ham" for our Christmas bonus. Not a real ham, but one of those manufactured hams made from bits of pork pressed into the shape of a real ham. On sale that week at Kroger for $7.99. I went to the store and bought a real ham and donated both the real one and the fake ham to the local food bank. Not really revenge, but it did make me feel a little better. 24 Reply Share
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  • 09
    jmwilliams 1 day ago Well, of all the cheap lousy ways to save a buck! 25 Reply Share ... bluepear 1 day ago I appreciate this comment. In the midst of all this heartache, I thank you for the smile. All the four- flushing in this world need to receive the justice they deserve. 46 Reply Share
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  • 10
    beerferri 19 hr. ago I worked for a company that gave gifts for years of service. Big awards ceremony every year. Party for everyone with dinner and a room to sleep over at a very nice hotel. Open bar and dancing until 2 am. Had to be million dollars or more with the venue, food, drinks, prizes, etc.
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  • 11
    Company was huge. I can't remember what the 10, 15 year awards were, but the 20 year service award sticks out. A bowl. It was a nice bowl. It was a Tiffany and made of crystal. Probably worth thousands. They gave out around 4 I think to recipients who were visibly unimpressed. The next morning one of those bowls was on the sidewalk out front for everyone to see. Smashed to bits. 20 Reply Share
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  • 12
    CoderJoel 1 day ago Boss needs to watch out. 20 Reply Share
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  • 13
    Grouchy-Ad4338 1 day ago Good one. Must have been quite an effort for her to get everyone to return the watch - typically you would have a few who would stay back so that they can look good. She should be proud of herself. By the way, how did the boss take it? Did it embarrass him? Would be good to know how did it go when he opened the box? -EXPLORERS CRIST 22 Reply Share explorer-matt OP 1 day ago I think the boss - and management - just never said anything. Just kind of ignored the burn. 15 Re
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  • 14
    Advanced_Parsnip 20 hr. ago One place I worked at gave away frozen turkey's on Christmas Eve as the bonus. Like that could thaw and cook within 24 hours. 11 Reply Share
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  • 15
    GemGuy56 6 hr. ago A company I previously worked at did away with Christmas bonuses and gave everyone a frozen turkey for Christmas. Most employees knew where the CEO lived. Many of them took their turkeys to his house and threw them in his yard. Reply Share 2
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  • 16
    IndependenceNo2060 1 day ago Bravo to these employees for a creative and unified stand against such a thoughtless act from their boss. Glad to see they stuck together and send a clear message. 4⁹ Reply Share
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  • 17
    fromthebeforetimes · 1 day ago So, basically your MIL and co-workers just covered next year's bonuses for next year's future workers... 49↓ 9 Reply Share
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  • 18
    ssup3rm4n 1 day ago Oof. I'm about to reach a decade working for this company. I do t think I'm getting anything. Not even a thank you in a speech. They only do it to higher ups 3 Reply Share
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  • 19

    Slightly relevant clock meme

    I Changed My Clock To Alphabetical Time 28 3 10 6 12 Franklin 7 1 9 1 11 5 4
    via Cheezburger

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job malicious compliance revenge work workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
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