Company executives receive $65k Christmas bonus while non-executives cash in on a $25 Starbucks gift card, causing disgruntled employee to seek employment elsewhere

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 1, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Most companies give their employees a little somethin' somethin' around the holidays. They do this to thank their employees for all of the hard work that they do, which should be standard practice. Let's face it: so many employees are under-compensated in their roles and the holiday bonus system should make up for this in one way or another. Unfortunately, that's not the way life works, and the user who wrote this story was given the wake-up call of the century when their company insulted not only them but every non-executive employee that works there.

What would you prefer? A 65k cash bonus or a $25 Starbucks gift card? The answer is simple..

Commenters under the post are fuming for the employee, especially because the employee's company tried to keep the 65k cash bonus under wraps so as to not disturb the shallows of the company. Now, the cat's out of the bag, and folks are urging the user to get out of there, and quickly. Some are even suggesting that they out their company's immoral practices on job forum sites—what do you think? Scroll to read.

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  • 01
    "All of us non-executives make less than $60k and received a $25 gift card..."
    via Charlie Harris For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Christmas bonus' were leaked
    via Pickledginger94
  • 03
    This is a bit of a rant... I work for a small company with about 25 employees, 6 of which are executives.
    via Pickledginger94
  • 04
    Somehow the Christmas bonus' were leaked and everyone found out that the executives all received a $65k
    via Pickledginger94
  • 05
    Christmas bonus, meanwhile all of us. non executives make less than $60k and received a $25 gift card to Starbucks for
    via Pickledginger94
  • 06
    our Christmas "bonus"...When my boss was handing out her cards she said to me "open this at home" with a huge
    via Pickledginger94
  • 07
    smile, so I was under the assumption that it was something other than a GC....
    via Pickledginger94
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10449106432
    via Unsplash (Giorgio Trovato)
  • 09
    I am now looking for another job because they are choosing to ignore the fact that everyone found out.
    via Pickledginger94

  • This user's boss really pulled a bait-and-switch here. Most of the time, when someone is goofily grinning while handing you a card, you expect it to be more than a $25 gift card to a coffee shop chain. This user isn't ungrateful, either—they're just fed up.

    Upon learning about the outrageous bonus 6 out of 25 company employees received, it's only right for the non-executives to be upset. When you think about it, employee retention starts at the top. If C-suite employees fail to fairly compensate their subordinates, what makes them think that employees will continue to endure this unfair treatment?

    C-suite executives rely on the work of their underlings. If they weren't there, nothing gets done. Instead of rewarding them, they cash in on a 65k bonus while employees get treated to two Starbucks coffees (yes, those coffees are that expensive).

    Commenters below are siding with this user and rebuking toxic management tactics, along with the toxic executives who enforce it. Be real: how would you react if this was your workplace reality? You'd probably hop on LinkedIn ASAP.

  • 10
    OrionQue... ""open this at home" with a huge smile" I'm sorry, this made me LOL. These bosses are so ridiculous.
    via OrionQuest7
  • 11
    15021993 65k as a Christmas bonus? And them not addressing it is even more insulting. You can definitely find a better job.
    via 15021993
  • 12
    amouse_... It doesn't sound like they much care about the other 19 employees so it's not surprising they aren't in damage control mode. Maybe they want some people to leave.
    via amouse_buche
  • 13
    ThatWide... You do realize this is common right? They have taken what used to be a standard practice of everyone getting bonuses and raises and moved that
    via ThatWideLife
  • 14
    money to the top few. That's why executive compensation is through the roof and everyone else is going broke.
    via ThatWideLife
  • 15
    It's unfortunate but maybe try to get a job in a Union. Seems to be the only thing anymore that compensates workers fairly.
    via ThatWideLife
  • 16
    pedrosneaky... Talk to the non-executuve employees, approach your biggest competitor and move across en masse. I bet bonuses get handed out better in the future...
    via pedrosneakyman
  • 17
    dart-builder-... The executives could have all gotten 60k still and would have been able to give y'all a 1500 dollar bonus. Greedy bastards.
    via dart-builder-2483
  • 18
    APointedRes... Finding that out IS your Christmas bonus.
    via APointedResponse
  • 19
    drewbeedoo Anonymous card left on leadership desk "open this at home" - inside detailing that everyone in office knows the game. Along with a used Starbucks gift card.
    via drewbeedoo

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Tags

christmas workplace-stories bonus toxic-workplace gift card work Starbucks askreddit reddit story horrible-management coffee workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread red flag entitled people toxic-work-environment
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