‘I asked for money instead, was told no’: Company gives bobble head figures as a bonus, pushing one employee to maliciously comply and pick the most expensive, top-tier model design to max out the budget

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Jun 2, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

There's an entire genre of corporate "appreciation" that feels designed not to reward employees, but to test how far you can stretch the definition of compensation before someone calls HR, only to find HR is already in on the joke. Why offer a bonus check when you could hand out a custom bobblehead of your own stressed-out face? In this workplace wonderland, cash is crass, but tchotchkes are chic. Forget direct deposit—imagine payday where your boss serenades you with a ukulele ballad about your "hard work and resilience," the melody conveniently replacing any actual money.

It's a world where employee incentives are less "living wage" and more "limited-edition collectible." Perhaps next year, instead of health insurance, you'll get a commemorative lunchbox with your name spelled wrong. Want paid time off? Great news—you can now "sponsor" your own days away, brought to you by the spirit of giving (and your debit card). Maybe your annual review will come in the form of refrigerator poetry, each magnet representing another reason you should be grateful for that commemorative mug you received during Zoom Appreciation Week.

So when the company insists on a forced bobblehead bonus, the stage is already set. There's nothing left to do but lean in, pick the most grandiose and wallet-busting design, and watch the finance team's sense of irony wobble right along with your plastic likeness.

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    Force me to to get a bobblehead figure as a bonus instead of money, you got it....

    "Force me to choose a custom bobblehead? Fine"
    via Anton Ilchanka/Pinkypills

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I used to work for a small online retail company, ultimately there for about 10 years. At the point where I had been there for about 6, the owners decided they
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    wanted to start rewarding the employees that had been woth them for two years or more with.....
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    Custom bobblehead figures of us employees. The company they found to do these let you upload pictures of yourself, choose
    via FightinRndTheWorld
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10512469248
    via Pinkypills

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 06
    outfits, theme or whatever. Fully customized, and not cheap. Average cost per bobblehead was about $100-$150 USD.
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    I was a little incensed that for all the time people had put in, and hard work on growing the company, that the owners felt it
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    Cheezburger Image 10512469760
    via Anton Ilchanka

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    was more appropriate to get some goofy bobbleheads for us instead of a bonus check. Considering how much they were
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    willing to shell out for these custom bobbleheads, just cutting checks to us should have been a very real possibility.
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    They sent out the forms for us to all pick out which bobblehead. designs we wanted to choose. While others went along with it, I
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    Cheezburger Image 10512468992
    via Zoë Cullie

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    simply did not fill out the form and return. This caught the attention of one of the owners who reminded me they wanted
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    the form filled out so they could place the order. I told them that I really didn't want a bobblehead, and honestly, would rather just
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    have a hundred bucks. The owner refused and said I had to choose a bobblehead, no choice, I was going to get.
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    Here comes the malicious compliance. I found the most expensive design for bobblehead that I could choose, which was to
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    have me put in a standing style wheelchair. When all was said and done, my particular bobblehead cost just shy of $250.
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    Force me to choose a custom bobblehead? Fine, I'll go with the most expensive one. They never said a thing.
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    About 4 years later they would terminate me to find someone to do the same job for significantly loss. I smashed the sh out of that bobblehead after I took it home.
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    Edit to clarify: I asked for money instead, was told no. Was told I had to take a bobblehead. I was
    via FightinRndTheWorld
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    threatened with a write-up for insubordination if I didn't fill out the form to receive one.
    via FightinRndTheWorld

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management boss action figures workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager toys bosses work bobble head PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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