Company man going on 27 years on the job watched two coworkers going on 25 years get $25,000 bonuses: ‘All I got when I had 25 years was a plaque’

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 26, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Imagine working at a company for 27 years and getting little-to-no acknowledgement of all 9855 days of hard work. Once you've put yourself in this company man's shoes, now imagine going to work one day and learning that two of your coworkers, who began working at the business after you did, are getting $25,000 bonuses for their contributions to the company.

It's hard not to want the same kind of treatment. After all, those coworkers were getting it for working at the business for 25 years, and this company man had been working there longer! When he brought up his grievances to the CEO, he wasn't met with understanding. In fact, he was met with denial and dismissiveness. That's when the author completely relinquished any sense of loyalty he may have once had for the company. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from several members of the online community.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10521283840
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • The author is quick to point out that all he got when he hit the 25 year mark was a plaque. As he acknowledges, $25,000 could be highly beneficial for him and his family. There is certainly no denying that he’s earned it. In fact, he also mentions his awareness that the company would be completely lost without him. Note to any employers out there: This is how you lose loyalty from your long-standing employees!

  • 02
    So we recently had a company meeting where our CEO announced that 2 employees that have been working for 25 years will be receiving a $25,000 bonus.
    via virgogod
  • 03
    But I've been working here 27 years and all I got when I had 25 years was a plaque. I brought this up to the CEO and she said that "we weren't doing the $25,000 when you hit 25 years." One of the people who received that bonus check today has been working here 26 years.
    via virgogod
  • 04
    I know my worth. I know that without me, this company would not be working. I take shorter lunches to help customers, and I've been working here the longest. I don't want to beg for money, but my god, that $25k would help me and my family out so much.
    via virgogod
  • 05
    I want to meet with the CEO and discuss this in person. How should I approach this??
    via virgogod
  • 06
    TLDR: They just announced employees that have worked 25 yrs get a $25k bonus, I've been working 27 and didn't get anything. What do I do??
    via virgogod
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10521284096
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)
  • 08
    sold_myfortune 10 hr. ago. Simple answer: they played favorites. Nothing complicated about it.
    via virgogod
  • 09
    jdb888 12 hr. ago If the CEO is meeting you to discuss you are halfway there. Just frame it as a bringing a mistake to his attention that it not corrected will devastate morale and lead to an exodus of top talent and experience to the competition.
    via virgogod
  • 10
    NorthernMamma · 11 hr. ago How many of you have been there for 25+ years? This is rotten.
    via virgogod
  • 11
    12 hr. ago well for starters i would point out the employee who's been there 26...
    via virgogod
  • 12
    cropguru357 5 hr. ago You should get $27,000, obviously.
    via virgogod
  • 13
    MrNothingmann .5 hr. ago What a poorly designed bonus system. Anyone who is there 25+ years and didn't receive such a bonus should have been considered. If the CEO
    via virgogod
  • 14
    announced this, how could they not expect all of the >25 year team to ask about their bonus? Your CEO sounds like a real Michael Scott. In real life, Michael Scotts aren't funny.
    via virgogod
  • 15
    SomaliYacht 12 hr. ago Don't help the company with anything but minimum effort for only your job tasks
    via virgogod
  • 16
    Future-Instruction51. 11 hr. ago This seems so unfair. I hope they give you the same $25k bonus.
    via virgogod
  • 17
    exiledfromreality 6 hr. ago Call them out on it loudly and publicly. They rewarded their friends, but they won't reward their minions.
    via virgogod
  • 18
    WeMiss Jeff 5 hr. ago Only here to say stop taking shorter lunches. I know you think you're "helping" by doing that, by in some states it's a labor law thing that requires you take a certain length of time for
    via virgogod
  • 19
    your lunch. It all depends on state and length of shift and a few other factors. But, bottom line... stop.
    via virgogod
  • 20
    UnusualDoctor - 3 hr. ago I used to be you. My former employer told me this when I brought up the 70+ hour weeks I was putting in to keep things running: "I never asked you to do that"
    via virgogod
  • 21
    So I stopped doing anything. I started looking for another job right away. I did the absolute miminum. I told my staff do to the absolute minimum. I left
    via virgogod
  • 22
    about five months later to a different industry, slightly more money and zero stress. I suggest you do the same.
    via virgogod

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workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work toxic-boss overworked-employees Horrible Bosses company toxic-work-environment
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