Christmas bonuses. ...
 

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[Closed] Christmas bonuses. Anybody get one?

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I am aware of their existence, but I've never been in a job where you get one. This year will be no different. I do know someone (London meeedya type) who, a few years ago, got one that was over double my annual salary 😯

So, just a quick straw poll. Who gets one?

Feel free to brag about the huge amount you receive as a small acknowledgement of your genius. Or bitch an moan about the injustice of it all 😉

[b]GO![/b]


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:41 am
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I'd be suprised if I don't.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:42 am
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Nope.

Still, another few years and I should get my winter heating allowance.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:43 am
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No never, plant engineer usually means you get the chance to be on call over crimbo too 🙁


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:43 am
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I've only had one in the seven years that I've worked in the place I do.

There will be some this year because I ahve heard two partners talking about it (divying up the allowance). We have no idea until pay day as to whether we get one or not.

I'm hoping that I get one after working hard and for the last few years, getting chartered and only getting a so-so pay rise this year.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:45 am
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Never in my life had one ... 😀


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:46 am
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I get £20 in premium bonds 8)


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:46 am
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No


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:47 am
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used to get a crate of beer. I want a crate of beer.

(Got a crappy hamper with an individual -yes, individual - sized bottle of elderflower cordial, musnt grumble. Grumble, grumble.)


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:47 am
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I've given everyone an extra 2 days paid holiday - unsure if that counts as a bonus or not but they all seemed happy enough with that.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:48 am
 DezB
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Yes. About a months money. Every year. Percentage amount goes up the higher up the chain you are, so if you're on shitloads salary, you get shitloads bonus.
And, the best thing is, those on shitloads decide how much they get and how much can be shared amongst the minions!


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:48 am
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Yes,3 mince pies and a sherry


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:48 am
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Had a bonus once in a previous job. Other than that have not ever had any sort of Christmas present or bonus from the company (in over 20 years). My immediate boss may buy our team members a bottle of wine each, but nothing else. I dont even get a thanks or Xmas card 😥


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:48 am
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That seems veery generous hughjayteens. I'd be very happy with that. Good on ya!


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:49 am
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We get them in january but I'm told I'm in line for one. It was about 5% of salary last year and I was only here for 6 months.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:49 am
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Had the first one in my 18 year career last year. Praying for another one this year to replenish the new FS fund after depleting it getting a fatty.

Only other thing I've ever had was a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:50 am
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My yearly wage is split into 14 payments - a fairly standard Spanish practice - which means I always get a bonus just before summer and just before Christmas.

OK, it's not really a bonus as such, and it's money I don't get through the year. But it's still great 🙂


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:52 am
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No word yet but quietly hopeful.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:52 am
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nope, never had one, probably never will.

if i had a time-machine, my first stop would be 1994 - to punch my careers advisor straight up his bracket.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:53 am
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Never had a Christmas bonus. Do - depending on business/personal performance - get an annual bonus, which is usually paid in the summer.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:53 am
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I got one about 8 years ago when I worked at Woolworths whilst at college. £30 in vouchers, I'd only just started a few weeks earlier. That never happened again nor have I had one in any subsequent jobs 🙁


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:53 am
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Self employed, not decided if I deserve one yet 🙂


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 11:54 am
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Had a few with different companies but never silly amounts of money like some you here about. Getting one this year as we've done well as a company this year. Were only small civil/structural engineering consultancy but are doing well and expanding. Won't be much though, I reckon max £100.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:00 pm
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Nah, I get a stack of free holidays instead. Used to get an annual bonus but this place just kind of pays you the right amount instead


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:06 pm
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if I ask the wife nicely on Christmas eve 😉


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:09 pm
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Nope, but then I do have a job and will only be on call for part of the holiday (such as it is), so can't complain.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:09 pm
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I think I had two while working at the first company I joined after graduating. They weren't officially Christmas bonuses, but were paid in January and were based on a combination of how well the company had done and how well you had done (as a result of an appraisal).

Since then, not had one.

A mate of mine who works in the pension industry seems to have been given a bonus every time I speak to him. And they aren't trivial amounts of money, either; I seem to remember 11% & 16% being mentioned as bonuses in the past.

At my place at the moment, I think there is a high expectation of pay rises in January as there haven't been any for a while and the company is starting to come out of a prolonged slow period with some good signs of growth. I'm not holding my breath, to be honest. Be a pleasant surprise that way, rather than a disappointment.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:10 pm
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Nope


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:10 pm
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Pigface - Member
No

Same here...... 😉

And I just sent an email to my bosses which showed I recovered £180k for them.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:10 pm
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Nope - performance related jobby in March. Last year's was quite good as we made more profit than revenue - which is a clever trick.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:11 pm
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I haven't even got the standard 1% cost of living increase which we should have got in June yet....


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:12 pm
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During my 17 years of self employment i used to give myself a pat on the back,as my flexibility lessened it became more of a scratch behind the ear. 😕


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:14 pm
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Used to get one but that stopped 2 years ago after the company was taken over


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:15 pm
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No.
But I get a free meal. Such much......


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:15 pm
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I did in my previous job - usually about a months money, sometimes none - depended on company's financial performance as much as your own. Current job, none, but we get overtime, which works out not dissimilar, as in my previous job I usually worked contract hours + 10% ish. Previous jobs to that, I was lucky to still be employed on a reliable basis, they were shaky startups.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:15 pm
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in the current world of margin and bottom line scrutiny, discretionary Christmas bonuses are pretty much forgotten.
they're certainly not part of normal incentive structures in this country anyway.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:19 pm
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A what, now?


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:21 pm
 emsz
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We get a thing called the 13th month pay here. We can have it in the summer or Xmas. It's on top of our normal wage! Very very cool of them.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:21 pm
 ekul
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Not a bonus as such but got a 3% backpay for the year coming on the 15th. So I'm viewing it as an xmas bonus.

Just a shame every penny of it is already accounted for 🙁


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:23 pm
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Not a Christmas bonus as such. We get a year end bonus depending on how well the company performs which can be very good indeed. Under our new Bible-belt overlords we get the whole of Christmas week off as customary holidays.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:27 pm
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We get a profit related annual bonus which is sometimes paid at Christmas.

It has varied between £500 and £2000 in the last ten years.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:27 pm
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Nope nothing here. My Brother lives in Oslo, he tells me that all Norwegians pay no tax on their December salaries to encourage them to go and spend it in the shops or whatever. I like that idea.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:32 pm
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I get 1% of revenue that I generate.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:37 pm
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Get about £80 before tax. Not really sure why they continue with it tbh. Means very little to us but costs the firm a small fortune in total.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:39 pm
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Apparently we used to until I joined and for the last two years we've just been 'reinvesting in the business' ...think we're supposed to be pleased about that but given we don't own the business not sure why we'd care!


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:41 pm
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We don't directly get one but we get a VERY decent Xmas party.

This year it's at the Williams F1 centre with simulators and museum + free booze and a hotel so cant complain.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:51 pm
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It's not specifically for Christmas, but we get at mid year and year end, based on company performance and individual performance over the previous 6 month, this month I'll get about 3/4 of a month worth of salary as a bonus.

I like this way of doing things compared to my old role which never had a bonus, it helps incentivise both my performance and my working towards the company performance, but it's not so much that folk become obsessive over their performance to get big bucks. Plus because you have to live within your means on the normal monthly salary, the bonus can be put towards buying some nice stuff rather than just sucked into the mortgage! This year I'll be getting some shiny new Sonos kit and a healthy contribution into the new bike pot 😀


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:55 pm
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a significant amount of my december workload is preventing any expenditure related to Christmas.

bonuses, parties, decorations, cards

i am rightly called scrooge.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:58 pm
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As company director I'll probably ward myself a healthy dividend along with giving the sole employee (me) a little extra 🙂


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:58 pm
 Drac
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Hahahaha!


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 12:59 pm
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they're certainly not part of normal incentive structures in this country anyway.

Problem is that incentives to work hard have reduced or eliminated almost completely over the years. Yes we should just do the job to get the standard wage we are promised but there never seems to be anything above that to show that your efforts, even when they are way above what is expected of you, are actually appreciated.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:00 pm
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Only been here a few weeks and not aware of any Xmas-related bonus. There's a Year End one in the offing early next year though 🙂


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:01 pm
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As someone who works in finance "bonus" payments are the prime method of rewarding/controlling the workforce. By having so much at stake come the end of the year it tends to keep staff in line/incentivised as well as reducing basic day to day costs for the employer. For example it also means if they want to get rid of people it costs less.

One of the key misunderstandings with bonus is the fact that it's seen as an "extra". In reality its part of the total basic pay for the job, it's just held back


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:03 pm
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Got a 3 day trip to new york as a xmas bonus once (I was only a lowly accounts clerk at the time) - should have stuck with that company.

No bonus this year, and a xmas party at the local holiday inn... oh the joy!


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:06 pm
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As someone who works in finance "bonus" payments are the prime method of rewarding/controlling the workforce. By having so much at stake come the end of the year it tends to keep staff in line/incentivised as well as [s]reducing basic day to day costs for the employer.[/s] bankrupting the country through ludicrous risk-taking, leading to going cap in hand to the taxpayer to save your sorry, overpaid, over-incentivised arses

FTFY 😉


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:09 pm
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I got made redundant - which to be honest, I see as a bonus 🙂


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:10 pm
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I got a letter from the taxman yesterday which I can't really fathom but either I owe them less than usual in January or they owe me some, I need to investigate further. Either way its a win. Scotroutes, you forgot the bus pass and TV license. Presumably you'll be available to work for free in future? Or we could just pay you in pies.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:10 pm
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Yep paid my staff one this year since its been a year good and they have worked damn hard. About 5% of their salary. They don't know yet 🙂 It will be a bit of a surprise for their December pay packet.

My last company did this too. Just have to get around to organising one for myself although that feels "weird" since I run the company/organise these things.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:14 pm
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I got a £600 bonus in a place I used to work at, that was quite cool as I'd only been with the company 8 weeks, where I am now, I'm getting a bonus in January (£400) along with our normal annual bonus in April(I've had a promotion so that should be quite nice this time round). All accounted for unfortunately as the Mrs's car needs replacing 🙄


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:15 pm
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One of the key misunderstandings with bonus is the fact that it's seen as an "extra". In reality its part of the total basic pay for the job, it's just held back

That's not really a misunderstanding, it's just the way people choose to budget. It's pretty long winded to budget in such a way that a one off bonus payment goes against normal monthly living costs, unless you bank it and drip feed it into your account on a monthly basis. So most people I know tend to budget based on their normal monthly salary, then treat the bonus as an "extra".


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:15 pm
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We get an annual bonus in September and occasional amazon vouchers when we've gone above and beyond and isn't billable to a client as OT. Fair play to them though, I've had a bonus every year and we floated earlier this year and still got a healthy bump.

One of the few nice things about working for a massively US centric company, they motivate with money. All they ask in return is dedication and your social life.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:16 pm
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Can get an xmas one of 5% in a good year

Can be 10% in a very good year

In a bumper year there's half a chance of a interim in feb

But .... It's not a good year

Lets hope the second half of the year is better for the end of year one.

Not sure it will be, so being carefully now already.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:30 pm
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I once joked in my annual review in a previous job that my five year plan that I wanted to get a xmas bonus, five years later I'm somewhere else...


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:34 pm
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I think we had £200 last year, which was awesome and unexpected - this year - who knows - find out next week.

When I worked in a bank I was on performance related pay - which the tabloids love to call a 'Bonus' I once earned a £20k payment, but I was paid in March based on the previous years performance, that was exceptional, it was usually half that.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:37 pm
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Back when I owned my own company we used to pay a small Christmas bonus (couple of hundred quid or so) but I don't recall ever getting one as an employee.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:40 pm
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@tenacious - not in finance or indeed in other businesses (law / advertising etc). For example if you are a top earner your total compensation might be £2 million. You'll probably have a £200k salary and £1.8m bonus.

@binners I think you let me off lightly there, a combination of Christmas and it being a Friday I suspect.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:41 pm
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Work for an Employee Benefit Trust (like what John Lewis is) which means the profit we earn gets put back into the company, including a nice little bonus for the people that earned it.

Wish more companies were EBTs and not PLC etc.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:42 pm
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Pigface - Member
No
Same here......

And I just sent an email to my bosses which showed I recovered £180k for them

I think you work for the same quango as me. I directly saved £910k on a single project this year.

Yep, still not been paid our 1% pay [s]rise[/s] cut (for the 5th year running.)

Our Christmas meal is today but it's £25, a few of us just can't afford to go.

🙄


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:46 pm
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Science research at a uno/ cancer institute so no

But they try and be nice by giving us extra holiday etc, which is good
And this place have a paid for Xmas party which is nice, even though i m not sure I'll go


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:46 pm
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when I started working here I had a final salary, good wage increments and bonuses

all gone thanks to a succession of useless CEOs


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:49 pm
 kcal
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Did do, occasionally if things were going ok (small startup).

Not every year at all, and not really around Christmas time (in case there was no cash by year-end). It was usually across the board flat rate which was good, so the secretary got - proportion to income - a shed load more than the directors.

Now - self-employed. Occasional bonus still but not by any means every year. When they do arrive though it's nice.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:51 pm
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For the time I've worked at my current place, 10 years, yes. An incredibly healthy one too. Used to be way more when the company were doing really well but in the last few years its been a grand or so.

I understand I am very lucky!!

Shame the gaffers don't gamble on horses like they used to, as that meant bringing the biscuit tin back in full of notes which were handed out.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:51 pm
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Not for us. We get paid before Christmas rather than at the end of the month so there's a bit more money in the bank account than normal at that point in the month but it's then a long wait til January pay day.

There is sometimes a bonus after the end of the financial year (April) but eligibility and the calculation are far from transparent.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:55 pm
 gazc
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our place now offers a 'health bonus' at christmas - £200 if you're not off work more than one day in the year. previously everyone got £50 vouchers for john lewis no matter how hard you worked or days you were ill... i've been off sick 3 days over the whole of this year (legitimate, honest guv) so get nothing, even though i've busted a gut the rest of the time - but why should i feel pressured to go in when i feel like shit like some muppets do, just for a little bit of cash? funnily enough quite a high turnover of staff...

only had one job with a proper bonus, which was at worst £500 and at best about £1100


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 1:59 pm
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@gazc - that's most bizarre, encouraging people to come in when they are sick, passing colds to everyone in the office ?


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 2:09 pm
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Yep.

However, as the old joke goes, what's the difference between your bonus and your.......


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 2:13 pm
 Drac
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at's most bizarre, encouraging people to come in when they are sick, passing colds to everyone in the office ?

Discouraging those from going sick because they have a bit of a cold seems reasonable to me.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 2:17 pm
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For the first time since the GFC, everyone who works for us got a bonus last year and this year it's double what it was last. Long may that trend continue.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 2:21 pm
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nope, never had one, probably never will.

if i had a time-machine, my first stop would be 1994 - to punch my careers advisor straight up his bracket.

This.


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 2:32 pm
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Used to get them (3 months pay or thereabouts) in a horrible job working with horrible people

Now I'm a stay at home dad I'll get a bottle of craft ale and a home baked cookie from the children

😀


 
Posted : 12/12/2014 2:36 pm
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