Moral dilemma RE work bonus/gift

[Shifty]

Hey peoples

I helped one of the directors with her study/assignment on an insurance subject (she is in accounts, so doesn't know a lot about the technical insurance aspect). In total I probably had 5 hours at the office where I was away from my work, and also put in three hours of my own time on a Friday night.

Anyway I've been given a $200 bonus for this, but we're a small company and I think I'm already paid pretty well. I already politely refused when the topic was brought up a week or two back, but the boss (another director, 51% owner of the company) was pretty insistent so this morning when he haded me an envelope I said thanks very much thinking it was $50 or a lotto ticket or something, but nearly fell off my seat when I looked a few minutes later and realised it was $200 cash.

Honestly the the money would be handy at this time of year, I spent a few hours of my own time doing stuff and also had to indirectly 'make up' the 5 hours of work time by coming in early to catch up on emails & such.... but I sorta think of something like this as part of the job. I don't want to insult the boss by refusing to take it, and I've already refused other benefits in the past (eg. paying for my personal mobile phone contract as about 1% of it was business use), so I'm not sure how I should treat this.

I've been criticised in the past for being too honest/moral/generous/soft/whatever so your feedback would be appreciated.

[ZXR750]

You refused the bonus the first time so now you have to graciously accept it. You can piss people off by being too good. Take the money thank them again and if you need to, offer to buy a carton of nice beer at a function or get together. Also make sure you spend the money on something decent and tell them what you bought. If you just waste it bullshit and tell them you spent it on something else so they think the money came in handy.

[luis kawi]

take it... you earned it. Plus they might find it offensive if you dont.

[red_dave]

Put it on the bar at the next work social function...

Show's you're not being greedy without the insult of the refusal...

[Rossi]

Just say thankyou & stuff it in your pocket
If it had been a customer instead of your boss.........that's a different kettle of fish

[Glen]

The guys are directors, so presumably either the owners of the business or very close to, so if they feel your efforts are worth a one off bonus then I'd graciously accept it. It's good that you work in an organisation where they obviously like to look after their people and reward extra effort.

[Damon Z1000]

Mate $200, come on, small change, in your pocket, thank you very much for the acknowledgement of my hard work. Make sure it's more next time
If you feel guilty, calculate what % of company profit you can generate over the year and then work out what % $200 is!
Your a bargain buddy and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Enjoy

[Shifty]

Yeah they're great, I guess I've just always been brought up that you work for your salary and if something extra is needed then that's your job and you do it. I suppose though if I was the boss then I would definitely be the kind of person who would hand out bonuses for extra work/good work so I suppose if I look at it from that perspective then I should probably accept it.

I just feel like a jew, that's all.

[Strika]

I don't understand the question?? Mate, your not over generous or soft!! Your menatally deficient!!! I'm a business owner and employer, as such, just be grateful, take the money and enjoy it! It is what I would want any bonus I gave an amployee spent on....making them happy!!!

[Rusty]

D'you not understand the concept of a bonus? The boss obviously feels that you're an asset to the company and that you've performed above the standard expected of you. He's thanking you in a practical way. He obviously knows it's not necessary, but wants to give it to you anyway. If that's the way he's thanking you, it'd be rude to NOT accept it.

[Shifty]

I get it, I just felt more like this was standard salary stuff.

Good to see that kinda thing is not taken for granted, I guess

Taking the missus to lunch

[Ratmick]

Mate it was meant for me, I asked them to give it to you so you could pass it over next time we met...

Seriously, take it and treat yourself to something nice and let them know what it was. If you're feeling guilty tell them you'll do the next one for nix.

Mick

[6maniac]

Hey Shifty - I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this aspect..............................



















HTFU

[Shifty]