I spent more on office gifts than I got in bonuses.

here here <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

We have a great Sheriff here. And NOT just because I went to school with him. In school he was kind, well lets just say rough around the edges! Since he has taken office (now in his 2nd term) he has stated that he DOES NOT want any christmas present(s) from the people who work here. He said he does not get anything for us therefore we should not get anything for him. Oh, and if you NEED time off for something, legitimate reason, it's done.

Sounds like the job my wife just quit. People kept leaving because the family who owns the place are nuts. They didn't rehire, just kept pushing jobs onto the people already there without giving raises. My wife was expected to be the receptionist while having been hired as a purchaser, and expected to do both jobs for the same money in the same amount of time.

I'm sick of the lack of responsibility of employers, just because they don't have to answer to anyone. What really cracks me up is how they keep laying off their main consumers to move jobs abroad. Who is going to end up buying their junk?

I was hired as an assistant. The guy I was to assist quit within a week and a half. I was then responsible for most of his job also with no raise and the boss not liking my work because it was not exactly like the other guy did. After the six month 'probationary period' was up I asked for a review and a raise. This was at eight months. Their reply was to extend the probationary period even longer for my nerve at asking. I am told this is the situation the HR director quit over.

When the economy turns around, people with portable skills we leave companies like that

excellent insight. i hope you are right.

I've seen it happen under our former owners.
Part of the reason I am going for my designation, and believe me after 25 years with the same company it was a hard desion

Wow! That is some nerve. No raises but want $30 for the boss.

I work for the government so I dont ever expect a Christmas bonus. My department just had a little party where we played dirty santa and had a pot luck dinner. It was cool.

We have a big get together every year that is "on the clock" where we draw names for prizes and it is catered. Doesnt cost us a dime. My first line supervisor buys every one in his department a gift, all the same thing like a soft sided brief case or something of the like.

I guess I work for a pretty good place. I could complain, but after hearing some of you guys, I would feel bad about complaining.

guys/gals, in these BS times, there are industries where you can make money.

- death (funeral homes, etc)
- garbage
- plumbing
- electrical
- transport

and as much as it makes me want to vomit: "carbon credits" < i recently got paid $500 to plant some trees on a guys lawn, and issued him a wall certificate so he could brag to his rich buddies about what he did. People buy this "carbon" stuff <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

something to keep in mind

Looking at the "What did you go to college for?" thread over on BFs it seems that, at this point in time, a college degree is what a high school diploma used to be, a piece of paper everyone wanted to see before that person was considered. It seems the best deals in employment are the skilled workers, carpenters, plumbers, and auto technicians. I wish schools would stop the inane focus on making everyone go to college and open up another side to allow those who want to be skilled workers get their certifications. Many of these would allow the person to be hired much quicker and they then to pay pretty weel, much better than either my wife or I made as High School Teachers.

I agree that that sucks...Some folks have no class.

On another note...It is easy to blame the corporations and their elite but I believe a lot of what is happening in these companies is brought on by our government. The USA has the second highest tax rate for corporations in the world. This, coupled with unions and all the other crap big brother throws out there causes many companies to move elsewhere, cut costs, downsize, etc.. Sad, but true.

Exactly, what do we make here in the USA anymore? It seems like most of our manufacturing has moved abroad (Take Crucible Steel for example, they are bankrupt and failed and we will be buying most of our steel from other countries like Japan and China) and the service industry isn't far behind. We must face it...we are in an enormous amount of debt (and only getting deeper into it) and we are owned by China. What a sad situation we have gotten ourselves into.

Merry Christmas! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />