It’s always awkward to ask for a bonus or a raise. You’re worried about getting a negative response, potentially putting your job at risk, and, well, no one wants to deal with the uncomfortable atmosphere that comes with discussing money with their boss.

Which is ironic, considering we work to make money. But then again, not all bosses will say no. Some will happily give you that bonus. Others, however, might offer you some… unique alternative perks, if you will. And so, today, we bring you a list of netizens who shared the ridiculous things their bosses offered them instead of, well, more money.

#1

I left my job shortly after receiving this prize for my good work

#2

This was in 2004. Our 'Christmas bonuses' were hyped up for months. We got a pizza party in the breakroom with a DJ (the guy who ran the mailroom) and they handed out envelopes to everyone.

It was a Target gift card with $5 on it. My department was so angry we decided to pool our cards and buy supplies for a chemo care package for one of our people who was fighting breast cancer. That made us feel a bit better.

#3

Congratulations!

#4

Instead of raises we get "Work bux" to use on a "store" for Ramen and granola bars. At least other people get pizza. We get Ramen and granola bars.

#5

This “gift” for employee appreciation

#6

Just a little employee appreciation

#7

"Flexible work hours."

Must be in office between 8 and 5, but you can show up even earlier or stay even later if you want.

#8

The Monopoly Money My Job Gave Me Instead of a Raise in 2018

#9

This banana my boss gave me to celebrate 1 year of work

#10

What my company gave us instead of raises

#11

Employee appreciation gift. This was what our company gave everyone for employee appreciation week. A rock. I’ve been here 4 years and haven’t received a raise since 2021. A rock.

#12

Who needs a pizza party when you get a pizza cutter??

#13

The place I work at gives a "bonus" as an incentive for higher production rates. Let me introduce you to my departments bonus

#14

instead of raising wages, this is the reward, I can't name the business or location due to consequences if this pic links back to me in real life lol

#15

Employee “Appreciation”. The company I currently work (pawn industry) for is having an employee “appreciation” day this week. Here is a comprehensive list of all the “prizes” we can earn on said day. To earn a spin on the wheel we have to make a sale of over $100 or a pawn of over $300. For the balloon pop it’s a sale of over $500. This company is worth over $100 million and THIS is how they “appreciate” the employees that make them their money.

#16

Free beanies instead of raises for employee appreciation

#17

They call this a candy drawer at work. I hate my job

#18

A dozen donuts for a staff of about 200. I feel so appreciated.

#19

Feeling the #appreciation my employer is showing to our dwindling overworked nursing staff

#20

This is what we have to eat at work during 12h day/night shifts.

#21

They signed a deal with a gas station chain, employees would get a certain amount off on gasoline/diesel. This was paraded out with a full company meeting and everything.

The price reduction was less than normal customers that got a card with that gas station chain.
So they had spent months working out a deal that was worse than what anyone could get by signing up at the gas station chains website.

#22

They got a food truck to come out and park behind the building for us. They didn’t pay for any of the food or consult us on the type of food we wanted. So basically the benefit was “you can pay for your lunch if you happen to like this food” but they hyped it up as some grand gesture.

#23

Free pizza parties if everyone chips in 5 bucks.

#24

Paying me on time. It’s not optional... You have to pay your staff on time, they have bills to pay?

#25

A vacation to a lake in Kansas (didn't know there were lakes there) where I would cook for my bosses friends in a waterski tournament. That guy hated me forever for calling him out and declining the vacation.

#26

I get free gym access at a local gym, but it's not walking distance from the office and the free access is only up til 3pm weekdays... during which time I am working.

#27

My job just sent me a congratulatory pdf for my 5-year anniversary.

#28

This is the “thank you” our ER got for the horrible month we’ve had. One of the worst.

#29

Boss brought in drumsticks for employee appreciation

#30

It’s employee appreciation week and this is what my girlfriends employer gave her. She’s a PA at a community health center in the city

#31

My reward for 5 years of not being late and never calling out. Frick you, I quit.

#32

I work at a college dorm. This week is freshman move in where I’m working a 12 hour shift. I was told not to pack a lunch because a free one is provided. This is my free “meal”

#33

Meals (1 per person) we get at my job for shifts up to 12hrs

#34

Meijer Cashier Incentive

#35

Instead of getting a raise this slice of pizza was used as a motivation at my last job

#36

Employee Appreciation from my employer who generated 27b profit in 2022

#37

My "reward" for going above and beyond

#38

This prepaid AMEX card that doesn’t work at any retailer at all so far - was given to me for 5 years at my job

#39

Here’s a new one. If our store makes the most sales competitively we earn a pizza party not for ourselves but for our bosses

#40

A record week. but we don't get a bonus nooo. just a root beer float party

#41

The company I work for is asking us to pay them for the Christmas dinner they are hosting for us

#42

Employee appreciation lunch - one of the top medical centers in the tristate

#43

Work tells us we have to pay for the snacks in the office. The packets on the chips says not for resale and the box they come out of is a 20 pack worth $5

#44

Why is nobody partying? I specifically requested it?!

#45

My jobs lazy way to celebrate employee appreciation day. A candy bar with a printed sticker on it

#46

This is our "employee appreciation" gift. a first aid kit, complete with a children's activity book, and CRAYONS. I work at a factory.

#47

I found out today that it's employee appreciation week at my work. Apparently we're not even worth a pizza party anymore...

#48

No raises this year, but they gave us this for “employee appreciation day”

#49

"Employee Appreciation, provide your own lunch"

#50

My job brought us “treats” for employee appreciation

#51

Took one of those employee surveys at work today, and they gave me this as a gift bag. 3 pieces of candy from 1972 and a pen that doesn't even work. Sure feel appreciated!

#52

Happy employee appreciation day! 🤡 I feel so valued 🙄

#53

"Free water for the employees"

Wow thank you!

#54

I worked at a radiology clinic where they would
Provide a single bread roll for staff for lunch on Wednesdays. No fillings or spreads. Just a plain white bread roll.

#55

Staff appreciation bbq where all the staff was invited, but we still had to cook for all 300 employees. Everyone got to go but the kitchen staff and they never made it up to us.

#56

I was working at a shop and was actively pursuing a job as a teacher, which was not a surprise to anybody. I got the job with the understanding that when I finished my degree I’d be pursuing a teaching job.

I needed to come in late one day due to an interview. Literally just needed to be an hour late. Boss said “go ahead and take an extra 15.” I thought he was being nice. Turns out, dipping below 7 hours was what he needed to deny me a lunch break that day.

#57

Worked crazy OT for a month to get vital computer security updates done (every computer had to be touched individually). Those of us who were salaried were promised we would be taken care of for the 20+ hours of overtime each week.

Hourly people earned time and a half.

Salaried people got a company embroidered baseball cap as a 'thank you'. Oh, and so did the hourly people.

#58

A $15 gift card for 15 years of service as a Nurse in LTC.

#59

I worked for a big Chinese corporation that offered ramen noodles packet if you stayed till 9 pm.

#60

We had a Christmas lunch party, on premises kinda deal. There was a raffle for prizes. A full 75% of the "prizes" were fire extinguishers. The small kitchen and vehicle ones.

#61

At the major bank, they told us they would allow us to turn our cameras off during meetings on Fridays.

#62

Reward I get at my 13$/hr job for finding over 15 million in missing funds

#63

My brother works for AT&T, this is what he was given for working through the pandemic…. A silver coin.

#64

For teacher appreciation week, the school gave us a ‘gift card’ to Chik-fil-a, to be redeemed for a free breakfast sandwich. Also, it could only be used at one specific Chik-fil-A near work, and it had an expiration date.

A coupon. That’s called a coupon.

They also fired me a few weeks later, which was honestly a much better gift… because that school is really bad.

#65

We got an email telling us to click on a link for a holiday appreciation gift from the company. If you clicked on it, you had just fallen for a phishing test to see if you would click on links in emails. Your gift was three hours of mandatory security training.

65 “Bonuses” That Prove Bosses And Management Are Out Of Touch With Reality

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