Just felt like writing a little something today, so here goes! Over the last month or so, things have been getting a little tense in the workplace. For Thanksgiving, rather than receiving the healthy bonus that everyone expected, we got to take off work an hour early. What a tremendous morale booster!
A lot of folks were upset, and rightly so, because bonuses are considered a part of our salary. We got a nice check LAST Thanksgiving, so it was only natural to assume we would also get one this Thanksgiving, right? And last year was nowhere near as profitable as this year has been.
To not receive anything is tantamount to a slap in the face… an indirect “we don’t particularly value the role you’ve played in the company’s most lucrative year ever” to every employee who busted their butt to make sure the customers were taken care of. I’ve had to struggle every day to go in and give my normal 100% effort. And even so, it’s only honestly been about 75 -80 % since then. I can’t help it… I feel unappreciated. I like to know that my skills and dedicated effort mean something to the people who benefit so heavily from them.
This Friday is the next scheduled bonus. I don’t know why they disburse them this way, only that they do. Everyone is waiting with trepidation to see if we get shafted again, or if they come through with one giant, huge mother of a bonus for everyone. For the last few weeks, I’ve privately been making up my mind that if the bonus isn’t really close to a dollar figure I’ve set in my mind, I intend to work up my resume and begin hunting for another job.
That’s a hard thing for me to think about, cuz I dislike the buffer period of a new workplace where no one knows you, or your work ethic, or your intent to do the best possible job you can do. You’re just the new person. No one cares to get to know you until you’ve proven yourself, yet you can’t prove yourself until the circumstances permit. The probationary period is the most stressful thing I can think of…
I’d really rather think that my current employer intends to do the right thing and reward us for providing him with his best year ever, because I really do like my job and the people I work with. So let’s hope that’s the way things go. Either way, you’ll hear about it right here… Thanks for letting me whine! 
