25 Insulting Work Bonuses That Felt Like A Slap In The Face
A good work bonus is meant to reward employees for their hard work, boost morale, and show appreciation. But sometimes, companies miss the mark—by a long shot. Instead of a well-earned raise or a meaningful gesture, employees have received “bonuses” so absurdly bad they feel more like an insult than a reward.
A good bonus doesn’t have to be huge—but it should at least feel meaningful. When companies hand out insulting “rewards,” they send the message that employees aren’t valued, which can seriously tank morale. Netizens have shared some of the worst work bonuses they’ve ever received, and here are 25 that will make you shake your head in disbelief.
#1 The Bring Your Own Potato Bar Hosted By My School For Teacher Appreciation
#2 2 Billion In Gross Profit
#3 After A Year Nurse Shortages, Running Out Of PPE, Working Employees To The Bone Without Hazard Pay, This Is The Meal My Wife’s Hospital Had The Audacity To Serve For Nurse’s Appreciation Week
#4 The Warehouse I Work At Was #1 In The Company For The 1st Quarter, Management Promised A Huge Reward, This Was It
The GM of the warehouse kept going on and on about how glad he was that we hit #1 because he’d be getting a bonus check “just in time for the warmer weather.” Also a few suits from corporate came in to “personally and individually thank each of us” and needless to say they neither talked to nor thanked nobody.
#5 Little “Gift” My Wife Got One Year
Empty gift bag from work.
#6 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
#7 Employee Appreciation Day
Our local Walmart decided to show their appreciation for the hard work working employees who tirelessly work themselves to ensure that the shelves are stocked for customers.
#8 Company Gave Employees Cookies To Celebrate $10 Billion In Profits
Give the workers an extra day of PTO a year, or a raise, or working technology? Nah, how about COOKIES???
#9 Happy Nurses’ Week
#10 This Will Cover My Rising Rent
#11 Congrats On 35 Years For The Company! Here Is 12 Donuts
It’s kinda sad honestly after 35 years they think 12 donuts is good enough.
#12 What My School Gave Its Teachers For Teacher Appreciation Week
#13 My Wife’s Teacher Appreciation Gift From The Administrators Who Have Let Everyone Know All Year They Do Not Appreciate Them At All
#14 10 Year Symbol: Represents Durability And Flexibility. My Wife Got This From Work, She’s Been There 19 Years. They Gave This And A Bunch Of Other Random Stuff
#15 Getting This As A Teacher Is Degrading. If You Want To Show Us Appreciation, Then Pay Us!
#16 These Are Trying Times With High Inflation, Better Bust The Sticker Budget
#17 For Christmas 2019, My Boss Gifted Us With 1 Work From Home Day In 2020
#18 My Friend Got A “Gift” From Work. Chappy New Year
#19 Pathetic
#20 Our Work Christmas Bonus. Can’t Wait To Pay My Bills With This
#21 This Snow Reminded Me Of That Time When My Employer Asked Us To Work In -40 Weather. Our Reward? A Hat
The hat reads “40 Below Survivor 2019” which sucks for a couple of reasons. 1. People literally could not make it in, and I had a number of factors that allowed me to do so and 2. It wasn’t at our facility, but another employee of the company actually died in the snow. Your job doesn’t care about you. Stay warm and stay safe.
#22 I Work At A Prison That Is Terribly Short Staffed, 12 Hour Overtime Shifts Are Mandated, And We’ve Just Been Informed That We Won’t Be Getting A Yearly Raise For Cost Of Living/Inflation. This Is Our “Mental Health Awareness Month” Gift
#23 No Money Reward, No Time Off, Just Meaningless Things
#24 Genuinely Ready To Quit! This Was My Bonus For Making The Company $85,000 In February
#25 My Girlfriend’s Boss Handed This To Her In Her Office Saying, “These Are Being Handed Out From The Company.” I’m Not Sure If This Is A Christmas Gift. What Do You All Think?
Saumya Ratan
Saumya is an explorer of all things beautiful, quirky, and heartwarming. With her knack for art, design, photography, fun trivia, and internet humor, she takes you on a journey through the lighter side of pop culture.
