The 1st thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:00 pm

I heard that song today and I was cracking up.

What is about the holidays that you find a pain?

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:47 pm

Enforced interaction with annoying people to whom I feel required to be nice. I compensate by wearing the highest heels that I can possibly manage, so that I can blame my wincing glances and general irritability on foot pain.

XOXO · Post by **XOXO** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:00 pm

liamsaunt: the high heels are a good idea! I might have to try that.

My in-laws are a pain.

I really really really dislike Christmas letters that are phony. I was going to explain but you all know the ones I am talking about. GUH!

GG

mahojim · Post by **mahojim** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:24 am

I just don't have the ankles for heels...

Actually, the only thing I don't dig ,as a bartender, is the folks that don't handle themselves appropriately at bars.(I guess that goes year round...)
I'm all about a good time, believe me,but sometimes people just don't "get it".
Smiles-
MJ

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:19 am

I agree with you Jim, many people use the Holidays as a time to get slammed and act like an a**.

(some of us do that year round)

Connie · Post by **Connie** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:38 am

I'm not a Christmas person. If I heard a song on the radio, it immediately gets clicked off.

I'd rather donate my money instead of wondering around stores not knowing what to buy people.

Really, who needs another sweater, or underwear or socks?

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:29 am

Employees and their complaints about the size of their bonuses.

The ones that complain the loudest are the ones that miss the most work for Nascar races, NFL games, hunting season, bike week, etc.***

It doesn't bother me one bit. The husband, on the other hand takes it personally, like he is somehow failing them.

Then I get annoyed at him because he is too sensitive about it and so on.......

***Edited to add - I have no issue with any of the mentioned activities. I have issue with them using their 2 or 3 week vacation and then taking unpaid time off for another week or 2 and then whining about not having any money.

XOXO · Post by **XOXO** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:14 am

PA Girl wrote:Employees and their complaints about the size of their bonuses.

The ones that complain the loudest are the ones that miss the most work for Nascar races, NFL games, hunting season, bike week, etc.

It doesn't bother me one bit. The husband, on the other hand takes it personally, like he is somehow failing them.

Then I get annoyed at him because he is too sensitive about it and so on.......

PA Girl, I feel just like your husband. A bonus is a bonus not a right. We have some employees who think it is their right. The last couple of years I waited until January to do them. I wanted our accountant to take a look at the books and let us know how we are doing--especially with taxes due. Guess what--I had an employee ask me when I was going to finally get to the bonuses. It has left a bad taste in my mouth. That same employee also complained about the amount. When I use to work for someone else I was grateful and pleasantly surprised--I never expected anything. We do have a greedy employee who seems to add drama.

On the other hand . . . they work hard and do a good job for us.

I wish I were more like you--my husband and I are like your husband.

GG

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:22 am

Unless we are visited by some financial Christmas fairy, there will be no bonuses for anyone this year. (they have already gotten raises, decent raises)

I want to tell them now so all the crying and complaining is over with before Christmas. And also to give them a heads up that they shouldn't be counting on the extra cash.

Husband disagrees with me and prefers to put off the pain.

We have very few "issues" working together but this is definately one of them.

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:25 am

I hate the amount of money people expect you to spend on gifts.

My immediate family- mom, stepdad, etc, etc- we are not big spenders. The holidays are more about family gatherings etc.

Other people keep tabs on what they spent and if gifts given to them don't equal the same amount, they will actually comment on it! I hate this attitude. So selfish. So gross.

Seriously makes me want to move into the woods.

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:27 am

PAGirl- I work in a bonus giving sales enviroment and a lot of things cahnged this year.

I highly recc. having a discussion about why bonuses are not avail. this year vs. just not giving them and expecting employees to understand why.

Most of them are normal people just trying to get by like you guys are.

Most of them will apppreciate a little conversation about why they are not getting them this year.

XOXO · Post by **XOXO** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:37 am

PA Girl wrote: I want to tell them now so all the crying and complaining is over with before Christmas. And also to give them a heads up that they shouldn't be counting on the extra cash.

Husband disagrees with me and prefers to put off the pain.

We have very few "issues" working together but this is definately one of them.

If you decide to tell them please let me know how you say it. My husband gave them really good raises--we agreed that we were going to nix the bonuses. The greedy one last week commented that he makes more than just a handful of people in this area. He should not have anything to complain about. But I am 100% sure that a smaller bonus or no bonus at all will be a problem with him.

I prefer to pay them well and nix the bonus all together. I find it stressful and thankless.

LysaC: The people I have been talking to say they are going to stop gifting and just hang out and play games. But I also saw on TV last night that they expect holiday spending to go up 3%. So, someone is bringing up the slack.

My mother-in-law firmly believes in spending the same amount on everyone. She literally will tape a few quarters to a gift to make sure that no one is treated unfairly. I find it silly but a little endearing too. Last year she gave everyone a check--again silly and endearing. The poor woman found gifting stressful so she gave us all money. Really, I just wish they would get together and give up the hoopla.

Honestly . . . I think Christmas just brings out the greed and shallowness in greedy shallow people.

GG

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:42 am

My husband's employer announced that there will be no bonuses this Christmas, and no annual pay raise. Bah humbug! The employer is Cox Communications.... how much money do you suppose they have??? Pay your cable bill! LOL!

pipanale · Post by **pipanale** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:44 am

what about the fact that Christmas season seems to be starting in October now?

That's awful. We have 2 stations on the radio that went All Christmas music last week. Friggin' killing me.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:52 am

XOXO wrote:
I prefer to pay them well and nix the bonus all together. I find it stressful and thankless.

GG

I would like to do away with the Christmas bonus thing too. My dad warned Husband to never start it, that if you want to do something wait until the end of next quarter or whatever, just keep it away from the holidays.

We are in the construction business and neither regular or bonus pay is tied to meeting goals or definated incentives. If we have a decent year, everyone gets a few weeks pay. This is not a decent year.

I do want to release a simple, straight forward explaination.

Ultimately the problem is not whiners, it is the lack of boundaries.

usvi-on-line

Login or Register with your Facebook account

The 1st thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...

The 1st thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...