How can my former boss be so cruel to her entire staff?
By spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
United States
December 24, 2008 3:04pm CST
When I was laid off last month a union had just started making their pitch to the employees. Recently there was a vote and the majority of the staff and crews voted to unionize. This is the same union that represents the parent company and our wages have always been lower than theirs so it should have come as no surprise to our boss that the majority would lean in that direction...especially when it came on the heels of my lay off after two years of excellent service. Using Florida's "at will" rule I was let go without cause when, in fact, my position was eliminated, entitling me to a severance package worth over $2k.
Yesterday, December 23rd. was the company Christmas party. Every year my boss gives the staff and crews their yearly bonus which usually equals to two week's pay in appreciation for their hard work during the year. This has been the tradition since the company first came here years ago. The parent company does the same for their employees. The crews and staff depend on this bonus and, in many cases, use funds slated to pay bills to buy Christmas gifts, knowing that the bonus will be given. Yesterday my former boss did not give out the Christmas bonus. Instead she informed the staff and crews as they gathered around the feast she had purchased that, because they had voted for the union and a contract had not been agreed upon, she was under no obligation to give them one. Needless to say, not many stuck around after that. There was no holiday cheer...instead phone calls to disappointed spouses and to the union reps. The union reps say that she can't legally do this and that they will work to get these folks' their bonus checks but it will take some time and the damage has already been done.
I can understand my former boss being unhappy about the union coming in but to take it out on, not only the staff and crews...many of whom have given 110% to the company day after day...but to take it out on their wives and children...people she KNOWS, children she's HELD IN HER ARMS...is beyond vindictive and ugly.
I am still so stunned that anyone could be so cold and heartless...and to intentionally wait unti the last minute in order to make this Christmas as difficult as possible for her staff. So, now I'm wondering. Has anyone else had such an evil boss who pulled a dirty trick like this, either at Christmas or at any other time?
2 people like this
7 responses
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
25 Dec 08
I agree with one of the earlier posters that you have to remember that everyone is suffering through a recession and the paying of bonuses is dependent on the company making a profit. The staff at where you work are so used to getting a bonus they consider it a part of their yearly pay which it is not. I am sure this person is not all evil as you portray.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
26 Dec 08
Unfortunately, she is. The last profit/loss statement I did (for fiscal year 2008) showed a final profit (after expenses) of over $18 million. During 2008 the company's revenue almost doubled...as did the customer base. I handled marketing, too, and we could barely keep up with the influx of new customers along with the increase demands of the current customers. Yes, many industries are suffering...I'm not arguing that fact...but this industry is not and is, in fact, in demand and growing at a fast rate *because* of the economic situation.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
25 Dec 08
She probably got a bigger bonus herself for not giving out their bonus. My mom's company is pretty heartless, they tell their employees if they work short all year and don't have to call temps to help them they get a better Christmas bonus. This year they all got a $15 gift card to Wal-Mart for their constant shortage. Hell of a bonus huh? lol
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
26 Dec 08
Zeph, this woman makes so much money that her bonus last year was over $35k so I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she and those in upper management who had no say about the union, received theirs.
@freak369 (5112)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I have had a few bad bosses over the years but the worst was the one that made everyone pay for coffee, creamer, sweetener etc for the coffee maker. Until he took over the company those supplies were always paid for from petty cash and averaged about $15.00 a month. Scrooge deducted $5.00 from everyone's paycheck once a month ... there were 11 people in the office so he was getting $55.00 a month - almost five as much as what it was costing petty cash and no, we didn't get gourmet coffee or doughnuts from that $5.00. Needless to say, after three months I called the payroll company and had them cancel it .. after which I was fired but ultimately a hell of a lot better off without that job.
I do feel bad for the union workers that didn't get a bonus. If it was something that was given out all the time then they should have given at least a few weeks of notice so people weren't sitting there waiting for it.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Wow, that boss was a real crook! I agree, you're better off without that job.
This bonus is so standard that it's mentioned in the Employee Handbook which will help the union in their fight to get this money for the crews. I agree that the *decent* thing to do would have been for her to inform the crew and staff in advance that there would be no bonus but her goal was to hurt them. Most of the guys have families with young children and now these families will be struggling because they're financial plan for Christmas was the bonus. Fortunately, my son-in-law and daughter rent their home from my husband and me and we've already told them not to worry about the rent and have offered to help with any bills they might need help with. This Scrooge won't steal Christmas from my grandchildren! 
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
25 Dec 08
You know spalladino EMPLOYEES should has consideration too. As for Union I have seen businesses closed down because of UNIONS they give employees high expectation and when the reality comes in the businesses has to closed their doors. Alot of companies in my country has not paid bonuses because of the economic situation. As I was telling someone this afternoon that if I was employed to a company and the deal was bonus or laid off. I would tell them that I don't want the bonus because after receiving that two weeks payment the rest of the time I will be out of a job. I am self employed.
Business is not a cut and dry thing and nuff time we will say that a company is making money but they are not. They are barely keeping afloat and because they know that the workers are depending on them they cease not to closed the business door. We should always be grateful.
What these Union are telling the workers are bullsh't. No way in the law states that Bonus is legal. Bosses give bonuses because of the goodness of his/her heart. Some will give it as shares while others will received the money at the end of the year. But remember this that no boss is under obligation to give any worker bonus. Unless you sign a contract that specifically tells you that you are entitle to 5% of profit at the end of the year. If not then this is not a legal battle.
I am sick and tired of hearing Unions telling workers all bunch of lies. Workers on the other hand need to KNOW the Labour Laws of their land. I remember when I was managing a business and I fired this girl who I consider at the time my best friend. All of the staff told her to go to the Labour Board. When she went and they investigate it out I was in the right and if I wanted I could have press charges. You see knowledge is power. After this incident the workers look at me differently. That is when I started to educate them about Laws of the Work place.
She is the owner and she can stop being Bonuses as well as give it. Persons should also remember that Unions is a business as well and in order to receive your dividends they will tell you what you want to hear. Instead of telling the truth. After couple of months collecting Union fee they tell you that it cannot work out and move on to another place. In time like this persons has to be smart.
Happy Holidays.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
26 Dec 08
As I commented above, Kerri, the company is not hurting or suffering from the current economic situation...in fact, the opposite is true. The increases and instability in the price of fuel has helped them to grow and they will continue to show increased profits for years to come. I did the revenue reporting, I did the internal budgets, I did the cost analysis, I did the profit/loss. The company is necessary to the region and cannot relocate because it's a railroad. The company, along with the parent company, show profits in the millions every year but the parent company's middle name is greed...max profit with as small a staff as possible. It's gone on for a long time. If/when wages at the company increase to the level of union employees at the parent company who do the same exact job, the company will still see a large profit because...again due to the rise and instability in the cost of fuel...new customers are added almost weekly as the cost of moving products over the road increase.
The issue of the bonuses is a standard, not an option. It's in the Employee handbook that you will receive it if you have worked for the company for one year and are currently employed when it is given out. You can divert from a standard if economics make it necessary for you to do so but, what you can't do is to announce to employees that you are punishing them by withholding it because they voted to unionize. This union has represented the workers at the parent company, which is very large, for many years so I doubt they'll pull up stakes and leave because, I agree, they're a business and their goal is to grow. I guess we'll see how things end up.
Happy holidays to you too.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
25 Dec 08
I really don't know any good boss and about the bonus, well my hubby experienced the same. no bonus for this year. but the company told the employees early so they are not expecting it.
you are right though that the boss could've said this earlier. but just because parent company accept unions doesn't mean the rest will follow. if the parent company allows other companies to make their own decision about the unions then they can create certain restriction about employees that choose to unionize and bonus may not be the only thing that stops.
you should also check your employment contract, see what it says about bonus
if it doesn't say anything about it, this means they can stop giving it out whenever they choose to and for whatever reason.
this boss doesn't seem like a good boss but if you don't have anything in writing that can help nail her, there is nothing much you can do. plus this is difficult time for businesses too so even if the law is on your side, they have to consider special circumstances like the crisis.
