GE issues $0 bonus's for x-mas.

[TerryBPP]

I have a poker buddy who is a general manager for GE. He told me that when a employee doesn't meet their yearly quota they still recieve a x-mas bonus but the dollar amount is $0.00. He did recieve a pretty hefty bonus but he did see a few people with the no bonus bonus.

[on-ramp]

"Always with unyielding integrity" is one of their mottos.

"Here's your x-mas bonus check: $0"

[Par911]

Christmas bonus.........what's that?

[Z-man]

Wonder how much $$ they waste either printing the checks or updating their Peoplesoft system to accept a bonus check of $0.00.

-Z.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by Z-man
Wonder how much $$ they waste either printing the checks or updating their Peoplesoft system to accept a bonus check of $0.00.

-Z.

More importantly, getting a "bonus" check only to discover the amount is $0 is an insult as well as a slap in the face..

[legion]

Originally posted by on-ramp
More importantly, getting a "bonus" check only to discover the amount is $0 is an insult as well as a slap in the face..

I think that is the point.

[fuelie600]

Originally posted by on-ramp
More importantly, getting a "bonus" check only to discover the amount is $0 is an insult as well as a slap in the face..

Soundn't be a slap. They would know well in advance whether or not they made their goals/quotas. It can be a motivational tool.

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by fuelie600
Soundn't be a slap. They would know well in advance whether or not they made their goals/quotas. It can be a motivational tool.

Yeah, motovation to find a better job.

I think they printed them so it looked like everyone recieved a bonus. So they wouldnt be embarassed. If GE was using it as motovation then they should have attached a explaination to the check.

[on-ramp]

How is getting a bonus check with "$0.00" in the amount motivation?

I'd be insulted and pissed.. and looking for a better job where the company doesn't play practical jokes on it employees.

[Z-man]

Originally posted by fuelie600
Soundn't be a slap. They would know well in advance whether or not they made their goals/quotas. It can be a motivational tool.

Not necessarily - car companies have been known to change their year end goals throughout the year to suit their bottom line needs. It's all a game, really, and a markettnig ploy, as well as a cost measure in hard times.

Ficticious example:
- In January, Car Maker "Z-man-mobile" sets a goal of selling 100,000 cars in the year.
- In March, after a dismal quarter, the number is revised to 75,000.
- In June, after the introduction of their new hybrid roadster, sales kick up a but, and the goal is changed again to 80,000.
- At the September board of govs meeting, the CEO is ousted. The new guy thinks the car maker can achieve the original goal of 100,000 sales.
- Hurriances in the carribean destroy the supply line for Z-man-mobile - apparently, the soft tops for the new roadster were manufactured in Cuba.
- The media gets word of the Cuban connection.
- The feberal government starts to investigate the company, with the new CEO denying any knowledge of the supply of soft tops from Cuba.
- Z-man-mobile stocks plummet in November, and the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. As a cost savings tactic, the 100,000 car goal is not changed, which would reflect a cost cutting measure of $1 billion for the company, since the year end bonuses are based 50 percent on the corporate goal.
- The workers, while disappointed with the lack of a bonus check, are made to believe there was nothing that could be done...

Or something like that. Watch for the 'made-for-TV' movie on Lifetime next fall. Working title: "The story of America's First hybrid roadster: the Havana Special"


-Z-man.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by on-ramp
More importantly, getting a "bonus" check only to discover the amount is $0 is an insult as well as a slap in the face..

I should only hope they get another envelope pointing them to the nearest unemployment office.

Bravo to GE.

[Nathans_Dad]

Whoa...somebody pinch me...I agree with Shaun...

[pbs911]

No Christmas bonus, no more work, is a family tradition. My grandfather once quit his job because the company he worked for refusedto give out their traditional Christmas turkey.

[notfarnow]

Sure, the guys are probably well aware they aren't getting a bonus. I still think it's a total slap in the face.

Anyone who has made a living in sales knows how hard it can be to stay motivated when you're in a slump. If you work long enough in sales, it happens to everyone, even the best.

A good company works with their staff to keep them motivated and hone their skills if they are struggling or missing their targets. If someone has been consistently underperforming, then let them go.

Sending $0.00 bonus checks is a kick in the nuts. If I my coworkers were getting $0.00 bonus checks, it would demotivate ME.

I just can't see the logic in this strategy.

[on-ramp]

notfarnow has it right.

The professional way to handle it is to let the employee go for underperformance or give them a warning and put them on a probation period.

sending "$0.00" checks is playing games/jokes and makes for bad press.

btw, I work for GE. I'll let you know if I receive any checks in the mail.

[Z-man]

Who do you blame? An apethetic employee that barely gets buy, or a car company on the brink of disaster because of many high-up mistakes.

I bet the high up people will be getting a bonus this year at GM.

-Z.

[notfarnow]

GE

[tcar]

Originally posted by on-ramp
notfarnow has it right.

The professional way to handle it is to let the employee go for underperformance or give them a warning and put them on a probation period.

sending "$0.00" checks is playing games/jokes and makes for bad press.

btw, I work for GE. I'll let you know if I receive any checks in the mail.

Nonsense. The employee knows that they haven't met their goal.

GE is really a good company. Excellent idea. Only people w/out a clue would be surprised.

People that get mad because they didn't get their bonus can quit and the company is better off.

People that use it for incentive to do better try harder and the company is better off.

[Par911]

Originally posted by notfarnow
GE

"We Bring Good Things to Life"

[on-ramp]

I know GE is a good company. They are right not to give out bonus checks to bad employees. That's not the problem.

The problem is the way that they did it.