Rick Nelson

Tell us about the misers…
December 18, 2006

…and we are not talking about multiple-input shift registers.

Daniel Gross, who writes the Moneybox column at Slate, has been tracking things that employers do that annoy employees and that, in the opinion of Gross, are counterproductive: refusing to order staples, because paperclips can be recycled, then canceling paperclips because they are too expensive. One of the most egregious, he says, is eliminating free coffee.

Now, Gross is tracking Christmas Scrooges. He cites the consulting firm Hewitt Associates reporting that “two-thirds of companies won't pay holiday bonuses this year, up from 59 percent in 2005. Of the 34 percent of firms that will dispense holiday largesse, ‘39 percent will award cash, 37 percent will provide retailer gift certificates, and 27 percent will give employees a gift of food (e.g., turkey or ham).’ Meanwhile, 65 percent of companies have planned a holiday party, down from 74 percent in 2005.”

Now, Gross, “in an effort to spread a lack of good cheer this holiday season...invites readers to share their tales of Christmas parties canceled, bonuses revoked, lame gifts, and general Scrooge-like behavior.”

Go here to find out how to submit your reports to him. You’ve got until 11:59 p.m. EST today.

As for my part, the only change I’ve noticed (I don’t believe I have ever gotten a Christmas bonus) is that our holiday party, which used to be before Christmas, is now in January. I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

Posted by Rick Nelson on December 18, 2006 | Comments (0)