Something To Think About

Holiday Bonus

By:  Dr. Michael R. McGough

It was a small family-owned company that opened in 1895.  The founders borrowed against everything they had to get it off the ground.  For the first ten years it was touch and go.  Twice they almost lost everything, but through hard work, long hours and frugal management they not only survived, but they grew.

They never wanted to be competitive with the national corporations.  They were a family business, and they wanted to be supportive of the families of their employees.  Through production bonuses, a solid retirement plan, good benefits and other incentives, they were a company that took care of its employees.   Generally speaking once you got a job with them, you stayed until you were old enough to retire.

Over the last century the company had gone through the same economic and social ups and downs as the rest of the country.  Surviving them all, they came into the 21st century strong and financially solid.  Their future looked bright.  But as the first decade of the new century progressed, the economic turmoil of the country began to wear away some of the century-old stability they had built up.  Adjustments had to be made, and business as usual was no longer the standing order of the day.

One of the first changes was related to leaves and absences.  Production fluctuations driven by market demands made it necessary to curtail vacations and non-medical leaves during certain times of the year.  Some of the employees who hunted and fished found that particularly annoying.  It was not a major problem and in time they got over it.  They had come to count on being able to determine when they wanted vacation, and for years that had not posed a problem.  But all that changed in a sluggish economy. 

During one particularly slow period a year ago, everyone got an unexpected week of vacation in September, when a lack of orders ground production nearly to a halt.  Sensing the strain such a move could put on families, particularly young families, the owners were able to pay everyone half of their pay for that week, and as orders picked up, overtime opportunities were given to those who needed them most.  

The distinctive color of the company's product was a recognizable symbol of pride.  For decades all employees wore the light blue color for which the company had become known.  Just about a year ago, management announced that there would be no more uniform shirts provided by the company.  The cost of providing these shirts was simply prohibitive, and the money could be better spent elsewhere.  Along with this announcement, employees were asked to continue to wear light blue shirts when possible.  One angry employee put a sign on the board in the break room which read: "If they aren't going to provide my shirt, they can't tell me what color it has to be."    When the great-grandson of the founder read that handwritten note, the hurt on his face was noticeable.

The summer company picnic last August was not much different than the picnics of previous years.  The annual company picnic had been held on the first Saturday in August since 1924.  During some brief comments made at the picnic, the current president of the company shared that the company was on stable ground, but that orders were still off.  She made it clear that everything possible was being done to protect the company and its most valuable asset—the people of the company.

In October it was announced that the annual Christmas bonus and party were being cancelled.  That sent a real shock wave through the plant.  Rumors ran wild.  There were those who were angry and felt that something owed them each year had been taken away for no sound reason.  There were others who were certain that this was a doomsday call that the company was going under.  In fact, neither was really the case. 

Sensing the need to answer a growing concern, the management team met to draft a statement designed to address the rumors.  However, before they could, one insightful employee did it for them.  His simple handwritten note said it all.

 "Folks, I too would like to take vacation when it best suits me, and that unexpected week off last year was tough for me too.  I always appreciated our company uniform shirts.  I was proud to wear it.  And yes, I'm going to miss the Christmas bonus and party.  But rather than complaining about some necessary changes that have come our way, I am going to focus on one simple reality.  As this year comes to an end, and at least for the foreseeable future, we all have our jobs.  And that my friends, is a holiday bonus worth appreciating, because that's a gift that keeps on giving!"