NO BONUS AGAIN, Merry Christmas

[eyeh8flt]

In 1998 as an A&P I received a $3000 bonus just for doing my job. I then made the transition to pilot. Since then I have worked as a pilot for a flight school, cargo company and as a Captain for a private company. Regardless of working long hours, I have seen no bonus or any sort of additional finnancial gain from these money hungry employers. I was promised and lied to about these bonuses. Checks must be stuck in the mail. These Scooges know who they are. I just wanted to extend a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the pilots out there who will be working over the holidays, missing out on family events, making money for the company and getting shafted by the boss. Peace.

 

[TWA]

There comes a time when you have to decide whether you want to do what you love, or do what brings in $$$. You should also never count on a bonus. You're only setting yourself up to get hurt if you count on something not in the contract.

 

[mar]

Grinches

Christmas bonus?

I've been cuttin' a check at this flying thing for 12 years now and have only worked for one company that offered a Christmas bonus....a single $100 bill.

And I was pretty impressed.

I agree you can't count on anything not in the contract but if they "promised" and "lied" to you, well that's pretty rude.

You better get over it though otherwise it's gonna eat you up. This job is by definition thankless...even if you save a multi-million dollar airplane full of pax from certain destruction, even then, you might just get a pat on the back for doing your job.

Good luck.

 

[TransMach]

Christmas Bonus

You've got to be kidding? Christmas Bonus? What the heck is that? I've been working full time (and then some) for well more than 30 years and I have received a true "Christmas Bonus" once and only once. That once was as a flight instructor, and a new hire at that ... having been with the FBO for about 2 months when the company Christmas Party rolled around. Each employee received a personally addressed and signed greeting card from the President/Owner with a $100 bill in it.

I've been in the military, worked nearly a decade in the telecommunications/operations business, construction, air traffic management, air traffic control, flight instructor, charter pilot, airline pilot, air carrier manager and chief cook 'n bottle washer ... no bonus.

Get over it.

TransMach

 

[apache]

You'll have nothing.......And like it!

 

[planejockey]

Well buddy I have learned one thing in the brief time I have been in this field, all it boils down to is that you are a minion to the boss! The reality is that pilots are a dime a dozen, Why should they give you a bonus when there are 100 other hungry pilots waiting to take the job you occupy with a pay cut and no BONUS?

 

[TransMach]

Christmas Bonus

Well, maybe you're right. But I doubt it.

Those that know me doubt it (really) also.


TransMach

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

What, no Christmas bonus? That was the exclamation from my laywer buddy when I told him that I would not be getting a Christmas bonus. Sorry mate, but you might need to consider another profession if you have and desire the expectation of a bonus.

 

[FearlessFreep]

I have worked at two places so far that have treated their employees fairly well over the holidays.

One Part 135 company bought Christmas Dinner at all the pilot bases for all the pilots. On Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays if the pilot lived at their outstations they would let them drop the cargo at the hub, reposition the aircraft out and back from their outstation empty so that they wouldn't have to drive back home or drive back after the holiday. There was also a small Christmas bonus as well. One year one of the pilots came down with cancer. All the pilots pooled their bonuses and donated the money to the victim and his family. A very generous act. The pilot did recover and still works at that company to this day. One day while working at this company I got a small bonus check from that company for "hard work & dedication" performed during the year. I had also received some coupons for free meals at different restaurants. These might all be considered small jestures, but in some way it shows at least a modicum of appreciation, which is a lot more than what I have received at other places. It was my impression that if higher management would have allowed it the "gifts" might have been more substantial.

The company I work for now is giving ALL the employees Christmas bonuses - and it is to my manner of thinking more than just a token. Crewmembers while out on the road will get holiday meals (Thanksgiving & Christmas - I don't know about New Year's) paid for on the Captain's company credit card. Additionally there is $100.00 paid to crewmembers that are working during Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

Both these companies are small & privately held. I guess it is all up to each individual employer.

I am thankful that I have gotten these, and I would never be so presumptious to consider that I will ever get them again or that they would ever continue. We can all just hope for the best.

I ran a traffic watch operation at one time. During the Christmas holiday I would buy all the pilots a gift. I paid for them all out of my own pocket as the boss was a downright cheapskate skinflint. I just thought that it was the right thing to do, I am not mentioning this to be self-aggrandizing.

Best Holiday Wishes To All!

 

[Draginass]

Booonuss???? BOOONUSS?? YOU . . . . want a BONUS? BAH HUMBUG!!
YOU PILOT INGRATES ARE LUCKY TO HAVE A JOB AT WHATEVER I WANT TO PAY YOU. NOW . . . . GET BACK TO WORK BEFORE I FIRE YOU AND SEND YOU CHILDREN TO THE WORKHOUSE.

Sincerely,
Your CEO