30 Worst and Unbelievable Christmas Bonuses Given to People for Their Hard Work and Dedication on the Job

Some Christmas bonuses feel generous, and others feel like a joke nobody asked for. This roundup collects the latter, from tiny tokens to gifts that left workers wondering whether their bosses were serious.

The stories below show employees getting everything from novelty items to bargain-bin treats after months or years of hard work. In each case, the gap between effort and reward is what makes the reaction so sharp, and so memorable.

By the end, it is hard not to wonder how some companies thought these gifts would land. Read on.

1. The bonus that 'almost' made you happy.

TheLordPresents

2. The 'you still have work, but only at home' gift from your inconsiderate boss.

thenarcostate

3. A token of tangerine for your 22 years of service.

rxb73

4. When the company can't support you, they'll give you this kit instead so you can support yourself.

MegaBeefBowl

5. The dragon ornament carried your Christmas bonus in the wind.

embracingparadox

Some of these gifts are so small, they almost feel like a prank.

6. The candies are as stale as their bosses' hearts with their insincere cards.

Capt_Irk

7. Choose your $15 bet: ham, turkey, or veggies?

TsarAnderson

8. Snowman soup kit to warm your empty bonus pockets.

freddielizzard

9. Chapstick for your overtime weeks.

virginiacreeperr

10. The kit that will survive the holidays longer than those who are using it.

Its_Only_Cindy

11. A for At least.

starjasper

12. Is 'Sauage' read as sewage?

jbourne0129

13. The company knows you are thirsty for better work opportunities but can only provide them through water bottles.

marques33

14. This cheap snowflake ornament doesn't even reflect the strength it symbolizes.

A-T-P

15. The bracelets that will make quitting work worth it.

AuCeallaigh

At this point, the holiday spirit is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

This is similar to the coworker who was excluded from the office gift collection, then skipped the birthday bash.

16. If the employees work hard enough, they'll get their store manager a vacation, not for themselves.

GurpsWibcheengs

17. The store is so successful, but it doesn't show in their bonuses.

Inuyasharlz

18. This key might open better opportunities for you than your current job.

squashlolz

19. Post-it notes to keep track of your company's disappointing gifts.

apocalypse31

20. Cookies for your heroic duties.

grobend

21. They give you blankets so you wouldn't feel how cold-hearted they are.

f**kyouiquit

22. Hopefully, the bonuses will pop up, too.

MAXIMUSPR007

23. An apple a day keeps the bonuses away.

Mrs-PB

24. The value of your efforts is equivalent to a $15 coupon.

Searchin4AFartOfGold

By now, the pattern is impossible to miss.

25. They should have also included instructions on what employees are supposed to do with it.

Forex4x

26. Is this Thanksgiving or Multi-Level Marketing?

Formal-Concern

27. The party food that looks as sad as the employee who is eating it.

scifi-riot

28. Sending you some crunch from your employees and their Cheetos.

Dukedyduke

29. Kid snacks are for employees; bonuses are for bosses.

lil_Dumplins

30. Monopoly money for your holidays.

nijoih

This might be offensive to employees who have put everything they have into doing their jobs well, only to be unappreciated. This is why many workers quit and seek employers who will treat them better.

Bonuses shouldn't be perceived as a loss to a company or business but as a form of investment. When employees are happy with how they are treated by a company, they produce greater results and become more productive.

Want more awkward gift fallout? See what happened after coworkers handed her a hideous dog garland.