1776Reporting
A McDonald’s employee has sparked outrage online after revealing the disappointing Christmas bonus they received. What was meant to spread holiday cheer turned into a frustrating experience for the worker, leaving both them and countless others upset.
The Reddit user, u/MMS37, shared their dismay, posting an image of what they described as a thoughtless gift from one of the world’s biggest companies. The “bonus” included a cardboard McDonald’s-branded bag and a free movie ticket— but it didn’t take long for people to realize why this gift was more of a letdown than a reward.
While at first glance the items might seem like small tokens of appreciation, the employee revealed the major flaws that made the “bonus” almost useless. “The bag is made from thick cardboard so it will disintegrate in the rain,” they explained. To make matters worse, the cinema ticket wasn’t valid locally. “A free cinema ticket is to use in another city,” they added, noting it would cost more to travel there than to just buy a movie ticket nearby.
The worker summed up the frustration perfectly: “I work for one of the biggest companies in the world, this was my Christmas ‘bonus.’”
The post quickly gained traction, with people expressing anger and disappointment at McDonald’s for offering such a lackluster incentive. Many felt that labeling the gift as a “bonus” was almost insulting.
One user, u/ShockWave_Omega, reflected on their past experience: “It’s been 24 years since I worked for McDonald’s. Things have not gotten that much better it seems.” Others criticized the practice of giving branded items to employees instead of something meaningful.
“They’re trying to make their employees into living advertisements,” wrote u/CategoryKiwi. “They should be (separately/additively) paying people to use that garbage.”
Branded merchandise as perks seemed to hit a nerve with many workers. User u/Glum_Material3030 commented: “I despise these ‘perks’ of branded company merchandise. I would often rather have the $4 it costs!”
The reactions didn’t stop there. Some users argued that getting no bonus at all would have been less insulting than receiving a poorly thought-out gift.
“I actually appreciate when my company just said f**k it and stopped doing Christmas bonuses altogether. It’s actually more dignified than this insulting sht,”* shared u/ShiftWorth5734.
Others offered sarcastic suggestions for how to respond to the gift. One user, u/Stereotypicalguy1964, shared: “When my job would give us ridiculous junk like this, we would immediately throw it in the nearest trash can or drop it on the boss’s desk the next time we were in the office.” Another chimed in: “Bin this in front of your manager,” wrote u/forhekset666.
The sentiment across the thread was clear: employees deserve more respect and consideration, especially during the holidays. Instead of small, impractical gifts that feel more like an afterthought, many users felt companies should focus on meaningful rewards that make workers feel valued and appreciated.
I work for one of the biggest companies in the world, this was my Christmas ‘bonus’
byu/MMS37 inantiwork
One user summed it up perfectly: “Your ‘bonus’ is that you get to run around giving us free advertising. Uh… no,” said u/Numbsurprise.
While McDonald’s has yet to comment on this viral post, the backlash highlights a growing frustration among workers who feel overlooked and undervalued. As one user pointed out, sometimes no bonus at all is better than a disappointing one that leaves employees feeling more like unpaid brand ambassadors than team members.
For companies, the message is simple: Employees deserve meaningful recognition, not gimmicks or empty gestures. A little thoughtfulness can go a long way in building trust and appreciation, especially during the season of giving.
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