<![CDATA[Comments on: End of the Year Bonus Surprise]]> 2010-02-04 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 我昨天收到年终奖啦！开心!

不过圣诞节到新年买了很多东西，年终奖都用来还信用卡了。

]]> 我昨天收到年终奖啦！开心!

不过圣诞节到新年买了很多东西，年终奖都用来还信用卡了。

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> 你是不是个“年光族”？

]]> 你是不是个“年光族”？

]]> <![CDATA[By: rolo_]]> 听说中国的新年快到这里，我希望你还有钱买你的亲戚一些不错的礼物啊。：）

]]> 听说中国的新年快到这里，我希望你还有钱买你的亲戚一些不错的礼物啊。：）

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 嗯，我的年终奖差不多都给家人买东西了。只给自己买了一件。

]]> 嗯，我的年终奖差不多都给家人买东西了。只给自己买了一件。

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 呵呵，我不是“年光族”，也不是“月光族”。我每个月的工资都交给老公了。

]]> 呵呵，我不是“年光族”，也不是“月光族”。我每个月的工资都交给老公了。

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi lujiaojie

你的意思是不是你丈夫掌握家庭财政大权？在日本，一般老婆当财政部长。我的家庭也不例外。

]]> Hi lujiaojie

你的意思是不是你丈夫掌握家庭财政大权？在日本，一般老婆当财政部长。我的家庭也不例外。

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 嗯。我老公比较会理财。

]]> 嗯。我老公比较会理财。

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> 让年终奖来得更猛烈些吧！

]]> 让年终奖来得更猛烈些吧！

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> 奖金来得匆匆，去得也匆匆！

]]> 奖金来得匆匆，去得也匆匆！

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> 不是匆匆！就是一瞬间，光了！

]]> 不是匆匆！就是一瞬间，光了！

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Do you get end of year bonus outside China?

]]> Do you get end of year bonus outside China?

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> In Japan, "salarymen" and civil servants get bonus in June and December. Civil servants also get fiscal year-end bonus in March. In general, "servants" get higher pay than their "masters" in Japan, hehe.

]]> In Japan, "salarymen" and civil servants get bonus in June and December. Civil servants also get fiscal year-end bonus in March. In general, "servants" get higher pay than their "masters" in Japan, hehe.

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> American government employees (military and civilian) do not get end of year bonuses.

]]> American government employees (military and civilian) do not get end of year bonuses.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi pretzellogic

Don't worry. Instead, the people on Wall Street get a big bonus in the US.

]]> Hi pretzellogic

Don't worry. Instead, the people on Wall Street get a big bonus in the US.

]]> <![CDATA[By: sydcarten]]> there's no such things as bonuses in my job

but we get generous penalties for working on christmas day and other public holidays

]]> there's no such things as bonuses in my job

but we get generous penalties for working on christmas day and other public holidays

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> ok, to me that sounds like you get fined for working on holidays... but I venture to guess you mean the company is penalized by paying a fine to you.

]]> ok, to me that sounds like you get fined for working on holidays... but I venture to guess you mean the company is penalized by paying a fine to you.

]]> <![CDATA[By: razta]]> Gong xi ni!

]]> Gong xi ni!

]]> <![CDATA[By: aperin]]> 在美国这种现象很平常。 但是不要办年货。应该省钱。：）

]]> 在美国这种现象很平常。 但是不要办年货。应该省钱。：）

]]> <![CDATA[By: sydcarten]]> maybe it's just an aussie term.

a penalty rate means extra money you get paid for working under certain conditions.

]]> maybe it's just an aussie term.

a penalty rate means extra money you get paid for working under certain conditions.

]]> <![CDATA[By: piyan]]> I learned a while back that for the Chinese word for "camera" , there can be two different ways of writing the "xiang"

one is 相機 just like in the dialogue, and I think the other one was either 象or 像。 Can someone tell me if I'm right or wrong?

]]> I learned a while back that for the Chinese word for "camera" , there can be two different ways of writing the "xiang"

one is 相機 just like in the dialogue, and I think the other one was either 象or 像。 Can someone tell me if I'm right or wrong?

]]> <![CDATA[By: istara]]> I work in China but in an International company. Most of our employees are locals and seem to expect to get the same benefits as working for a Chinese company, such as the "13th" salary. But we have our own company culture and benefits, like performance pay, recognition programs, additional annual leave, flexible working hours etc as well as paying quite a generous salary for the market. Do you think we should still pay a Spring Festival bonus too, even if it means reducing the monthly salary for the rest of the year? How much should a foreign company in China comply with local customs (not just local labour law)?

]]> I work in China but in an International company. Most of our employees are locals and seem to expect to get the same benefits as working for a Chinese company, such as the "13th" salary. But we have our own company culture and benefits, like performance pay, recognition programs, additional annual leave, flexible working hours etc as well as paying quite a generous salary for the market. Do you think we should still pay a Spring Festival bonus too, even if it means reducing the monthly salary for the rest of the year? How much should a foreign company in China comply with local customs (not just local labour law)?

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi istana

Please try to see if the chengyu "朝三暮四" works at your company.

]]> Hi istana

Please try to see if the chengyu "朝三暮四" works at your company.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi piyan

Camera ..... 照相机，相机

Video camera ......摄像机 (be noted 摄象机 is a typo)

Movie camera ......摄影机

]]> Hi piyan

Camera ..... 照相机，相机

Video camera ......摄像机 (be noted 摄象机 is a typo)

Movie camera ......摄影机

]]> <![CDATA[By: istara]]> good one! I found the story behind this chengyu on nciku:

Someone who easily changes their mind

朝三暮四

zhāosānmùsì

It literally means three in the morning and four in the evening

The Story:

There was once a man in the State of Song who raised monkeys. The monkeys could understand the words the man spoke to them, and as the man became poorer, he decided to reduce the amount of food he gave to the monkeys. At first, he proposed to them that he give them three acorns in the morning, and four in the evening. When the monkeys heard this, they were upset and protested angrily, so the owner proposed a new idea. "How about I give you four acorns in the morning and three in the evening?" The monkeys were then satisfied.

Moral of the Story : A fool changes his mind easily.

I agree, they could work for a Chinese company and not have the same culture, atmosphere and experiences that we can offer if they chose to!

]]> good one! I found the story behind this chengyu on nciku:

Someone who easily changes their mind

朝三暮四

zhāosānmùsì

It literally means three in the morning and four in the evening

The Story:

There was once a man in the State of Song who raised monkeys. The monkeys could understand the words the man spoke to them, and as the man became poorer, he decided to reduce the amount of food he gave to the monkeys. At first, he proposed to them that he give them three acorns in the morning, and four in the evening. When the monkeys heard this, they were upset and protested angrily, so the owner proposed a new idea. "How about I give you four acorns in the morning and three in the evening?" The monkeys were then satisfied.

Moral of the Story : A fool changes his mind easily.

I agree, they could work for a Chinese company and not have the same culture, atmosphere and experiences that we can offer if they chose to!

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi istara

The chengyu "朝三暮四" originally means "to fool people with a cheap trick", as you can see from the episode of "monkeys and three/four acorns", but interestingly it's often used in the sense of "a fool changes his mind easily" in modern China. In Japanese, "朝三暮四" still keeps its original meaning. For the record, "朝令夕改" means "often change mind/rules".

]]> Hi istara

The chengyu "朝三暮四" originally means "to fool people with a cheap trick", as you can see from the episode of "monkeys and three/four acorns", but interestingly it's often used in the sense of "a fool changes his mind easily" in modern China. In Japanese, "朝三暮四" still keeps its original meaning. For the record, "朝令夕改" means "often change mind/rules".

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> In France, there's a similar bonus called "prime". If the employee's performance is satisfactory to his/her superviser, he/she could get the yearly prime. Most employees could get one unless s/he really commits big mistakes.

]]> In France, there's a similar bonus called "prime". If the employee's performance is satisfactory to his/her superviser, he/she could get the yearly prime. Most employees could get one unless s/he really commits big mistakes.

]]> <![CDATA[By: weibwo]]> jennyzhu

I frequently get a bonus at the end of the year as well as each quarter depending on the performance of our company.  Bonuses in the US are usually based on the profits of a company except in the financial industry.  It seems the more money lost the higher the bonuses.  These very high bonuses in the financial industry are meant to retain and recruit talent.  If by talent they mean greedy, self serving thieves, I question the practice.

]]> jennyzhu

I frequently get a bonus at the end of the year as well as each quarter depending on the performance of our company.  Bonuses in the US are usually based on the profits of a company except in the financial industry.  It seems the more money lost the higher the bonuses.  These very high bonuses in the financial industry are meant to retain and recruit talent.  If by talent they mean greedy, self serving thieves, I question the practice.

]]> <![CDATA[By: weibwo]]> Another question.  I understand the 薪水 is used more often for salary.  Is that true?

]]> Another question.  I understand the 薪水 is used more often for salary.  Is that true?

]]> <![CDATA[By: martyzcp]]> My international company pays a 13th month bonus at the end of the year but only at Chinese facilities. They also have a big pre-Spring Festival event (this year a dinner, last year a big performance consisting mainly of employee-done skits, dances, singing, etc). Globally employees are eligable for a bonus based on company performance, but that's really a different matter. This year the global bonus was cancelled, but there has never been a suggestion of cancelling the 13th month payout in China - it seems to be considered to be a guaranteed part of salary.

]]> My international company pays a 13th month bonus at the end of the year but only at Chinese facilities. They also have a big pre-Spring Festival event (this year a dinner, last year a big performance consisting mainly of employee-done skits, dances, singing, etc). Globally employees are eligable for a bonus based on company performance, but that's really a different matter. This year the global bonus was cancelled, but there has never been a suggestion of cancelling the 13th month payout in China - it seems to be considered to be a guaranteed part of salary.

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> changye is right. Thank you, changye.

]]> changye is right. Thank you, changye.

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> Both 工资gōngzī and 薪水xīnshuǐ are often used for salary.

]]> Both 工资gōngzī and 薪水xīnshuǐ are often used for salary.

]]> <![CDATA[By: mandarinkoala]]> @jenny. Not as such, but teachers do get the Summer 8 weeks, and a "Leave Loading" of 17.5% (Australia). I believe some Australian Companies pay bonuses, but not neccesarily End of Year. Maybe End of Financial Year, and these are usuallyFat cats.

]]> @jenny. Not as such, but teachers do get the Summer 8 weeks, and a "Leave Loading" of 17.5% (Australia). I believe some Australian Companies pay bonuses, but not neccesarily End of Year. Maybe End of Financial Year, and these are usuallyFat cats.

]]> <![CDATA[By: polmino]]> In Italy all employees receive a 13th salary at the end of the year. Directors typically also get a 14th salary in the summer, and some other classes receive even a 15th one. It's he way the gross income is divided.

]]> In Italy all employees receive a 13th salary at the end of the year. Directors typically also get a 14th salary in the summer, and some other classes receive even a 15th one. It's he way the gross income is divided.

]]> <![CDATA[By: martinku]]> In the UK a lot of private sector employers operate bonus schemes - but mostly they are linked to company and even individual performance, so are definitely not guaranteed. I think very few companies hit their bonus targets in 2009, except of course for certain banks (sore point!)

]]> In the UK a lot of private sector employers operate bonus schemes - but mostly they are linked to company and even individual performance, so are definitely not guaranteed. I think very few companies hit their bonus targets in 2009, except of course for certain banks (sore point!)

]]> <![CDATA[By: modernnomad]]> Martinku.. you're right...I was working for a couple of UK firms in london back in 2006-2008 and we had a discretionary clause in our contract.. will be interesting to see how many ppl will still get their bonus this year in london tho!

]]> Martinku.. you're right...I was working for a couple of UK firms in london back in 2006-2008 and we had a discretionary clause in our contract.. will be interesting to see how many ppl will still get their bonus this year in london tho!

]]> <![CDATA[By: modernnomad]]> Hi Connie.. in what circumstances can we use 工资gōngzī instead of 薪水xīnshui?

]]> Hi Connie.. in what circumstances can we use 工资gōngzī instead of 薪水xīnshui?

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> Hi janegochua,

工资gōngzī and 薪水xīnshuǐ are totally interchangeable. But the old generation is used to saying 工资gōngzī.

]]> Hi janegochua,

工资gōngzī and 薪水xīnshuǐ are totally interchangeable. But the old generation is used to saying 工资gōngzī.

]]> <![CDATA[By: modernnomad]]> thanks Connie

]]> thanks Connie

]]>