re: Laid off late in year and stiffed on Christmas bonus

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I also have probably left weeks of vacation pay from prior years on the table because no one else at this company was trained to do my job,

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First mistake is thinking that you're not replaceable. Work will get done with or without you

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The reality is companies don't give two fricks about their employees -- especially large companies. It's all about the bottom line, which is a sad reality.

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No, that is why companies exist. They are there to make money for the owners, not the employees. Management's job is to get the most work for the lowest wages possible so that the owners can make the most money. You wouldn't hesitate to leave for a better opportunity, why does a corporation owe you more loyalty than that?

As for the OP, if the company couldn't afford your salary when you worked for them, what makes you think they could afford to give a bonus for you not working? If you turned off your cable because you couldn't afford it, would you send Comcast $20 bucks at the end of the year for a bonus?

You were laid off in October...why the hell would you expect a bonus in December?

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working at a small business that gave me annual December bonuses

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Call it whatever you want but a CHRISTMAS bonus is going to be based on simple math, especially in a small company. If more came in than went out (this is called profit and loss) then the owner may provide some additional compensation.

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the business he built or bought remains in business. If the simple math does not work out then people get laid off, "bonuses" are not given, expenses are cut, etc.

As for him being somewhat of a "friend"; he also has a responsibility to his stockholders (if there are any), lending institutions (if he owes them money), family (he has to eat before you do), etc.

Unless this guy is a complete douche, it is likely he felt horrible laying you off (unless you were not performing).

I doubt you will get much sympathy from people who live in states that have been effected by the oil crash because a lot of business owners are simply trying to survive.

"Would bet you weren't offered COBRA due to business size as well. Find a new job yet?"

I was offered COBRA, but it is outrageously priced, so I am now on a just as worthless (high-deductible, pay-for-nothing) Obamacare plan. I am still looking for work, have had a few interviews, and am stunned by the nature of the jobs that I am applying for that I can't even get phone interviews for.

FYI: I am not a millennial, I went to a Top 10-ranked undergrad college plus have a master's degree, and I have gone through periods of my life working 60 hours a week at multiple jobs. I am not 100% sour grapes over the lack of bonus. The telecommuting nature of this job served me very well for a very long time.

I could bore the readers of this thread further by reiterating that the death blow to this account came years ago and was due to mismanagement by my company's owner and the account manager. As I stated before, our client started shedding our services years ago but retained 100% of what I was doing until the bitter end.

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So the main account You serviced bailed and you think you deserve a job and bonus?

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Yeah...

Respectfully, no matter what your role, or how well you excelled at your job for them, there is no way this doesn't show poorly on you.

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The reality is companies don't give two fricks about their employees -- especially large companies

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Large companies are legally required to do what's best for their owners. Small companies follow suit. Business is not that hard to understand

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Was I shafted? Or is this just par for the course?

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While its okay to feel like you were shafted, its nothing uncommon. Years ago (2008 when the economy was in the shitter) there was word my employer would be having three rounds of layoffs. The first round took place the week before Christmas and by the first week of January they completed all three rounds.

I felt bad because a lot of co-workers I became friends with were laid off, but I was glad I didn't get laid off. I was working in a project and towards the end of January my part on the project would be over so I went ask my manager if I should expect to get laid off. When they laid everyone off, they told them they could call them back in several weeks because they had some big projects coming up and things were likely to pick up to the point they would be even busier than they were in 2006, early 2007.. when they went on a huge hiring spree.

So I was told I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I would be moved to a "corporate" position because they wanted me to build some database and maintain it, that would include all the projects the company had so as long as they had work, I would have a job. I was pretty excited about that especially since I would be able to work from home at times..

A few weeks went by and I didn't hear much more about the new position. I was told they had to work out the details so I figured it was just taking some time.. It was the last week of February and the manager of my department ask me to go to his office. I thought it was going to be about the new position. As I got closer to his office I saw someone from HR in his office. I thought to myself "these mother frickers. frick them".

I never really saw eye to eye with the manager (long story short, I was the only one in the department who worked on a specific project so while I was technically in that department, the project managers were the ones I answered to, etc and there were a few situations when the manager of the department I was in wanted me to do work on other things even though he assured the project managers I would be completely available to them. Knowing I charged to one specific project, the manager was trying to get me to do some work for other projects that was running out of hours) so when I get into his office he starts to give me the whole "look, you have been extremely valuable to us...". I asked him "am I getting laid off?" and he said "yes. I know I told you.." and I just said "that's all I fricking need to know" and left out.

I was pissed.. Not because I was laid off, but because a month earlier he assured me I had nothing to worry about, etc, etc. It was one of those situations where.. If I could have beat the shite out of someone... I would have beat the shite out of him.

Nm