Re: NWR I need help ASAP

Oh boy, I gotta get a real job!! I've been self-employed for the past three years after getting laid off at my last company, where I worked for 16 years. I've been doing consulting work, with a partner in NJ, but the industry is so bad right now that I've had to start temping to get me through, which has been a lifesaver. My temp agency did give me an extra day's pay for a bonus, which was nice because they didn't have to do anything. But I have to work straight through Christmas week or I don't get paid! On the plus side, I can take off any time I want which will come in handy in 2003 with all the wedding planning.

Re: NWR I need help ASAP

A card. I never buy my bosses anything, just a card thanking them and wishing them a happy holiday..

Re: NWR I need help ASAP

I am just catching up and from my experience, in huge corporations. I worked for American Express for 5 years, and we had strict rules especially because we dealt with a lot of clients. Our CEO would give us a huge christmas party every year (our 150th year in business it was at Madison Square Garden adn we had a lot of celeb guests)and a small thing of chocolate as a gift, but he never accepted gifts from anyone. Our Bonuses were based on performance reviewws, but it gets very technical. its on a scale and funds that are given to each group and levels. its really hard to explain unless you work for the company. We had 2 reviews through out the year. Complecated to get unless you work for the company. When we were forced to move to NJ because of 9/11 our ceo had gift bags set up for us, and it had a shirt, pens, and some small stuff. When the company moved back to NY the CEO had picture frames with the employee's name engraved on it. BUT HE NEVER accepts anything from us.

I have also worked with a financial company and I worked on the trading floor assisting the traders. We too had strict rules about gifts. Our CEO was really nice, but he wanted to be treated like everyone else. He did a nice thing of getting us a small gift but he never accepted anything from us.
Our bonuses were based on performance reviews.

A lot of times its a gesture from senior management of how much they appreciate you as an employee and they never expect you to give them something

Re: NWR I need help ASAP

I love the 'bonus' that we get. Normall we get half day christmas eve, christmas day, have day new years eve and new years day off. The last few years our company has given us an extra five days off so we can spend time with our family.

Re: NWR I need help ASAP

I work for a university and coordinate a special program in finance. The faculty I work with are mostly Wall Streeters but that environment def does not spill over into my academic world. My pay is low-ish, but I have 5 weeks vacation, free tuition, and a pretty laid back, although hectic work environment. No bonuses.

This is totally off-topic but what does it take to work for a financial co? Is it super-high pressured, all day? Do you work more than 50 hours per week?