work at a university. In my former position I got a small, but much appreciated Christmas bonus, which was collected by the faculty and presented to the staff and housekeeping crew at the holiday party. The university itself does not give out bonuses, so any bonuses given out are done by employee collection...I don't what to think about that as i have never worked anywhere they gave bonuses before, either by the employer itself or by collection.
I changed jobs recently and moved to a new department. An email went around soliciting staff to donute money to a holiday bonus gift for housekeeping. I chipped in some money and asked about when staff could expect to receive our bonuses. I was told staffers don't get a bonus, only housekeeping, which says to me that housekeeping's work is more valued than mine (it is important what they do, but still).
I also found out only staff contribute to the housekeeping's bonus...faculty don't contribute anything at all. Basically, faculty make more money than 2-3 staffers put together and don't give anything back to show appreciation...this dept., I have learned, has a long history of the faculty treating the staff like peons, when most of us are highly trained professionals ourselves, not typing pool coffee-makers of days long gone.
Am I right to be annoyed over this? The lack of a bonus itself is not what's bothering me, as it's the fact that the professors don't bother to contribute anything themselves, when they are the ones who receive the most benefits from the efforts of the staff and housekeeping. I mean, really it makes me feel like they don't give a darn about any of us. It's an unpleasant thought that makes me wonder if I did the right things changing jobs.
