Bank to employees: Pay bonuses forward

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

FARGO, North Dakota (AP) -- A bank is giving its full-time employees $1,000 each and part-time employees $500 each. There's one condition -- use it for people in need.

State Bank & Trust Chief Operating Officer Michael Solberg said each full-time employee will receive $1,000 and each part-time employee will receive $500, as part of a $502,000 "Pay it Forward" initiative.

"We're going to really see some huge impact on our community," Solberg said.

Employees were told not to use the money for themselves, their families or families of other bank employees. The bank asked each employee to document the good deed with a video camera. The deadline is June 30.

The employees were told they may choose an individual cause, pool their money for a larger project or collaborate with donors outside the bank. The privately owned bank has more than 500 employees, he said.

The bank made the announcement over the weekend.

In previous years, the Fargo-based bank has taken 5 percent of the company earnings and divided it up at holiday time among employees

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I would be sort of pissed for the fact that it is mandated. I suppose it's kind of cool though..

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

If it was apart of their normal paycheck, I would be too. But considering it's considered "bonus" money, I guess I'd be ok with it.

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

It's still them making you do something that is pretty crazy to do around this part of the year.

Just seems nuts. Im sure there aren't any people who are working their who are in shit situations too... Like they dont have enough problems...

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

Eh, I understand that, but like my Grandpa always said when I complained about something. "There's always someone out there worse off"

Also isn't this time of the year, also about giving to those less fortunate than you?

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

ya but they are assuming that works for them is well off enough to put time aside to help someone else. I could see if they had a program to sign up for it, but to make people do such a thing seems pretty insane...

Tyler Durden

If this is a bonus that they were not going to get on a "personal" basis then I'm fine with it.

If this is however money that they would get as part of their normal remuneration/package then I would have a problem with it since it would then be forcing someone to give a donation. That could then hardly be considered "charity".

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

It's basically making people do community service pretty much IMO.

Shit I'm all for community service, but dont force it on me...

Tyler Durden

Lol, you get enought of this "forced" on you already eh Nec!!

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

lol I pay probation to not do community service. They offered to me I just was like nah I'll pay money instead. haha...

chops

I hear you. Alot of people count on their christmas bonus (Clark Griswald Cristmas Vacation) for their income. If the bank is making them give it away it makes the bank look like they're charitable when in fact they are just forcing their employees to be. The bank gets the good pub (ie this article) for nothing.