Bigger Bonuses, Bigger Hatred

When it was time to announce year-end bonuses, I declared that everyones would be doubled.
The company group chat instantly erupted. A flood of insults, all aimed at me, filled the screen.
Assuming they thought it was too little, I immediately announced the bonus would be increased to ten times the original amount.
That only made them angrier. This time, someone smashed up my office.
Baffled, I gritted my teeth and raised it to one hundred times.
The next morning, the moment I stepped into the company building, my employees swarmed me. Without a word, they beat me to death.
Even as I died, I had no idea why.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back. It was the day I was supposed to announce the year-end bonuses.

I stared at the message I had just typed out, the one announcing the doubled bonus. A jolt of terror shot through me, and I frantically deleted every word.
The memory of being killed by my own staff for being too generous was a chilling, incomprehensible puzzle.
Id always treated my employees well. More than well. They had every benefit imaginable, a four-day work week, and a strict no-overtime policy. I even had a suggestion box, and I personally reviewed and implemented every reasonable idea they submitted. They had even nominated me for the citys Five-Star Employer award, and the certificate hung proudly in my office.
As I wracked my brain, my boyfriend, Liam, walked in with a gentle smile.
Ava, the team sent me as their ambassador to ask about the year-end bonus. Have you made a decision?
I froze.
In my previous life, Liam had died trying to protect me.
This was about both of our lives now. I had to be careful.
After a moments thought, I asked tentatively, Whats the consensus? Id rather hear what everyone wants.
Liam shook his head with a helpless smile. I knew youd say that, so I already asked around. But they all said theyd follow your lead.
The ball was back in my court. I weighed my options, then tapped my desk lightly.
How about we just stick to last years standard?
Playing it safe was the only logical move.
That could work Liam nodded, but then he hesitated. But business was way up this year. If the bonus is the same, do you think people might be disappointed?
My heart leaped into my throat. Okay, new plan, I said quickly. In addition to the standard bonus, everyone gets a thirty-thousand-dollar gift card!
Last time, the escalating cash bonus was the problem. If I changed it to a physical gift, surely that would be fine, right?
Liam agreed it was a good idea and posted the announcement in the group chat.
I watched my phone, my heart pounding in my chest.
Thankfully, the first reply was a big thumbs-up emoji.
More followed, a cascade of positive reactions.
I let out a breath I didnt realize Id been holding. It seemed Id dodged the bullet.
But just as I was about to turn to other work, Liams face went pale.
Ava, look at the chat. Now.
My stomach tightened. I opened the app again. A new wave of messages was flooding in.
We doubled last years performance, and our CEO graciously gives us a $30k shopping spree. How wonderful.
Innovate Corps numbers are half of ours, but their benefits are double. Our CEO is just so generous.
When did our boss become so magnanimous?

The messages were dripping with sarcasm.
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, but something felt wrong. I knew Innovate Corps benefits package. Their year-end bonus barely hit twenty thousand dollars. Our standard bonus alone was forty thousand, not to mention the thirty-thousand-dollar gift card. The math didnt add up.
While I was puzzling over it, Liam was already panicking.
Ava, theyre clearly not happy with this! We need a new plan, fast!
I gritted my teeth. If gift cards werent the answer, Id try something else.
I had Liam type out a new announcement.
In addition to the previously mentioned benefits, every employee will also receive the latest top-of-the-line iPhone and an iPad.
The moment the message was sent, the chat went silent.
But I remained tense, bracing for another explosion.
Half an hour passed. Still nothing.
Liam was the first to relax, managing a weak smile. I guess theyre satisfied now. Theyre probably just too embarrassed to backtrack after all the complaining.
I finally let myself breathe. But as I set my phone down, a few new messages popped up. It was from my manager, Jenna.
Ms. Vance, Ive muted everyone in the group. They were being completely unreasonable, insulting you over a bonus! It was disgraceful.
Dont you worry, Ill have a word with them. I promise this will never happen again.
She even added a few fawning emojis, clearly proud of herself.
My brain exploded. I hit the voice message button, my voice a furious hiss.
Who told you to do that?! Unmute them in the next three seconds or youre fired!
Not two seconds after my voice message went through, the chat detonated again, every message aimed directly at me.
What a power move from our dear CEO. First, she nickel-and-dimes our benefits, and now shes trying to silence us!
Heh, so much for her Five-Star Employer image. The mask is finally off.
Why are we even wasting time talking to this black-hearted capitalist? Lets just file a complaint with the Department of Labor. Well sue her for everything shes worth!

Reading the messages, my world spun.
I had offered everything I could think of. The benefits package was far more generous than any other year.
I couldnt understand why they were getting angrier, why they were attacking me with such venom.
Liam was pacing beside me like a caged animal, muttering, What do we do, what do we do? He even suggested trying to multiply the cash bonus again.
I shot that idea down instantly.
After a moment of frantic thought, I made a decision: I would talk to them face-to-face and find out what they really wanted.
But when I stood before them and asked, they all just stared back, silent and stony-faced.
This was even stranger.
If youre unhappy with my bonus proposals, you need to tell me what you want, I said, trying to keep my voice steady. How can I fix this if you dont talk to me?
An employee named Rebecca sneered. Ms. Vance, you know exactly what this is about. Why are you putting on this act?
If you want to exploit us, just say so. You dont have to play these games. Its exhausting for everyone.
Another employee, Jessica, scoffed. Exactly. And here I thought you were some kind of saint. Turns out you were just setting a trap for us all along.
Ive seen shameless bosses before, but you take the cake. You make me sick.
A chorus of angry murmurs rose from the crowd. Everyone was glaring at me as if Id personally wronged them.
After being inexplicably attacked for so long, even my patience wore thin.
You were unhappy with the bonus, so I kept adding more! The benefits Im offering now are better than any other company in our industry! I exclaimed, my voice rising. And if youre still not satisfied, you can just tell me what you want, and Ill make it happen!
But you wont say anything! You just stand there and insult me! How is that supposed to solve anything?
I thought that, surely, someone would finally tell me the truth. Instead, they all just smirked at me, their silence more unnerving than their anger.
A chill ran down my spine as I looked at their faces, remembering how these same people had killed me. I turned and walked away.
Behind me, I heard a few mocking laughs.
See? Shes running away. Guilty conscience.
She played the innocent victim so well, I almost bought it.
The insults followed me all the way back to my office.
I collapsed into my chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. I had done everything I could, but I was no closer to understanding why my generosity was being met with such hatred.
If this continued, I didnt know what I was going to do.
My phone rang. It was Liam.
Ava, Ive been thinking. It has to be about the money. They just want a bigger cash bonus. I know you said no when I suggested it before.
Youre worried about the companys finances. I get it. So, Ill cover the difference personally.
Ive already sent out the announcement for you: everyones bonus has been increased to ten times the original amount!
My mind went blank with sheer terror. Liam, undo it, right now I shrieked into the phone.
But it was too late. A roar of fury erupted from outside, growing louder by the second.
The next thing I knew, the glass wall of my office shattered. The door frame splintered as someone kicked it in.
I scrambled into the reinforced supply closet Id had installed for emergencies, clamping my hand over my mouth to stifle my own screams.
The sounds of destruction continued for another ten minutes before finally fading.
When I was sure it was safe, I crept out. The office was a disaster zone. A wave of cold fear washed over me. Based on my last life, a ten-times bonus wasnt a death sentence, but if they had caught me, I wouldnt have walked away unscathed.
I called Liam. My frustration with him boiled over.
Liam, from this moment on, you are not to make a single decision without my explicit approval. Do you understand me?
He sounded completely bewildered, but after another stern warning, he meekly agreed.
Jenna called soon after. She explained that it was just a few hot-headed male employees who had trashed the office. Most people werent involved, and the situation was now under control.
I breathed a sigh of relief and asked her to schedule an all-hands meeting.
Next, I called my bank manager. I requested ten million dollars in cash, delivered immediately with a team of armed guards.
In the conference room, my employees stared in stunned silence at the mountain of cash stacked behind me and the line of armed guards standing along the wall.
Liam and Jenna looked just as confused, clearly wondering what I had up my sleeve.
I let my gaze sweep across the room. Given everyones hard work this year, I began, my voice clear and firm, I have decided to increase the year-end bonus to one hundred times the standard amount. It will be paid out today, in cash.
The room exploded.
Not with cheers, but with rage. Nearly every face was contorted with fury. I could feel the murderous intent radiating from them. If it werent for the armed guards, I have no doubt they would have rushed me right then and there.
No one moved, but a tidal wave of curses washed over me.
Ava, we worked our asses off to build this company, and this is how you repay us? Youre trying to ruin us! Are you even human?
You do this, and youll have my familys blood on your hands! Ill haunt you from my grave!
Im going to kill you, Ava!
A few employees couldnt control themselves. They grabbed chairs and charged at me, their faces promising violence. The guards intercepted them easily.
The others stayed put, but their glares were filled with a venom that made my skin crawl.
I took a steadying breath. Im not here to threaten anyone, I continued. I just want to know one thing. Giving you a bonus should be a good thing. Why are you all so against it?

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