I work for a major retailer. Normally, through the year, each salesperson can add to their paycheck with select incentive items. It's a great way to bring in extra money.

During Christmas however, this retailer started doing what is called "incentive pooling". Starting from the last week in November, and going through the final week of December, instead of the incentive items being added to the paycheck of the person who sold them, they are added to a "pool". At the end, the amount in the incentive pool will be divided up among all of the employees, based on the average number of hours worked each week.

It gets better. Many of the other employees had their hours cut at this retailer, starting the week this program began. I used to get 40 hours a week, myself. As soon as this program started, I was knocked down to 32 hours a week.

Hey, at least it's extra money coming in for the holidays, right? Wrong! The extra amounts are added to the first paycheck of the new year!

Gee, thanks, Mr. Employer for cutting my hours and giving less money AND less incentives through the holidays. Due to this stunt, I've had to tell the rest of my family that not only can I not join them for Christmas, but that I will be going Christmas shopping for them early in January!

The design firm I work for is very profitable as well and we mostly work 60+ hr work weeks (salary w/no overtime). That bonus at the end of the year is supposed to make it all worth it. Not make you feel worthless.