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Hospital staff get baked potato as a 'Christmas bonus' from work (and got taxed on it) (www.indy100.com)

submitted 11 months ago by RobotToaster@mander.xyz to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

95 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/9823286

‘Tis the season to celebrate our loved ones, and also for employers to show how much they care.

Whether by throwing a Christmas bash or handing out extra cash, businesses around the world are broadly expected to offer their dedicated staff a festive token of their appreciation.

And who deserves more recognition than the workers who keep our healthcare systems afloat?

Yet, the senior management team at one hospital apparently decided that rather than boost their staff’s pay or treat them to a slap-up meal, they would provide them with…

Potatoes.

The questionable move was broadcast to social media by an X/Twitter user who calls herself Amanda B.

She explained dejectedly: “My work is doing a potato bar as our Christmas bonus. I’m literally getting a hospital potato as a bonus.”

She then added: “They also said it has a $15 (£11.85) value so it will be taxed on our next check. Does anyone need an assistant so I can just quit right now?”

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[–] DrPop@lemmy.ml 68 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (15 children)

Here is a little something from the IRS pub 525 about bonuses.

Bonuses and awards. Bonuses or awards you receive for outstanding work are included in your income and should be shown on your Form W-2. These include prizes such as vacation trips for meeting sales goals. If the prize or award you receive is goods or services, you must include the FMV of the goods or services in your income. However, if your employer merely promises to pay you a bonus or award at some future time, it isn’t taxable until you receive it or it’s made available to you.

So do they really believe the fair market value of a potato is $12? The IRS doesn't go by retail price.

The FMV for a pound of russet potatoes is $2.50 soo yeah no they are doing too much and should be reported.

Meals and lodging

You don't include in your income the value of meals and lodging provided to you and your family by your employer at no charge if the following conditions are met.

The meals are: Furnished on the business premises of your employer, and Furnished for the convenience of your employer.

[–] eclectic_electron@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It's a "potato bar" not just a potatoes to presumably that price is intended to include all the bacon, cheese, etc.

Really though it's probably just whatever the hotel cafeteria charges for potato because that's a lot easier than coming up with a new price and then justifying it in case of an audit.

[–] DrPop@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

I believe they have to be doing something shady, there is no way in hell that would cost$15 per person. Even a nice potato bar is $11 per person according to Google. I'm not an expert in business finance but I know bulk means less cost.

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