Not a box with wine and pâté, but a special surprise for the employees of Yonego. The owner of an internet company in Breda pays for his staff’s groceries throughout the month. Does this mean that the employees are drinking champagne and caviar all month long?
Instead of a Christmas package, the more than one hundred Yonego employees all received a folder, a shopping bag and a gold envelope. They can put their receipts from the supermarket, bakery and butcher in the envelope throughout the month of December.
One of the lucky ones tells Omroep Brabant on Friday about the moment they received the package. “No one knew and it took a while before the penny dropped. There was dead silence for a few seconds. Then people started clapping. I think I’ve said thank you a thousand times.”
“I trust my colleagues.”
The owner of the company, Joris Toonders, enjoyed the moment of the revelation: “I have never seen a hundred colleagues so quiet together.”
He is not afraid that people will take advantage of his initiative. “I don’t know what people normally do for groceries and whether they’re going to buy something extra, but I trust my colleagues.” According to Toonders, the corporate culture and atmosphere are very important: “You have to trust your colleagues and they have to feel that way too.”
“I really ran like a headless chicken through the supermarket.”
And that confidence from the boss seems to be justified: “Champagne and caviar could be done, but we are expected to handle them properly, so we do that,” says an employee. “That’s how we always treat each other here. That is why something like this can also be given,” he says.
A colleague has already done her shopping. A special experience, she thinks. “You want to throw everything in your basket, but not too much. So I walked a bit like a headless chicken through the Albert Heijn.” Finally, she did hold back. “I only bought a steak and a somewhat more expensive wine. I wouldn’t buy that otherwise.”
“Beautiful Christmas spirit, especially during this time.”
Where the employees keep their cool, people on the street who hear about the initiative are more willing to let loose. “I would have liked that too,” says one man. “I think I would try to get the most out of it.” Really chasing the boss at expense, he thinks is going too far. “After that, of course, I have to continue with my employer.” The reactions to the generous boss are positive: “What a beautiful Christmas idea!”, says a woman. “Especially in this day and age, I love it.”
And next year? Toonders does not have to surpass itself. “Once this idea came into my head, I couldn’t wait to tell everyone. We will see what we do next year.”
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