They said, we're giving you a Christmas bonus, and we want you to spend it on professional clothes. A conditional gift. Also they're saying that they're within their rights to ask for it back, since it wasn't a gift but a company expenditure of funds for a specific purpose.

A person wearing ragged or tattered clothing; a ragamuffin.

I'm taking a wild guess here that you might not want to go back in January under a new job title for this employer. I am just stunned.

KB, that's hilarious. Which is to say, I'm very sorry about the whole job mess, because you don't need the stress of being unemployed, but I'm glad you're not working for the Idiot Bunch anymore.

I found out last night that my uncle died. A WEEK AGO. My mom just doesn't tell me things.

I'm so sorry, ChiKat. (I found out about my great uncle's death by my mom ending a completely frivolous phone conversation with "Oh, I have to go -- I'm on my way to [great uncle]'s funeral." WTF is wrong with parents???)

KB, I'm stunned. I...stunned.

I have Thai food. It is helping me recover from the strike-induced commute from HELL.

Wait, so presumably you have already worn the clothes, and they weren't up to these standards you were supposed to understand with your psychic powers... which means you can't return the new clothes you bought, and are now in the hole. Because they're batshit crazy.

That's... I... wow. They need to be killed.

Egad. Just...egad.

Repeat after me: Never volunteer information to people who have any authority over your life. Unless withholding it is worse.

So sad, and yet...I cynically find myself agreeing with Hec.

openly and notoriously

I love this phrase. I want to do something openly and notoriously.

I was given a Christmas bonus. For professional clothes. Then they decided I'd shopped incorrectly at stores I had no permission to go to, so they asked for the $ back. So I wrote them a check and walked away. I have here a letter from them saying that I should have the maturity to explain myself, and would I please come back in January under a different job title?

This whole story is just...INSANE. Completely bizarre and INSANE. Frankly, i would find being given a bonus for to get "professional clothes" kinda insulting. But then to be told I had to give it BACK? WTF??? If they were THAT concerned, why not give you a gift card to a "proper" store? And taking the money BACK?? WTF??? That cant' be legal. And what's the wanting you back with a different title? (Would you have to wear clothes from the "proper" store??)

This poor woman, now 8 months pregnant has lost her husband, her father, and her father-in law.

Oh how awful. I'm so sorry.

Has anyone seen a jaw around here? I seem to have dropped mine.

Oh, I think they deserve more than death. They deserve to have explosive diarrhea while at their desks and festering boils appear on their faces. Then see how professional they look. Hmph.

{{Katie Bee}} What a bunch of asshats. I'm tempted to build a corral for all the evil asshat bosses so we can herd them together and stick 3-battery cattle prods in places they would not like one damn bit. And then dock them for new batteries when they wear out.

I've missed a lot and I know there are lots of people who need hugs, but I'm afraid typing up a list of them would take me until next year. So I'll just give a huge {{{{{{}}}}}} to all those who've been dealing with crap of any kind for the last few days.

I was given a Christmas bonus. For professional clothes.

My cousin worked for a doctor who frequently gave his staff money for more appropriate clothing, and then harassed them to no end about the clothes that they wore (and many other things, I might add). I fear that the type of employers who give money for professional clothing are rarely, if ever, satified with the results. I think you're wise to move on, as I can't imagine the situation improving.

openly and notoriously

Love. this. phrase.