This would work best in large organisations. All the pence (or other sub denomination) are removed from every member of staff's pay packet each month. These are then added together, and one lucky employee is drawn out of a hat (or similar)gets to keep the money, with a draw each month. An average of 50p per employee, in a 1000 employee organisation, would mean somebody gets a £500 bonus every month, and nobody really loses anything. I can't think why a company would want to do this, though, other than pure altruism. Or maybe to attract and retain staff.
-- jammers, Jan 29 2003

Hmmm. There is one thing that gives this idea merit. In the UK, I'm fairly sure that winnings like this are exempt from tax. If the money is deducted from the employee's gross salary, it has less net impact on the pay packet depending on how much tax the empoyee pays. Croissant.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 29 2003


I've seen a version of this. I have worked in places that hold a voluntary payroll stub lottery. Employees chip in a couple of bucks every draw, which is held on payday. The 'ticket' number is the last three digits of their payroll check number.

A newspaper is checked to see the state's three-digit daily number lottery draw from the night before, and whoever has that check number wins the pot. If there's no winner, the prize builds until next draw. I saw a guy win $600 once.
-- waugsqueke, Jan 29 2003


Those who are morally opposed to gambling would have to be able to opt out of the system. And people with gambling addictions might need to quit in order to avoid the temptation...
-- dbsousa, Jan 29 2003


A couple of other notes about the version I described: it is entirely voluntary, and it is run by the employees themselves. The company had nothing to do with it, though management was allowed to participate.
-- waugsqueke, Jan 29 2003


// management was allowed to participate //

Hmmm. By any chance, did you come in one day to find all the money was gone, and the paperwork shredded ?
-- 8th of 7, Jan 29 2003


Actually that did happen once. Management had nothing to do with it, though. The fellow looking after the pot had other ideas for it.
-- waugsqueke, Jan 29 2003



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