b'KENNARDS HIRE Since 1948TAKING HIRE HIGHER | 96THANKS A MILLIONIn 2002, the board decided it would be fun to doIn 2011, the bonus fairy struck again, with 850 more than the usual Christmas hampers to thankemployees sharing in a whopping $3 million. By workers for a job well done. Profits had been better than2018, the amount shared with the staff had risen to expected, so $1 million was divvied up and popped intoa mind-blowing $7 million dollars to coincide with yellow envelopes to create the ultimate surprise mailKennard Hires seventieth anniversary. Thats more than for 530 employees. Many full-time workers thought it$4500 for each worker, from the CEO to the bloke in had to be a joke or mistake when they took out theirthe yard delivering trucks. I had people ringing me in cheque for a little over $2000. Everyone got an equaldisbelief thinking there were errors in their pay, recalls share in a million dollars, whether theyd been thereVictorian general manager Lance Hawes.twenty-five years or twelve months, says Andy. Part-time and casual staff also received the bonus pro rata.The good wind blew again for staff in 2023, with an unexpected company-wide bonus of $7500 each. With In 2008, a year when the GFC sent business into a spin,inflation rising to almost 8 per centand rising interest Kennards Hire responded by rewarding staff with anotherrates exacerbating itthe timing was fortunate for many. bonus to help see them through tough times. This time it was $3000 to each of its 600 employees, at a costIt is truly amazing that a company would give back of $1.8 million (but the Thanks a Million and Eightto their employees so generously, Scott Vidler, who Hundred Thousand bonus just didnt have the samebenefited from all four bonuses, says. This doesnt just ring to it). blow me away; everyone who hears about it is amazed that a company would do this.In 2008, a year when the GFC sent business into a spin, Kennards Hire responded by rewarding staff with another bonus to help see them through tough times.'