Five Years Without 'Merry Christmas': When Office Petty Revenge Becomes an Olympic Sport
If you’ve ever felt a little salty about your company’s holiday perks (or lack thereof), you’re not alone. One Redditor from r/PettyRevenge has taken the art of subtle protest to a delightfully British extreme—withholding festive greetings from management until a five-year milestone is reached. Yes, you read that right: no “Merry Christmas” for half a decade, all because of a company policy that doles out Christmas hampers only to employees who’ve clocked in for a full five years.
Let’s unwrap (pun fully intended) this wonderfully passive-aggressive tale and see what we can learn about office culture, the power of tiny protests, and just how long the British can hold out against their own politeness.
The Five-Year Hamper: A Festive Drought
First, the setup. Our protagonist, u/BexRox247, works for a large UK company bringing in a cool £25 million+ a year with about 200 employees. You’d think with numbers like that, the holiday spirit would flow a bit more freely, but alas: the fabled Christmas hamper—a basket of the company’s own products—only goes out to those who’ve survived five years at the firm.
Now, we’re not talking about a luxury Fortnum & Mason extravaganza. It’s a modest basket, mostly to showcase the company’s wares. But as BexRox points out, “Five years is too long.” If it were a cash bonus, maybe. But waiting half a decade for a basket of snacks? Bah, humbug.
The Petty Protest: A Silent Night, Every Night
Rather than staging a walkout or penning a sternly worded letter, BexRox opts for a subtler, more elegant form of rebellion: refusing to wish higher management any festive cheer until that magical five-year mark. The logic is simple: if the company can withhold Christmas, so can she.
The best part? She executes this with the kind of British politeness that makes the Queen look like a brawler. When an operations manager wished her a Happy Christmas, she resisted the nearly irresistible urge to respond with a cheerful “You too!” Instead, she coolly replied, “You have to be my boss for five years before I wish you a merry Christmas.” The manager called her out for being petty, and she didn’t deny it. (Frankly, neither do we.)
Petty or Pointed? The Art of Micro-Rebellion
Is this petty? Absolutely. Is it also a pointed commentary on how companies sometimes miss the forest for the trees when it comes to employee appreciation? Also yes.
Let’s be honest—company perks matter. They may not be the reason you get out of bed in the morning, but they can make you feel valued (or not). When the best the company offers for loyalty is a basket of their own products—and only after five years—employees notice. BexRox’s protest is a masterclass in mirroring the company’s own policy, holding up a festive (but silent) mirror to management.
And yet, it’s all done with a wink. She’s not rude, she’s not disruptive, she’s not even particularly bitter—she just withholds a polite phrase for a set period. It’s the office equivalent of slow-clapping at the annual review.
The Real Struggle: Battling British Politeness
Perhaps the most entertaining part of this saga is the sheer willpower involved. As BexRox confesses, “This was actually harder than I thought it would be, as I am British and extremely polite.” For anyone who’s ever apologized to a chair after bumping into it, you know this is no easy feat. The struggle to stifle a “Merry Christmas!” must feel like holding in a sneeze during a royal wedding.
She admits the real challenge will be keeping it up for the full five years. Will British decorum win out? Or will office tradition crumble under the weight of one woman’s epic, silent stand? Only time—and another 42 months—will tell.
Conclusion: Raising a Glass (of Eggnog) to Petty Revenge
So, is BexRox being petty? Unquestionably. But sometimes, a little pettiness is exactly what’s needed to highlight a silly policy. And let’s face it, there’s something delightfully satisfying about watching someone turn company rules into a playful, personal protest.
To all the office warriors out there: what’s your favorite tiny act of rebellion? Would you be able to keep up a five-year “no Merry Christmas” streak? Or does your inner Brit crumble at the first sign of holiday cheer?
Share your stories below—and remember, sometimes the best way to change the system is to play by its own bizarre rules.
Original Reddit Post: No Christmas for 5 years..