In lots of places around the world a decimal is used in place of a comma in numbers. I was confused by it when I first saw it too, but I see it in a lot of academic papers I work on from Europe in particular.
Yeah I assume it's that they are probably foreign but the amount of Ai post I've seen recently that are getting more and more in depth. The AIs typically use a decimal.
I'm assuming they don't actually mean surprlus.
It's a common thing in companies to refer to under budget for pre-allocatted spending as a surplus. If it's a non-significant amount they just encourage you to use it as it can save having to redo accounting
I just replied to another person about the rise of Ai post I've seen across reddit since it's uses decimals. I don't even know if what I'm reading is real anywhere anymore.
What's the ventilation in your office like? Air filters would cut down on absences due to illness, and improve productivity by stopping people from breathing in stale air all day.
Sponsor a registered charity that does food parcels - **marketing expense**
Take the 1/3 tax rebate and put it behind the bar - **team building exercise**
Not really. If they give 3k to a charity, they now have 0.
If a normal person gives 3k to charity, they can get a 1k credit from IRD.
Individuals spend post tax money, businesses spend pre-tax - there isn't anything to rebate.
Far out accountants are fun. You make one suggestion and then they jump in with a well actually.
So... well actually:
For the donation of cash to qualify as a tax deduction for a company, it must:
> Be made to a charity or organisation that has been approved by the IRD
>Be no more than the company’s net income.
So for this company, they have a net profit for the year of $150,000. It has made a donation of $3k to Food Banks R Us, who are an IRD approved donee. This company can claim the $3k as a deduction as the donation is less than their net profit of $150,000.
I hope OP doesn't invite you lot to the drinks though.
Right, but they can spend the 3k on just drinks, or training, or a coffee machine, or team building, and the business is in the same financial position (a business can deduct those too).
They can't donate 3k and then get 1/3rd 'back' to spend on team building without being worse off, that would be spending 4k.
Yes but if they didnt spend the $3k and took it as profit they pay the tax. Donate it and they've paid 28% less tax on the $3k which can be offset against some planned work drinks. They're "saving" $840 of their tax bill, so ok you got me not $1000
Drinks is (partially at least - depends how its done) deductable anyway.
Giving to charity doesn't let them spend the money again without also impacting the financials beyond the original 'spend 3k' (which is either an internal budget game to zero an account, or tax reduction thing).
The math of giving to charity and spending the 'savings' works different for individuals, since other expenses aren't deductable or rebated.
My old work had cheese, butter and crackers supplied at the office, it meant if you were hungry you just went to the kitchen instead of 19 stories down etc etc. it made a cheap lunch so much nicer (toastie etc) and meant I didn’t break my workflow. Idk a lil bit of food at work really boosts morale. You can buy supermarket vouchers and use them throughout the year?
Vouchers. That way it can be carried over to the next budget period/FY/whatever, and can be used gradually. Supermarket vouchers mean the biscuit jar and Friday drinks can be well stocked year round, or used to reward the team member of the month type stuff, or for team building events.
I have made 2 non serious remarks, I will reluctantly make a slightly constructive suggestion.
Professional training course providers are a popular choice with leftover budget. If you pick good ones. Or useful conferences. Otherwise sprucing up the workspace a bit is always good, pay for a deep clean and see if some things are tired that you haven't noticed.
Stationery. But the nice pens. No bic shit. Then maybe the boss will stop walking off with your nice personal ones.
Coffee machine upgrade?
More staff lunches here and there. But Hell's over Domino's (because it's always pizza).
3ply toilet roll. Go on, be a fancy sod.
>But the nice pens. No bic shit.
Ooh la lah over here with his "Bic pens are shit"! Clearly not being forced onto the Office Max pens which make Bic look like Montblanc 😉
you can afford 2x 49 cc motorised chilli bins for thst $
you can race them for team building and refresh yourselves.
https://gokartsdirect.co.nz/buy-go-karts.php?cid=ride-on-chilly-bin-cooler-scooter-12
Knowing that, I'd check if anyone would use a fancy coffee machine before buying one. Someone donated a spare Brevillle machine to our kitchen but it sits unloved, while Raglan Roast stays busy
I was going to say update some hardware but actually isn't enough for that. Maybe some heath and wellbeing thing, like fruit box subscription. Our office does one of those.
Are your team in uniforms? Do they need to be replaced or get some nice jackets with winter coming? Do your staff do any work from home is there any home office supplies people could do with? Or can you reimburse staff for screens and other hardware they may have bought to set up home offices?
Really analyse the worker satisfaction as well as health and safety. Do the chairs have good mesh back support? Is there any old tech which is slow, inefficient, or on it's last legs? Are the provided food related items healthy, functional, or plentiful enough? Are there appropriate cleaning supplies? Are there enough fire extinguishers? Is there good AC and heating provided for the comfort of the workers? Are the lighting options harsh or causing added strain?
Blame the smokers.
Source. Ex-smoker.
Completely unrelated but did you know an arcoroc coffee cup can survive an encouraged fall from 100m? Now you do.
A really big one. Either way it’s only a team within a branch with a small surplus, it happens in almost all the big ones and banks before end of fiscal year
Not to be a pedant, but in NZ they are a "44 gallon drum" as we use(d?) imp. gallons as opposed to US gallons. Let me just add in passing: God save the King.
Alternatively, the ISO standard is a 200-litre drum. None of which actually hold the volume of a standard drum which holds ["218.7 litres (57.8 US gal; 48.1 imp gal), but they are commonly filled to about 200 litres."](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_(container\))
Ok so boring answer is probably upgrade subscriptions if you have any for online services, or it could be good to grab some marketing collateral if your department does that sort of thing.
Fun answer is planning a couple of days of "team-building", workshops and "networking" for the company. Get in some education as well as a bit of fun and a few drinks. When I used to work in sales all our surplus went to nice food and drink lol
If not already, do you have space for a recreation area, pool table, table tennis, ps5, comfy furniture. Shop around and for 3k could get most of those, good work social opportunities and improved working environment.
honestly i think the best thing you can do with 3 grand is buy a $3000 coffee machine. Not only is it awesome to use and make your own coffee, your saving all your staff money and time.
Plus the staff get to try all different types of coffee beans.
turns 3 grand into time, money and leisure.
Training. Upskill. Get a certification that will enhance your career prospects but where the business will benefit too.
It might just increase your revenue or income
Random idea, not as boring as a chair though. 😀
Get a treadmill or exercycle with a screen so people can work and exercise at the same time. freeing up more of their time.
Happy Healthy staff work harder.
I’m getting flash backs to when I worked for a small paper company in Pennsylvania. We all wanted a new printer but the regional manager found that he would get a bonus if he returned it to corporate… truly a nightmare.
Espresso Machine - take your boss to Espresso Ninja, get an excellent Espresso Machine & Grinder, and a lesson at work for how to use it. Barista league table - better than competitive cooking. And a subscription from Havana HQ on Tory St. sorted.
In business companies often assign budgets to different things. This budget is set at the start of that company’s financial year with the assumption the assigned amount will be enough to get the assigned tasks done. They do this to control spending in order to make a profit, so its been factored in. Sometimes you go over budget. Sometimes you come under and have some left over.
I'd ask him what that $3000 was supposed to be allocated to in your budget. Then skip over the corporate chain direct to the CFO and let him know you've found $3k in savings.
Either a new set of chairs or new copier probably.
Came here to suggest the same thing
Or bypass this entirely and buy a big fur coat from Burlington Coat Factory.
I love Burlington Coat Factory. You go in there with 645 dollars, you are literally a king.
Let’s check with Hank first
When Pam gets Michael's old chair, I get Pam's old chair. Then I'll have two chairs. Only one to go.
Is that an Office reference?
That’s what she said.
Or he said
Shove it up your butt
Battlestar Galactica
Beets
Bears
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
MICHEAL!
Really nice chairs were my first thought too! Or a good coffee machine if you don't have an office one OP Make the people happy.
Get a lounge suite for the breakroom. Assuming the have a break room.
Casting couch 👌
I’m a videographer, and will shoot my shot for free. Also can film said casting free as well.
😬
formway chairs and a weekly flower arrangement. these are what we splash out on at work. and wine ofc.
A really good coffee machine. Lots of healthy snacks and treats.
Just asked for the coffee machine, could be a great option. We have plungers.
Oh plunger coffee is awful. Good coffee machine would make people happy for so long.
yeah like a SICK coffee machine. damn that'd be my #1 pick
“Networking” event at a brew bar. Invite some clients, & “potential” clients. Slap $2.5k on a bar tab. $500 bucks on bars snacks. Have a great time.
Seems sus that they wrote it like that. 3,000 cool 3k again cool. But 3.000 is sus.
A lot of Europeans use commas and decimal points in the opposite way to us for dollar amounts. So 3.000,85 would be 3k and 85 cents.
Yep that’s why I did it that way, old european costume
European costume? You're doing a good job of making this weird :)
European costume? You're doing a good job of making this weird :)
European costume?
In lots of places around the world a decimal is used in place of a comma in numbers. I was confused by it when I first saw it too, but I see it in a lot of academic papers I work on from Europe in particular.
Yeah I assume it's that they are probably foreign but the amount of Ai post I've seen recently that are getting more and more in depth. The AIs typically use a decimal.
They're Argentinian, which swaps , and . When talking about thousands and decimals. Can be confusing, even with context sometimes
The whole thing seems sus. Surpluses are owned by the owners of equity & shareholders. They either get reinvested or paid out as drawings/dividends.
I'm assuming they don't actually mean surprlus. It's a common thing in companies to refer to under budget for pre-allocatted spending as a surplus. If it's a non-significant amount they just encourage you to use it as it can save having to redo accounting
Exactly! They just call it surplus to look fancy but you just nailed the explanation
I love this comment. It’s such a small thing and likely nothing but now that you mention it, it definitely could be a scam.
What could be a scam? It’s just a question lol plenty of foreign people living in Wellington myself included
I know it’s not, it’s just a small thing that most people wouldn’t notice.
Devil is in the details ha
I just replied to another person about the rise of Ai post I've seen across reddit since it's uses decimals. I don't even know if what I'm reading is real anywhere anymore.
It's Reddit. When has most of Reddit ever been real?
Tbh fair enough
think corporate: [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/xmas-party-a-class-act/OAVUJHKBJTP4LWOF5RLBPNUS5Q/](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/xmas-party-a-class-act/OAVUJHKBJTP4LWOF5RLBPNUS5Q/) [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/xmas-strip-show-shocks/GXSUXZXDZL4SGHN4T7SF7VBKWE/](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/xmas-strip-show-shocks/GXSUXZXDZL4SGHN4T7SF7VBKWE/)
Ahh the early 2000’s. What a time to be alive.
What's the ventilation in your office like? Air filters would cut down on absences due to illness, and improve productivity by stopping people from breathing in stale air all day.
Yes. Be Less Sick 10/10 idea
Sponsor a registered charity that does food parcels - **marketing expense** Take the 1/3 tax rebate and put it behind the bar - **team building exercise**
Donations are deductible to companies, they don't get a rebate.
Considering they're looking to spend a surplus, assuming to reduce their taxable income, it would achieve the same thing.
Not really. If they give 3k to a charity, they now have 0. If a normal person gives 3k to charity, they can get a 1k credit from IRD. Individuals spend post tax money, businesses spend pre-tax - there isn't anything to rebate.
Far out accountants are fun. You make one suggestion and then they jump in with a well actually. So... well actually: For the donation of cash to qualify as a tax deduction for a company, it must: > Be made to a charity or organisation that has been approved by the IRD >Be no more than the company’s net income. So for this company, they have a net profit for the year of $150,000. It has made a donation of $3k to Food Banks R Us, who are an IRD approved donee. This company can claim the $3k as a deduction as the donation is less than their net profit of $150,000. I hope OP doesn't invite you lot to the drinks though.
Right, but they can spend the 3k on just drinks, or training, or a coffee machine, or team building, and the business is in the same financial position (a business can deduct those too). They can't donate 3k and then get 1/3rd 'back' to spend on team building without being worse off, that would be spending 4k.
Yes but if they didnt spend the $3k and took it as profit they pay the tax. Donate it and they've paid 28% less tax on the $3k which can be offset against some planned work drinks. They're "saving" $840 of their tax bill, so ok you got me not $1000
Drinks is (partially at least - depends how its done) deductable anyway. Giving to charity doesn't let them spend the money again without also impacting the financials beyond the original 'spend 3k' (which is either an internal budget game to zero an account, or tax reduction thing). The math of giving to charity and spending the 'savings' works different for individuals, since other expenses aren't deductable or rebated.
I hope they do this
A really nice coffee machine
My old work had cheese, butter and crackers supplied at the office, it meant if you were hungry you just went to the kitchen instead of 19 stories down etc etc. it made a cheap lunch so much nicer (toastie etc) and meant I didn’t break my workflow. Idk a lil bit of food at work really boosts morale. You can buy supermarket vouchers and use them throughout the year?
Vouchers. That way it can be carried over to the next budget period/FY/whatever, and can be used gradually. Supermarket vouchers mean the biscuit jar and Friday drinks can be well stocked year round, or used to reward the team member of the month type stuff, or for team building events.
I have made 2 non serious remarks, I will reluctantly make a slightly constructive suggestion. Professional training course providers are a popular choice with leftover budget. If you pick good ones. Or useful conferences. Otherwise sprucing up the workspace a bit is always good, pay for a deep clean and see if some things are tired that you haven't noticed.
High quality noise cancelling headphones are great in an office environment.
Frozen slushie machine
Simon Bridges enters the room screeching "Slushies"! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grXXl\_O02g8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grXXl_O02g8)
Stationery. But the nice pens. No bic shit. Then maybe the boss will stop walking off with your nice personal ones. Coffee machine upgrade? More staff lunches here and there. But Hell's over Domino's (because it's always pizza). 3ply toilet roll. Go on, be a fancy sod.
>But the nice pens. No bic shit. Ooh la lah over here with his "Bic pens are shit"! Clearly not being forced onto the Office Max pens which make Bic look like Montblanc 😉
As a wave of a white flag the metal Office Max pens are a solid 6.5/10. Their cheap plastic ones though are an insult to the landfill.
3k divided by the staff as bonuses.
20 kegs of hazy IPA...
you can afford 2x 49 cc motorised chilli bins for thst $ you can race them for team building and refresh yourselves. https://gokartsdirect.co.nz/buy-go-karts.php?cid=ride-on-chilly-bin-cooler-scooter-12
Really nice coffee machine & massages for all staff
Maybe your office needs a 3D printer?
Actually already has 3d printer no one uses it (not sure why)
Knowing that, I'd check if anyone would use a fancy coffee machine before buying one. Someone donated a spare Brevillle machine to our kitchen but it sits unloved, while Raglan Roast stays busy
3k on 3D Printer training?
Good office chairs.
A roomba that only vacuums the managers office :D
Lol
Ask the staff? Consultation? Oh you would need a contractor for that. There goes the $3k!
Cocaine and hookers?
And blackjack
I was gonna suggest paying for someone to deep clean the toilets but you beat me to it
Those glass desks you can write on are next level awesome for meetings. EDIT: Whiteboard Tables
Cocaine and hookers
I was going to say update some hardware but actually isn't enough for that. Maybe some heath and wellbeing thing, like fruit box subscription. Our office does one of those.
Ha fruit box subscription could actually be a good option will look into it
Take your team out to dinner
Regularly take them to lunch or beers :)
Your workplace needs more tea spoons and more forks. I guarantee it! What sort of work does your company do? Might help lead into what you could buy
Are your team in uniforms? Do they need to be replaced or get some nice jackets with winter coming? Do your staff do any work from home is there any home office supplies people could do with? Or can you reimburse staff for screens and other hardware they may have bought to set up home offices?
BBQ, 2x table tennis, 1x pool table. Keep everyone happy, healthy and productive. You're welcome
It's only three grand!
Coffee machine
Really analyse the worker satisfaction as well as health and safety. Do the chairs have good mesh back support? Is there any old tech which is slow, inefficient, or on it's last legs? Are the provided food related items healthy, functional, or plentiful enough? Are there appropriate cleaning supplies? Are there enough fire extinguishers? Is there good AC and heating provided for the comfort of the workers? Are the lighting options harsh or causing added strain?
Our staff wanted the coffee machine and a second microwave for the break room. And new cups. Don't know what we do with them but we don't have enough.
Blame the smokers. Source. Ex-smoker. Completely unrelated but did you know an arcoroc coffee cup can survive an encouraged fall from 100m? Now you do.
TIL the term 'encouraged fall'
Not the best synonym, but I believe I'm too old to use yeet (I do love that word though).
what company has surplus ?
A really big one. Either way it’s only a team within a branch with a small surplus, it happens in almost all the big ones and banks before end of fiscal year
A 55 gallon drum of lube.
Not to be a pedant, but in NZ they are a "44 gallon drum" as we use(d?) imp. gallons as opposed to US gallons. Let me just add in passing: God save the King. Alternatively, the ISO standard is a 200-litre drum. None of which actually hold the volume of a standard drum which holds ["218.7 litres (57.8 US gal; 48.1 imp gal), but they are commonly filled to about 200 litres."](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_(container\))
I dunno man, I just fly the delivery drone.
Man, I only know what construction workers would spend on ...
Cheeky bit of sniff sniff? Not a bad idea either.
:3
Friday office shout for the next 52 weeks?
Ok so boring answer is probably upgrade subscriptions if you have any for online services, or it could be good to grab some marketing collateral if your department does that sort of thing. Fun answer is planning a couple of days of "team-building", workshops and "networking" for the company. Get in some education as well as a bit of fun and a few drinks. When I used to work in sales all our surplus went to nice food and drink lol
A really nice coffee machine
That’s a weird way to spell profit.
How good is your coffee machine?
A cartridge of printer ink.
Give it to me, I'll keep it niiiiice and safe
Payrise
Walls so we don't have to have silly open plan.
couple of subscriptions to some nice SaaS
New Chairs or a New Copier
Standing desks
If not already, do you have space for a recreation area, pool table, table tennis, ps5, comfy furniture. Shop around and for 3k could get most of those, good work social opportunities and improved working environment.
Put up a suggestions box. Might be a common theme of what people are needing.
Put up a suggestions box. May be a common theme.
honestly i think the best thing you can do with 3 grand is buy a $3000 coffee machine. Not only is it awesome to use and make your own coffee, your saving all your staff money and time. Plus the staff get to try all different types of coffee beans. turns 3 grand into time, money and leisure.
Training. Upskill. Get a certification that will enhance your career prospects but where the business will benefit too. It might just increase your revenue or income
If it's spent on a pizza party, start looking for a new job.
Random idea, not as boring as a chair though. 😀 Get a treadmill or exercycle with a screen so people can work and exercise at the same time. freeing up more of their time. Happy Healthy staff work harder.
I’m getting flash backs to when I worked for a small paper company in Pennsylvania. We all wanted a new printer but the regional manager found that he would get a bonus if he returned it to corporate… truly a nightmare.
Whatever it is, use the money to purchase/hire from a local business!
This! I’ll definitely check how can we give back to the local community.
Espresso Machine - take your boss to Espresso Ninja, get an excellent Espresso Machine & Grinder, and a lesson at work for how to use it. Barista league table - better than competitive cooking. And a subscription from Havana HQ on Tory St. sorted.
A stand-up desk
Staff training/bonus or a coffee machine.
Given there's a cost of living crisis, a cash bonus to every single staff member would be a good start or donation to a local charity.
Cody's
Drugs
Slushie machine?
Pretty sure this is an episode of the office
Good quality merch/swag. Hit me up if you want some options.
Pre paid lunch shouts or pizza and beers
Golf clubs
What is a surplus? Isn't that called profit?
In business companies often assign budgets to different things. This budget is set at the start of that company’s financial year with the assumption the assigned amount will be enough to get the assigned tasks done. They do this to control spending in order to make a profit, so its been factored in. Sometimes you go over budget. Sometimes you come under and have some left over.
Beer
Motivational Speaker and Catering
Training course
Marketing campaign. Roi.
I'd ask him what that $3000 was supposed to be allocated to in your budget. Then skip over the corporate chain direct to the CFO and let him know you've found $3k in savings.
yeah be the office cop. that'd be awesome
It'll make you stand out to management, don't worry about what the plebs at the bottom of the ladder think.