Employees were seen bursting into tears after they were gifted $10 million (£8 million) worth of bonuses at an annual Christmas party.

While most offices throw festive parties or treat their staff throughout the year, it’s pretty unheard of to be dishing out thousands of dollars in bonuses.

But one company in the US – St. John’s Properties – left its employees shocked after management revealed they’d all walk away with a massive payout as a thank you for all of their hard work.

Ahead of the party, the employees were told they’d all be receiving a surprise, but nobody ever imagined just how shocking the news would be.

The 198 employees were asked whether they were excited about the ‘big surprise’, but many assumed it would be something for the office, such as a water cooler.

But after being handed a red envelope, each member of staff was told to open it.

Naturally, when they saw the big dollar amount they’d get they lost the plot.

Each pay packet was different and dependent on how long they’d been at the company, however, the average reward was around $50,000 (£40,145). Everyone, from maintenance staff and receptionists to brokers and executives, got a red envelope.

The employees were shocked when they received the news (St. John’s Properties)

Photos from the night show people left in absolute shock from the big reveal, with some people explaining how a bonus like this would be ‘life-changing’.

Many could be seen in tears, with one woman explaining: “What happened tonight was magical.”

While another added: “Very excited, I’ve worked here a long time. He didn’t have to do what he did.”

Chairman and founder Edward St John explained the reward was for helping the company reach its targets.

“To celebrate the achievement of our goal, we wanted to reward our employees in a big way that would make a significant impact on their lives.

“I am thankful for every one of our employees, for their hard work and dedication. I couldn’t think of a better way to show it.

The average reward was $50,000 (£40,145) (St. John’s Properties)

“I may steer the boat, but they’re the ones that run the boat. They are the ones that make the boat go. Without the team, we are nothing.”

He added in a statement: “My philosophy has always been to surround myself with the best and brightest and that is what we have done.”

That would make for one hell of a Christmas party – no doubt there were a few sore heads in the morning, eh?

Those working in the UK could soon be given the legal right to request a four day working week under revolutionary plans being brought forward by the new Labour government.

But whether your request will be accepted or not cannot be guaranteed, the Government has warned.

Under the new plans being brought forward by Sir Keir Starmer’s government, UK employees are set to be given the right to ask to work their weekly contracted hours over a four day period as opposed to the standard five.

It comes days after leaked Government plans showed Starmer is set to launch a huge crackdown on smoking in public places, including beer gardens.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade told the BBC that they hoped the four-day working week concept would ‘increase productivity’ across the country’s industries, as well as aid in getting more people ‘back in to work’.

The PA news agency also reports that any plan to open up ‘compressed hours’ to more workers would not result in bank holiday-style weekends each week.

Instead, employees would usually need to work their contracted hours – even if they choose to over fewer days.

A Whitehall spokesperson said: “We have no plans to impose a four-day working week on employers or employees. Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in partnership with business.

“Our Make Work Pay plan is designed around increasing productivity and creating the right conditions for businesses to support sustained economic growth.”

Keir Starmer’s Labour government is behind the plans (Ian Vogler – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

They added: “Many employers already provide good, family-friendly conditions for their workers because they know that doing so improves morale and retention.

“We are working in close partnership with business and civil society to find the balance between improving workers’ rights while supporting the brilliant businesses that pay people’s wages.”

More details about this are expected within the Government’s first 100 days in office.

It comes after Labour promised it would ban zero-hour contracts in a document titled ‘Labour’s Plan To Make Work Pay’; released just two days after the 2024 general election was called by former PM, Rishi Sunak.

Instead of zero-hour contracts, Labour has said they should be replaced them with documents which reflect the number of hours a person regularly works.

Following on from the mooted four day working week plans, Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said that businesses were ‘petrified’ about the plans.

He said: “Despite warning after warning from industry, [Deputy Prime Minister] Angela Rayner is pressing ahead with her French-style union laws that will make doing business more expensive in the UK.”

You would have to work your contracted hours over the four day period (Getty Stock Images)

Meanwhile, Labour’s education minister, Baroness Jacqui Smith, dismissed reports that businesses would be forced to accept employee’s demands for a four-day week, telling LBC Radio: “We think that flexible working is actually good for productivity.

“So the four-day week that I know is on the front of quite a lot of newspapers today, what we’re actually talking about there is the type of flexible working that enables you to use compressed hours.

“So perhaps instead of working eight hours a day for five days, you work 10 hours a day for four days. You’re still doing the same amount of work, but perhaps you’re doing it in a way that enables you, for example, to need less childcare, to spend more time with your family, to do other things, that encourages more people into the workplace, which is an enormous part of that growth mission.”

Although preparing for a job interview is hard work, the people quizzing you about your strengths and weaknesses don’t exactly have it easy either.

People who have the responsibility of vetting potential candidates only have a short amount of time to ask the right questions to help them determine whether you’re a good fit for the job or not.

So although speculating about what you might get asked is a chore, spare a thought for those who have to come up with the interrogation script and essentially have the fate of the entire company in their hands.

The stress of the whole charade is probably why Steve Jobs decided to invent his ‘beer test’ technique to weed out the applicants who just don’t fit the vibe, as who wouldn’t take a pint and a stroll over cross-examining someone’s CV?

But obviously, not all employers can use booze-related job interviews to find the best of the best.

Instead, they have to come up with some unusual questions which can catch people off guard and can supposedly ‘make or break’ the entire thing.

The former Vice President of HR at Microsoft revealed he had a pretty unique one to help him weed out the time wasters, which he quickly fires out ‘shortly after the pleasantries’.

Chris Williams, who is also a podcaster, consultant and TikTok creator, said that he always asked candidates the same question to see who ticked all his boxes.

You might get thrown a curve ball during your job interview (Getty stock photo)

Writing for Insider, he explained: “There are a few important things I’m looking for when hiring. I want to see a smart, passionate learner who can communicate.

“Someone who can dive right into whatever challenge comes their way. A person who will promptly learn what they need to and help others by sharing what they’ve learned.”

And for Williams, it all hinges on one question, which he likes to ask pretty early on as he reckons it helps set the tone of the interview while also prompting ‘great conversation’.

So, what is this incredible question which can either get you sent packing or have you choosing out your new desk?

Chris Williams reckons he came up with the perfect question to ask candidates (YouTube/CLWill)

Well, Williams simply asks: “Tell me something you’ve learned in the last couple of days.”

He explained that their answer doesn’t necessarily have to be about work – it could be ‘anything, just something you’ve learned very recently’.

He says a ‘great’ candidate will have a ready answer, continuing: “Maybe they’ve learned how to format pivot tables in Excel. Perhaps it’s how to make a better battle bot. Could be the history of a poet they love.

“Or how to teach their child to ride a bike. Maybe it’s how to cook leeks.

“I’ve seen people talk about games they love and sports they’ve just picked up.

Asking people what they learnt recently can provide a great answer. (Getty stock image)

“One positively lit up about racing cars. Their passion for the details mixed with the adrenaline of the sport was fun to listen to.

“And their fascination for the connection between the electronic and mechanical technology told me they would be great in the project I was hiring for.

“A great communicator will know how to frame their passion for the topic. They will make it easy to share what they’ve learned. Their enthusiasm will show through.

“If you get a candidate who looks at you blankly, and says essentially ‘I’ve got nothing,’ you have an issue. It doesn’t happen often; most people have something they’ve learned, something they can share.”

A legal expert has issued advice on your chances of securing a four day working week under new plans laid out by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government.

Starmer has instructed the Department for Business and Trade to explore introducing new employee rights, which mean you can ask your boss to do your work over four days rather than the standard five.

And in doing so, the Government has stressed that it would be an application which can very much be turned down by your employer.

“We have no plans to impose a four-day working week on employers or employees. Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in partnership with business,” a Whitehall spokesperson said.

“Our Make Work Pay plan is designed around increasing productivity and creating the right conditions for businesses to support sustained economic growth.”

Those applying for a four day week would have to do ‘compressed hours’ whereby you do your contracted hours over four days, rather than five.

It comes just days after leaked plans showed the prime minister is set to launch a huge crackdown on smoking which will include beer gardens, with critics claiming that it will hurt hospitality businesses.

And in response to the plans, one employment law firm, BDB Pitmans, has issued advice and eight reasons why your employer can refuse a request to go to a four day working week.

Keir Starmer’s government is proposing the four day working week plans (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Nicholas Le Riche, a partner in the Employment Law team at BDB Pitmans, explains that while compressed hours might be a dream for the employee, it could be quite the opposite for your boss.

But he has not gone as far as saying employers will be terrified of the proposals, given the move to remote working during the Covid pandemic, with millions then moving in to a hybrid working pattern once the lockdowns ended.

“I wouldn’t expect employers to be ‘petrified’ by these proposals given that working compressed hours is not unusual and businesses are now well accustomed to dealing with flexible working requests,” Le Riche said.

“However, what employers will want is clarity on their ability to refuse these types of requests and how tough it will be to show that compressed working isn’t ‘feasible’.”

The working week could be cut to four days for some (Getty Stock Images)

He added: “If employers are still able to rely on the current eight reasons to show that a request isn’t reasonably feasible then this could provide some reassurance to businesses.