Maryland Real Estate Company Surprises Employees with $10 Million in Bonuses at Their Holiday Party

St. John Properties declared a $10 million bonus for its employees recently at their yearly holiday party in Baltimore, Maryland.

On December 7, 2019, St. John Properties announced a surprise $10 million bonus for its 198 employees to celebrate accomplishing its objective of developing 20 million square feet of property in eight states.

Company founder and chairman Edward St. John made the announcement at the company's annual holiday celebration, held at The Grand in Baltimore, Maryland.

ONE EMPLOYEE WAS STILL IN SHOCK

In an interview with Today, the company said that the amount every worker got depended on the occupation. However, the normal bonus worked out to be generally $50,000.

As indicated by a representative, maintenance technician Stanley Ches, who began working at the real estate development company in 1981, will deposit a check for over $200,000. Ches told Today:

"I was in shock. I'm still in shock. Everybody was shaking me down and giving me hugs."

VALIDATING THEIR HARD WORK

Meanwhile, Danielle Valenzia, who has worked in accounts payable for nearly two decades, was overcome with emotion when she opened her red envelope.

Valenzia said that her first reaction was simply tears of joy. She added that it validates their hard work and the time they put consistently.

These bonuses were on top of the yearly reward St. John Properties employees already get.

PRICELESS REACTIONS

The company took to Twitter to share a photo taken from the party, as reported by Don't Waste Your Money.

In the image, the employees are seen shocked when they learned that they'd get a bonus.

"We are thankful for each of our employees, and thrilled to reward them in such a big way!" the company wrote.

"WE ARE NOTHING"

In a video the company posted of the party, Edward St. John said that he guides the boat, but the employees are the ones that run the boat and that they're the ones that cause the boat to go.

"Without the team, we are nothing, we are absolutely nothing," he added.

According to the Washington radio station WTOP, these bonuses were on top of the yearly reward St. John Properties employees already get.

St. John Properties is one of the largest privately-held commercial real estate developers in the mid-Atlantic.

Founded in 1971, the company now has retail and warehouse space in Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin.