This is all a very tricky area. I've heard several similar anecdotes and I think that Dan Arielly (behavioural economist / writer) talks about this as well. Bo

This is all a very tricky area. I've heard several similar anecdotes and I think that Dan Arielly (behavioural economist / writer) talks about this as well. Bonuses quickly become part of your compensation and you consider them your due. But this whole area is full of irrationality. A 12,000 car bonus probably felt like a huge thing at the time. A $75 p/w raise probably would have felt like nothing out of the usual. You wouldn't have even mentioned the story if the secretary had expected another raise in a year or two.