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Sky News Jonathan Samuels, Australia correspondent
Workers at an Australian bus company could not believe their luck when their generous boss handed out AU$16m (£10.5m) in bonuses as a 'thank you' gift.
The lucky staff from the family-run firm were apparently so shocked some telephoned their banks to check a mistake had not been made.
The 1,800 employees at Melbourne-based Grenda Corp have received bonuses averaging more than AU$8,300 (£5,500) and as much as AU$30,000 (£20,000).
Grenda bus firm in Melbourne, Australia hands staff huge thank you bonuses after being sold for £270m
Started in 1945, Grenda now provides 25% of Melbourne's public transport
They were handed the money after the Grenda family sold the 66-year-old business for AU$400m (£270m), the Herald Sun newspaper reported.
Boss Ken Grenda said recent publicity about huge chief executive payouts was one of the reasons he wanted to give away some of his firm's profits.
"I get totally dismayed when you see some of the salaries the CEOs get paid," he told radio station 3AW.
"It is far beyond what somebody is worth."
He added: "You only get to where you are by having great people - and we have fantastic people. They are absolutely stoked. There were lots of tears."
Workers at an Australian bus company could not believe their luck when their generous boss handed out AU$16m (£10.5m) in bonuses as a 'thank you' gift.
The lucky staff from the family-run firm were apparently so shocked some telephoned their banks to check a mistake had not been made.
The 1,800 employees at Melbourne-based Grenda Corp have received bonuses averaging more than AU$8,300 (£5,500) and as much as AU$30,000 (£20,000).
Grenda bus firm in Melbourne, Australia hands staff huge thank you bonuses after being sold for £270m
Started in 1945, Grenda now provides 25% of Melbourne's public transport
They were handed the money after the Grenda family sold the 66-year-old business for AU$400m (£270m), the Herald Sun newspaper reported.
Boss Ken Grenda said recent publicity about huge chief executive payouts was one of the reasons he wanted to give away some of his firm's profits.
"I get totally dismayed when you see some of the salaries the CEOs get paid," he told radio station 3AW.
"It is far beyond what somebody is worth."
He added: "You only get to where you are by having great people - and we have fantastic people. They are absolutely stoked. There were lots of tears."
