Applause for the Everyday?

I attend many events and functions in my gated-not-for-profit administration/board of directors-run-community and found that there is a pattern going on and I am not so sure I like it.

The employees/directors are applauded for the work they do.  No I am not talking about praise, pay, or even bonuses – I am talking about during meetings they are applauded.

Now I have to say, I do not do this.  I feel they are paid for the work they do, they receive benefits and bonuses, why should I clap?

I have been admonished for not clapping.   Why?  I thank them when I see them.  I make public comments on how hard they work.   Why should I applaud them for doing their job?  No one applauds me.

I am the same with volunteers. I mean we volunteer and that becomes what we do.  I don’t expect applause, why give it out.  Now don’t get me wrong, if an extraordinary measure is taken I will gladly stand up and applaud – but I save that special praise for the extraordinary – like our troops.  Our policemen and firemen..and even private citizens who make positive change in a very large way.

Is it rude that I do not applaud vigorously even when I give my thanks and praises verbally?  To be honest, in this economy, I should be applauded for being a part of the reason they have a job.

With all this clapping going on – lights could be going on and off all around us – clap on, clap off.

So here is my question.  Should people be applauded for doing what they were hired to do?  And if we should applaud, then shouldn’t we be able to also jeer them when the job is done poorly?