AIBU to be pissed off about this?!

[Hackedoff87]

My team has NEVER got a bonus or pay rise ever. I handed my notice in a few days before Christmas, my last working day is Monday 18th January and I get my last pay from my current employer/ job on 22nd January.

A couple of days after I handed my notice in my colleague and I got access (permitted access may I add) to some financial documents for the project I work on and looking at the salary outgoings for the team, they are the same every month UNTIL Jan 2016, where there was an extra £4k of outgoings (4 of us in my team) I said to my colleague ‘Why are January’s salary outgoings higher? She said, ‘I don’t know, I wondered that. Maybe a bonus or something?’ and we both laughed. Turns out, it IS a bonus for the team, of just under a grand each, paid in the January pay packet. For everyone….except me.

Now I understand I am leaving and as of next week, will no longer be a part of the team, however, surely that bonus is for all hard work done last year, not for 3 weeks of hard work done in January? I have worked really hard for this project and am really disappointed that I am missing out on nearly a grand because I handed my notice in a couple of weeks before they announced the Jan bonus.

AIBU? I am brassic at the moment and an already losing a weeks pay as I don't start my new job until 01st Feb (I have 5 days holiday they're paying me so that makes up the other week) I could really do with my bonus

Is it just one of those things that I need to accept and swallow?

[Biffa44]

But if there are four of you in the team, and four £1k bonuses, and you are not getting one, who is getting the fourth?

[KakiFruit]

I think this is usual. It certainly is where I work, and this is a place that treats its employees very well.

[Hackedoff87]

No idea, either it's getting split between the other 3 members, or it's getting put back in the pot I can only imagine. The figures we saw were compiled before I handed my notice in. I (unfortunately) only saw them a few days after I'd handed it in.

[ShowYourSeams]

How do you know you're not getting a bonus? Who did you ask?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Have you checked your contract?

99% of contracts state that bonuses are not payable to staff who have given their notice, though. The bonus is for the work over the last year, which obviously you contributed too, but it's a motivational tactic to make you stay - as you are already leaving, it serves no benefit to the company.

If your contract doesn't specify, you might have more grounds to negotiate.

It sucks, but it's the way of the corporate world, really. It's a shame that they announced it so that you found out, it may have been better for you not to know.

[HermioneJeanGranger]

It's pretty normal, I'm afraid. It's unfortunate, but lots of places state that you don't get a bonus if you've handed in your notice. It's worth double-checking with HR though.

[Hackedoff87]

They don't know that I know.

I overheard my boss saying quietly to my colleague yesterday 'Good about that bonus for us 3 eh, I could do with that, lovely jubbly'

My contract is at my parents house, I won't be going over til the weekend so will have to have a look at it then if I can find it!

Gah, this really is just my luck. Woe is me, grumble, grumble.

[Alicewasinwonderland]

In all the companies I work for (and know about), bonuses are strictly for existing employees, never for people having handing their notice in. It's one of the reason why no-one ever resigns in November-December (Christmas) or February March (April bonus), but waits until bonuses have been paid.

It must be really annoying for you, but it is normal practice in most companies.

[Bearbehind]

Check the specifics of your contract.

In some cases it might not payable if you are working your notice and in others it might say you have to be employed when it is paid.

If they are not contractually obliged to pay it then you just have to suck it up unfortunately.

If you'd found out the team were getting a pay cut after you'd resigned I'm guessing you wouldn't be pissed off about that?

[Hackedoff87]

Obviously not!

I'll check my contract. If it states nothing re bonuses, do you think I could contest it with HR or is there not much point?

[Bearbehind]

You could ask if it might be paid as a goodwill gesture but I suspect the second word will be 'off'

You're leaving, why would they pay you a bonus they don't have to?

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

Have a read of this:

lionsheadlaw.co.uk/uncategorized/christmas-bonuses-yule-sorry-dont-read/

You will definitely need to check your contract, ask HR for a copy (they'll be reaching for it soon enough)

[BanningTheWordNaice]

It's shit and YANBU to feel pissed off about it but I would never expect to receive a bonus after handing in my notice to be honest.

[Firstmum24]

Yeah this happened to me before, I missed out on a years bonus (?!?!?!?) plus tips that i made that month, it was heartbreaking but I had to accept it. At the end of the day a bonus is a gesture and you are not necessarily entitled to it unless it is in your contract that you will receive one indefinitely.
Sorry !!

[KoalaDownUnder]

I don't know about 'unreasonable' or not, but I don't blame you for being gutted!!

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

you are not necessarily entitled to it unless it is in your contract


You really should check this. Many people without the correct HR experience will think exactly what has been written above, but it is not necessarily right. You accrue rights by turning up every day for the proceeding year.

[ShowYourSeams]

Might your boss have been saying to the others that they're getting the bonus and you're not to put them off handing their notice in too? But really you are getting it?

To be honest, every job I've worked in bonus is not paid off you hand your notice in.

[BIWI]

Bonuses are discretionary though, aren't they? And as well as rewarding people for their contribution, they're also a motivational mechanic - why should the company pay you one if you're leaving?!

However, you should definitely check your contract to see if there's a clause about it that means you could claim it. If there isn't, then you certainly couldn't contest it.

[SevenSeconds]

I would not expect to receive a bonus after handing in my notice, but I can totally see why you're gutted.

[AyeAmarok]

It's always been the case everywhere I've worked that you only get your bonus if you are still employed on bonus pay date, so I think you'll be disappointed with this.

It sucks though, I agree. But thems the breaks.

I hope your new job is better, to cushion the blow!

In my last job I rationalised it to myself by saying "would I have paid [bonus amount] to have got this new job? Yes, I would". Helped me not dwell on it.

[TheClacksAreDown]

I can see why you're upset but everywhere I've ever worked you need to be in employment and not handed in your notice on the date of payment of a bonus. With a flood of resignations coming in the next day!

[AyeAmarok]

[With a flood of resignations coming in the next day!*

Yep, same!

[CallieTorres]

i've worked in places where your bonus was cut up, and you would get about £2k in March, then another chunk in June etc wankers

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

This happened to me too, it is a bit shit. Meh - I was just glad to be out of there.

[bilbodog]

If you don't ask you don't get - this was 25 years ago but I became pregnant and knew I would not be coming back to work after having my baby and as I was working up to beginning of December I asked if there was any chance I could receive my annual bonus Pro rata - I did, and I don't think they had to. Worth a try. Good luck!