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Original poster

Bonus payment for referring a friend for a job - would you share it?!

61 replies

CaseClosedWineOpened · 10/06/2026 23:25

A few months ago, a colleague in another team mentioned that they were recruiting for a role. I said I might know someone suitable.

I spoke to a friend and she was really keen so I forwarded her CV. Fast-forward and she got the job with a decent pay bump over her previous salary. Really pleased for her!

It turns out I am going to get a referral bonus of £2000. I wasn’t aware of this when I referred her because I’ve only been there a short time myself.

So, my question is - if you were my friend, how would you feel about my windfall? TBH I am planning to keep it, but thinking maybe I’ll take her out for a little celebration, my treat? 🥂

Would love to hear perspectives.

YABU - share it you selfish cow
YANBU - it’s all yours!

OP posts:
randomchap · 11/06/2026 07:06

ElvirRamcic · 11/06/2026 00:13

I wouldn’t share it, but I would take us both out for a meal somewhere fancy, on me.

This seems the best solution. Go out and celebrate her new job.

Sixpence39 · 11/06/2026 07:03

My friend will get a 5k bonus if I get this job and when they told me about the scheme the first thing they said is "it's amazing because then we can have 2.5k each!". Maybe depends how close you are as friends.

LondonMumo23 · 11/06/2026 06:34

You got this somewhere I worked before. Everyone always split it, you’re a grand up and so is your pal! Don’t see the issue here as you wouldn’t have got it if they hadn’t performed well at interview

Strawberryteabag · 11/06/2026 06:26

If I was your friend I wouldn't expect any of the bonus, I would be grateful for you helping me to get a job. A little congratulations gift bottle of nice wine etc would be nice

Meadowfinch · 11/06/2026 06:06

In the current economic climate, you helped her get her job. That is pretty major on it's own.

Put the bonus towards something important. Don't fritter it away.

grinandslothit · 11/06/2026 06:02

Of course you don't share it
I hope you didn't tell her about it already

JulietteHasAGun · 11/06/2026 05:49

CaseClosedWineOpened · 10/06/2026 23:40

Appreciate the feedback so far, thank you. I think I’m worried that she’ll feel resentful that I’m getting this bonus because of her and then keeping it all to myself 😬

Well she got a job because of you. I assume she’s not sharing her wages with you. Keep the bonus! Your employer has saved recruitment fees which is why they are rewarding you. So not really anything to,do,with her. It’s between you and your employer.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 11/06/2026 05:03

Keep and treat no need to share.

Lurkingandlearning · 11/06/2026 04:57

CaseClosedWineOpened · 10/06/2026 23:40

Appreciate the feedback so far, thank you. I think I’m worried that she’ll feel resentful that I’m getting this bonus because of her and then keeping it all to myself 😬

I imagine companies pay the referral bonuses in consideration of time and money saved on recruitment costs. It is an additional way they might pay employees for an additional service to the company. I don't see why you need to share that and essentially give her money for finding her a better paid job. She isn't going to be sharing her salary increase with you.

Ilovelifeverymuch · 11/06/2026 01:29

CaseClosedWineOpened · 10/06/2026 23:25

A few months ago, a colleague in another team mentioned that they were recruiting for a role. I said I might know someone suitable.

I spoke to a friend and she was really keen so I forwarded her CV. Fast-forward and she got the job with a decent pay bump over her previous salary. Really pleased for her!

It turns out I am going to get a referral bonus of £2000. I wasn’t aware of this when I referred her because I’ve only been there a short time myself.

So, my question is - if you were my friend, how would you feel about my windfall? TBH I am planning to keep it, but thinking maybe I’ll take her out for a little celebration, my treat? 🥂

Would love to hear perspectives.

YABU - share it you selfish cow
YANBU - it’s all yours!

No, the bonus is for you referring her. Re taking her to lunch I would be careful because if you told her you're taking her to lunch because you got a bonus for referring her you don't know of her reaction will be appreciation or greed and wonder why you're not sharing the bonus with her.

PeachMelbaYoghurt · 11/06/2026 00:48

Not sure why people are saying to take her out for lunch - the friend has got a great pay rise. They both won. Keep every penny and enjoy it.

Loloblue · 11/06/2026 00:44

A friend got a bonus for referring me. I would never expect anything in that situation. But she did take me out for a nice lunch bc that's how we roll.

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 11/06/2026 00:41

There is no reason whatever to share the bonus.

RonniePickering · 11/06/2026 00:28

I wouldn’t expect a penny if I was your friend, it wouldn’t occur to me to be offended.

Isitholidayyet · 11/06/2026 00:27

CaseClosedWineOpened · 10/06/2026 23:40

Appreciate the feedback so far, thank you. I think I’m worried that she’ll feel resentful that I’m getting this bonus because of her and then keeping it all to myself 😬

i presume she now has a better/higher paying job thanks to you op. It would be awful of her to hold the bonus against you when you helped her out. You could always have not referred her and not received the bonus - she just also won’t have got the new job

DamonFoxPackingUpNorthernSoul · 11/06/2026 00:22

I remember one apprentice was referred and the person that got the 2G had to pay it back because the kid was a monumental fuck up.
Dunted before three months probation.

Floppyearedlab · 11/06/2026 00:15

CaseClosedWineOpened · 10/06/2026 23:40

Appreciate the feedback so far, thank you. I think I’m worried that she’ll feel resentful that I’m getting this bonus because of her and then keeping it all to myself 😬

Does she even need to know?
This is your perk. Who knows, she may get to do the same for someone else one day?

It’s a bit like when I referred a friend to my gym and he ended up joining. I got a month’s free and 5 guest passes as a thank you. I didn’t offer to pay half of his first month with it.

DoNotSitDownNextToMe · 11/06/2026 00:13

In my company, the person applying for the job (online) has to state the person who referred them. When somebody did it with me (as the new employee), they didn’t even buy me a £1.99 bottle of wine. For a £2k bonus, I thought it was cheap. So yes, either take them out to celebrate or buy a bottle of champagne.

ElvirRamcic · 11/06/2026 00:13

I wouldn’t share it, but I would take us both out for a meal somewhere fancy, on me.

VivienneDelacroix · 11/06/2026 00:12

If my friend referred me for a job, I got it, and it was a pay increase - I'd be really happy to hear that they got a bonus for it!

99bottlesofkombucha · 11/06/2026 00:09

She got a job out of it, that’s the win for the person getting the job!

7238SM · 11/06/2026 00:07

I already posted up thread, but do you need to pay tax from the referral, or is it not tax deductible?

I ask because I recently won an award at work and had to pay tax on the amount! Not a referral fee though. I suppose akin to winning best in breed at crufts but due to my own work and supporting the team etc. TBH I was a bit miffed when tax was taken out because it wasn't much to start with😟

Blogswife · 11/06/2026 00:06

If it wasn’t for you she wouldn’t have got the job - it’s all yours !

ErrolTheDragon · 11/06/2026 00:01

Crrt · 10/06/2026 23:45

She’s gotten a wage bump and a new job. You’re getting this as you’ve saved the company money on the recruitment process. You’ve both won out of it and it’s totally normal to keep it, it would be weird to share it.

You wouldn’t have got it if your friend hadn’t been right for the job, but these bonuses exist because they save on recruitment costs - you’ve done ‘work’ of that value for your company even if it was easy for you!

Mamma272273 · 10/06/2026 23:45

I wouldn’t feel resentful if I had a new job and pay bump! There’s no moral obligation to share it - enjoy it! If anything if I was the friend I would be taking you out to lunch to thank you for the initial referral.