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Original poster

Bonus disappointment - how to respond

60 replies

Smallgirlbigcity1 · 11/03/2023 08:44

Looking for advice from professionals or someone with an HR background please

I have just been adviced of the bonus amount I will be receiving this year. I am disappointed for quite a few reasons: hard year for my team with increased work volume, started the year in a formula of four and by mid year it was only two of us (a colleague went on maternity, other resigned). I have worked overtime consistently and even had to work from my holidays.

Due to the nature of my role I am privy to all company remuneration info and I could not fail to notice rest of the department’s bonus numbers.
While I was given an excuse as to “there was a standard of x% applied”, this was not applied uniformly and for example my colleague who went on maternity and whose job I covered as well as mine received twice as much (while she was away for the most part of the year). And this is not the only example.

I like my job but this has made me feel so low to the point I cried this morning. It is not the money, it is feeling undervalue and “used”.

The question is, do I say anything or pack up and leave? I have been in the role for a few years and while people around me have renegotiated their pay/bonus I just kept my head down and got on with the job.

OP posts:
Enko · 11/03/2023 08:55

What is stopping you re negotiating op? This sounds really upsetting I get why you feel this was. Especially when you are covering a lot of extra work.

Yes I think its time to look for a new job.

amiold · 11/03/2023 08:57

Bring it up. What have you got to lose? Especially if you're going to leave for being undervalued in the long term.
I'd be fuming too

CrapBucket · 11/03/2023 08:58

Is the bonus x% of whatever you sell? Or some other formula?

Or is it 'someone else decides on a random amount' - if so, however hard you work, they will always pay the minimum they think they can.

The people I know who earn decent salaries, have got them by moving companies.

Interested in this thread?

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Employment advice
Janedoe82 · 11/03/2023 09:01

Depends how the bonus is worked it.

LlynTegid · 11/03/2023 09:04

If you have been lied to, tackle the liar. May be a starter for renegotiation.

Original poster
Smallgirlbigcity1 · 11/03/2023 09:04

It is x% of base salary (not in sales) and someone decides what that is basically.

I don’t know how to bring it up with sounding bitter in relation to other colleagues pay, I also don’t want to be unprofessional by making reference to others pay to which I have access through my role.

OP posts:
RudsyFarmer · 11/03/2023 09:05

Use your words. I am sure they’d much rather you spoke to them than resigned.

Ceryneianhind · 11/03/2023 09:05

Is it a corporate job where the bonus % is based on your banding?

RudsyFarmer · 11/03/2023 09:06

Smallgirlbigcity1 · 11/03/2023 09:04

It is x% of base salary (not in sales) and someone decides what that is basically.

I don’t know how to bring it up with sounding bitter in relation to other colleagues pay, I also don’t want to be unprofessional by making reference to others pay to which I have access through my role.

This is why women end up on less pay than their male colleagues. We have a tendency to get on with things and not make a fuss. Make a fuss!!

tootiredtospeak · 11/03/2023 09:09

Come on big girl pants. You request a formal meeting and say you arent happy with your bonus your are privy to knowing other colleagues and the one who went on Maternity is comparable to your role. Ask for specific examples of what they did in comparison to you to be awarded a higher amount. Go in with examples of what you have done to go over and above your standard role. If they say no they say no you have still stood up for yourself and you can then either look for another job or in every 1 to 1 you discuss your expectations for a higher amount this year and ask if your on track and document it.

Schnooze · 11/03/2023 09:12

If you are going to leave because if it, then you might as well ask in the first place. You can’t lose anything by asking.

generalexpert · 11/03/2023 09:13

Definitely confront them about it. The British generally don't like talking about money, but it will piss you off if you don't sort it.

Tell them exactly how much you want, why you deserve it and give examples of other people who have received more for less.

Make them feel uncomfortable and in no doubt that you're not happy.

Also sprinkle in that you enjoy your job and are committed to next years targets blah blah.

If they don't give you the cash - then bugger off!!

tootiredtospeak · 11/03/2023 09:16

I did a really similar thing as my bonus is pro rated as I am PT which I dont agree with and guess what this year I got a lot more.

mrstea301 · 11/03/2023 09:16

I would renegotiate and go in with all your examples of where you have went above and beyond your role, including the points where team numbers have dropped but volume of work has stayed the same.

I basically view it as - if I want to renegotiate, my manager will have to do the same, so I want to make it as easy as possible for her to make my case to the people that she has to justify it to!

SpookyBlackCat · 11/03/2023 09:18

You have nothing to lose by trying to negotiate.

Poonmig · 11/03/2023 09:22

The only thing I would say is, when you say you’re privy to all the remuneration info - is this because you work in payroll or similar? If so I’d be mindful as to how I approach the conversation and ensure you include examples where you have over performed or excelled and so deserve more, not just ‘But Jane got XXX%’

Ginmonkeyagain · 11/03/2023 09:30

I had this a couple of years ago, it was even more unfair as a portion of our bonus award was our annual payrise. So essentially I was getting a paycut. It was totally unexpecred as I got good performance reviews.

I asked for a meeting, made a subject access request for all documentation relating to discussions about my bonus award and asked my head of department what I didn't do compared to my peers who did get a bonus.

The information I got back gave no real information ir indicarion where my performance fell behind that of my peers. I suspect it was down to the fact I did not get on with the temporary Head of Department and my manager did not like me enough to argue my case. So I took out a grievance stating that seeing as all my performance reviews that year were good I should at least the pay rise element otherwise I was being given a paycut, something that should only apply to those in performance management, according to their own policies. It was rejected. So I left. ...... for a similar job that paid £6k a year more.

The sting in the tail was they tried to hold me to my three months notice as I was "critical to a delivery particular project". I laughed in their face and got them down to one months notice.

Clymene · 11/03/2023 09:33

You need to ask. In my experience though, a low bonus is trying to send you a message.

LizzieSiddal · 11/03/2023 09:33

Agree, put your big pants on and arrange a meeting! If it all goes wrong you can leave anyway, but I would imagine you’ll get a bigger bonus.

Paq · 11/03/2023 09:37

Pack up and leave. Or at least get another job offer to negotiate.

ChateauMargaux · 11/03/2023 09:38

Ask for clarification on the calculation of the bonus which is presumably based on performance review.

If your performance rating is in question.. challenge it. Point out that you have worked above expectations without adequante support and that your efforts and achievements should be rewarded not punished for this.

Point out that your department has run will fewer staff and therefore less costs because of your personal efforts and sacrifices and that the disparity in bonus payments does not correctly reflect the true situation.

Dreamlight · 11/03/2023 09:41

I worked in a company where everyone but me got a 10% bonus and I got less than 2%. The reason being that I was in admin where as they were in fee making. My boss saw me as an overhead!

I raised it with him and asked him why he did that when the fee earners could not do their job if I didn't do mine. I achieved all my goals plus several things over and above. Didn't alter my bonus that year, but I did get the same as everyone else the following year and they have now put a proper bonus structure in place so that I can see where I fall.

Sometimes you just need to challenge the status quo. They get away with it because they think you won't cause a fuss.

Theraffarian · 11/03/2023 09:43

I can see it might be hard to discuss your bonus being unfair without using the fact that due to your job you happen to know what others have received.

However I would double check a couple of things , for example is it possible the matrix for working % bonus figures isn’t as simple as a % of basic salary . Ours can be worked on how high up you are on a predicted salary band for your job , and the closer to the top , the lower % increase you will get . It’s then based on a performance level within your job , so higher performance equals higher increase . We wouldn’t make that a lower figure for someone on maternity leave , but would base on their average performance in the period they were at work that year .

Next I would book a meeting to discuss your salary and bonus . Take proof of jobs at your level being advertised at a higher pay grade . Explain you feel undervalued and would like to look at how they can help , both with a pay rise and reviewing your bonus figure.

Take proof of all the times you have gone above and beyond your job role , with times, dates , extra work done .

Good luck.

Ginmonkeyagain · 11/03/2023 09:47

There is definitely something in that.

I suspect the unwritten rule at my old employer was people who were regarded as a "flight risk" (Ie they were more likely to be poached for higher paid job) would get bonuses. Due to my specialisation and the fact I am one of those typical women - keep my head down, work hard, din't make a fuss, I suspect they didn't think I would leave or be offered a better paid job.

How wrong they were, on both counts.

OP I note you say it is not about the money. I think this makes negotiation and staying harder. It was for me too, I didn't really care about the bonus as such (it was a couple thousand pounds at most and less after tax ) but for me once the trust was gone it was gone. Which was why I ultimately had to leave.

PinkVine · 11/03/2023 09:48

Is the maternity one an anomaly? You can't penalise someone for being on ML, so they have to apply the bonus as if she was there, even though, obviously, that means she hasn't done the work. ML will get an "average" bonus where someone who was there can be judged as having performed less than average iyswim.