Bonus disappointment - how to respond

[Smallgirlbigcity1]

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.

@Smallgirlbigcity1 under no circumstances should you use information you are privy to because of your role to negotiate your own package, it’s grossly unprofessional. By all means tell them you are disappointed because of workload, you’ve saved the company money by doing the work of 4 people with 2, you’ve had good reviews etc, but you cannot compare yourself to others.

It's a bit late to be told that after the event. They should be telling people throughout the year if their performance is falling short.

@HermioneWeasley , yes, I am aware of that hence the conundrum.
Had I not known what colleagues have received I wouldn’t have a reason to complain. I was told a certain percentage has been applied uniformly/company wide.
It has only transpired after that actually this is not the case so hence my frustration. I can of course mention the workload and extra effort but they will say the amount offered reflects that and all has been taken into account.
Now, because it feels unprofessional to mention this in the context of the information I am privy to because of my role, I don’t really have an argument do I. I can’t even say the information I was given (x%age applied uniformly is incorrect/untrue because I also know that through my role)

Therefore I have two options, accept the situation or leave. Very upsetting because none of these is what I want.

How about making up a fictional conversation you had with a co-worker? I heard from someone that works here that their bonus was x and I was surprised because mine was only y despite being told that it’s fixed.

I don't think there is a conundrum.

OP - I'm not happy with with my bonus. I have demonstrated I am worth more than this via x y and z (projects/work/etc).

Employer - well everyone was given x %.

OP - due to the nature of my role, we both know, that that isn't the case, so let's treat each other with honesty and respect. As I said, I am valuable because [xxxxx] and as such I calculated that my bonus should be £.

I don’t think there’s any harm in asking what the structure is / how the % has been decided - even if you phrase it as it’d be good to know if there are areas you need to improve on for the next one

Has your company made money during the last year?

I would have a conversation and say there may have been an error in the keying of your bonus as you've not received the fixed % / company wide rate.

Bonus payments are typically discretionary and not contractual so legally you might not have a leg to stand on. Do you get an annual performance rating as normally your own individual level of performance will be used to differentiate bonus levels.

IME this is passive aggressive behaviour. They are trying to make you leave on your own.

You can say that you must know people talk and what you’re telling me is absolute not true. I don’t know why you thought you could just lie to me, but I am starting to think that this all just sums up how much you value me, and I regret working so hard for <firm>. It’s worn me out and obviously no one here cares.

make your knowing it nothing about your role and access to the information. They are lying to you after all!