To think my manager will fire me tomorrow?!

[BlueNeighbourhood1]

I work in a department of a national company with four other people in my role and then a manager. Been there for six months and just passed my probation period.

We all get on really really well and have a WhatsApp group chat to discuss any issues. In January because of a great performance we were guaranteed our bonus to be paid at the end of March - usually we would have to wait another month for final March figures to be calculated but because it was guaranteed then apparently not.

Today (payroll cut off date) we all receive a letter to our home address, no apology for the misinformation advising our bonus would now be paid in April. When we got home we went onto the group chat to question this with our manager as obviously we had all mentally spent this money.

As much as it isnt the managers fault, I said something like that it was all premeditated to send the letter at payroll cut off because of the new financial year in April. And then asked how we can sell jobs to potential candidates if we get treated like this too and its making it very difficult to have belief in the company.

So my Manager kicks off and said theyre sick of the moaning and if any of us doesnt like working there to leave - fair enough. I left it half an hour and sent a personal apology to the manager for what I said to be told we will pick this up tomorrow.

I've now got it in my head I'm going to be fired tomorrow, does anyone know if its a sackable offence?!

Did you send the email after work? I'd say "let's pick it up the morning" if I wanted to acknowledge that I'd received the message, but didn't want to talk about it right now, better in the morning when everyone has calmed down and slept on it.

Oh I'm a CEO. I think being a manager and wanting to discuss things openly - which apparently your manager does by entering into a Whats App group - you expect people to be open and honest. So more fool them if they take offence!

In reality, they should apologise for the misinformation. People do expect and plan for a bonus when its an important addition to household income. You were a bit - how you say, brave - to complain. Its not very wise and a bit silly of you. But you've apologised.

I personally don't think its reasonable to sack someone for that. But what do I know about your employers? They might be bastards!

By the way, I've not read any of your previous posts. If you are usually a pain in the arse the results might be worse. Remember, being likeable and flexible is a huge advantage in any work environment - because guess what - thats the same as what works in friendships! Being reasonable, capable and adaptable! Life skills!

Paying it just a month late suggests someone was too disorganised to get it into payroll rather than liquidation, tbh.

Yeah paying bonuses next financial year . I hope you are right for the OP'S sake.

I did yes, you're probably right. It's just all very stupid of me, I never think before I speak and should have taken the lead from my colleagues.

I'll see her tomorrow, there's only a couple of us in the office so I'll keep apologising as it's obviously my fault, I should've said it in private really.

I would have you down as a rabble rouser and possible stirrer of discontent OP. Speaking 'on behalf' of colleagues whom you have known merely months, firing off WhatsApp messages without pausing, re reading, thinking holyfuck I can't possibly send that! and deleting it? Don't become the team rent a mouth; Your colleagues will love you for it (they get to snipe and put their point across without having to stick their neck on the block while they sit back angelically), your manager and superiors not so much.

dont spend money u havent got quite simple allsorts could go wrong

spending money on sons 18th? so how would she have paid for it otherwise

As a manager, I wouldn't fire you, but your cards would definitely be marked. If you did anything else to annoy me, I would start to question how good a fit you were for the team. You seem to think you're just saying what everyone else is thinking - but your manager might see you as the chief stirrer. No one likes a stirrer.

You can sack someone for being annoying within their first 2 years, provided you give them the right notice. It's perfectly legal.

You probably won't be fired this time, but you need to start paying more attention to office politics and how to play the game!

A manager, incidentally, is never a friend. (Unless you're also a manager at the same level.) I have always treated my direct reports kindly and in many cases, they've had my personal number for out of hours emergencies. But if they stepped out of line and I had to fire them, at the end of the day - that's my role.

Your (sic) REALLY lucky to get a bonus at all...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract

Why do you need a whatsapp group to discuss issues?

If the manager is party to it as it would seem sticking a whine on it was asinine. What did you think would happen?

it's obviously my fault, I should've said it in private really.

You did say it in private though.

The problem here is you did that then carried on in a group environment.

That's what's unacceptable.

I would also say do not take her in a pot plant. In this scenario she is your manager not your friend and the problem is work related. An apology should be sufficient. Something that looks like a 'bribe' is not.

Try working for the NHS.
bonus??? What's that.
So what you have a wait a month.
Consider yourself lucky.
You sound like a spoilt brat.

Your manager of 6 months is not your friend.

I can’t bear negativity and shit stirring in my team, it brings the whole atmosphere down and has a massive impact on moral.

Yes, the bonus date being moved is shit, but you had said your peice privately, there was absolutely no need to go again in a group discussion. I doubt you’ll be fired, but you will be regarded as the stirrer and your cards could well be marked. I’d make sure I was squeaky clean going forward if I were you.

Why so fucking sanctimonious, @sanasa? OP's performance entitles her to a bonus that she earns. Her base salary will also be lower to reflect the bonus potential.

Becuase your work isn't set up in that way, she shouldn't get a bonus? Life isn't a race to the bottom.

Piece*

Fat fingers.

All the posters who are saying I'm lucky to have a bonus because you dont get one; do you know what my salary is? Or my bonus amount? I'm not even in the higher tax bracket, I earn bonus as a reward for good performance at work.

If you're jealous and sticking the knife in because I receive a bonus and should feel lucky at that regardless of what I'm told about when itll be paid - I suggest you look for another role with bonuses if thats what will make you happy and less resentful.

OP, mumsnet is notorious for people having no fucking financial sense.

Bonuses aren't free money the employer throws about for a laugh, they're essentially a part of your salary that is withheld unless you meet certain targets. But unlike some, you already know that.

anneoneil the issue here isn't the bonus per se. It's the reaction to it being paid 1 month late, which was actually the original due date.

Saying

• it was premeditated
• it's hard to believe in the company
• we can't sell jobs to candidates if we get treated like this

Is bang out of order.

It's like a threat.

Would anyone ever actuallynsay to a potential candidate , 'well, our bonus was paid a month late so I'd think twice about joining'?

And all from someone with 6 months service.

You won't get sacked. You whinged. She told you to shove it and shut up. Sounds like a pretty constructive boss/subordinate relationship to me! An apology will no doubt be graciously accepted, but I wouldn't worry too much.

As an employer, I'm basically on your side, OP. It's incredibly unfair to promise a bonus at a certain time, then not pay it. Staff on a low income can get into real difficulties, that way. A large company should know better than that. Your manager probably feels defensive because she knows you are right - though don't say that to her, whatever you do

Go in tomorrow, say that you know you were out of order, you have learnt from it and you won't do it again. I'd be very surprised if you were fired.

OP I'm in your position, my company surprised me with a bonus for my hardwork last year and promised it would be paid in my January pay, which didn't happen. I am promised it will be in my pay this month which is frustrating as I need that money for a deposit on a house I want to apply for a mortgage for!

True it's not your managers fault but whoever messed up need to be reminded that people will budget for more money if they are aware that it's coming.

mumsnet is notorious for people having no fucking financial sense no idea why you think that. I’d say mumsnet is excellent at giving advice in financial and employment matters.

@bearbehind You've identified different, more relevant issues (although as a union rep I'd disagree with you, and find OP's points all valid).

However:

@YellowSunshinePaint :Your REALLY lucky to get a bonus at all...
@sanasa
Try working for the NHS.
bonus??? What's that.
So what you have a wait a month.
Consider yourself lucky.
You sound like a spoilt brat.

Expect a bollocking, but if you're good enough to earn the bonus and they actually fire you for that, you don't want to work there anyway.

If you knew what to expect from AIBU, I'm surprised you posted at all.

You've identified different, more relevant issues (although as a union rep I'd disagree with you, and find OP's points all valid)

Eh?

So you're basically saying my points are perfectly valid and very relevant but you'd defend the OP just because you're in a union?

Explains a lot.