No even a token bonus

[Christmasishere2025]

I started a new job a month ago. Everyone got a bonus, even people who have been there 3 months got 5%, others more. Am I unreasonable to think I should have got something ? Perhaps just a token 1%of my salary. I am also one the lowest person paid in the company despite my experience.

I am really trying to focus on the positives but this is really getting me down.

Appreciated for what exactly? You’ve only just started.

Maybe the bonus was paid for a period where you weren’t employed there? For example if their financial year end is 30 September it’s probably paid for performance up to that date but you weren’t there whilst the 3 month people were.

That’s how my employer works. They pay bonus in December for performance up to 30 September. In fact my employer don’t pay any bonus unless you were there the full 12 months from 1 October (so at my company you wouldn’t get a bonus next year either)

Speak to your line manager and ask how they allocate bonus.

Last Christmas I'd been in my role for just short of three months. I received the same generous gift as everybody else. Not a bonus, but still, more than I'd ever received from previous jobs. I felt so uncomfortable because I didn't feel I deserved it. If I am lucky enough to receive a gift this year I will feel very deserving of it because I have worked hard all year.

Next year OP, you will deserve your bonus and it will be satisfying.

Youve been there a month, its right not to get a bonus.

That isn’t a great attitude to take - it would be demonstrably strange to give a bonus to someone only a month in and it’s lovely that after three months they did give something. Be glad you have a decent employer and don’t be jealous of other people being treated well.

At one month in you shpuld expect nothing/ I would expect nothing.

How old are you?
Are you quite junior? Only ask as I am surprised you are in hr and arent famuliar with industry norms / au fait with bonus structures and pay bands.

The 3 month person will likely have got 5% pro rata. I have rarely seen it done differently in a big company except where it was negotiated upfront.
If 5% on annual it could be how they processed a "sign on bonus" due to budgetary constraints or part of a sign on agreement.
i once got an 11k bonus when i was on 40k rest of department got about 2 or 4k and I would normally have received 2 or 3k but I had negotiated this following a promotion.

You weren't expecting a lot but a few hundred would have been nice????

Many of us work in jobs where there is no such thing as a Christmas bonus. A few hundred pounds above your normal monthly wage sounds like a lot of money to me.

I agree with others that someone who has been working for a month is essentially a new starter and shouldn't expect anything.

Give yourself a bonus then!

The entitlement!

Rules are rules, like it or lump it. Many people before and after you will have missed out due to the time you started, that’s life!

Also, why did you accept the job if you’re already not happy with the salary?

There probably wouldn’t even have been enough time to get that through payroll if you are only a month in….. your wage would be a given but bonuses would have to be agreed which takes time and that agreement could have happened before you even started.

it sucka but it’s better than the instant coffee, cold bacon sandwich and 10 extra minutes at break time I’ll get on Friday as my Christmas gift!!

I am amazed you expected something! Have your previous firms paid bonuses to new joiners? Where I’ve worked most firms have needed probation passed at the very least and at several companies at least a years work and contribution to business success.

Exactly.

OP you are barely through the door. Stop It.

Our bonus pays out end of March but relates to the previous year's performance and someone has to have worked for at least three months of that year. So cut off for new starters is six months before the bonus payout.

Were the scheme rules not made clear on joining? If you're HR at least that's something you can fix.

My DD started a job in August and no bonus was given last month as she’s on probation( 6 months!) but she knew this as it’s in her contract. Luckily they split the bonus over the year and she’ll qualify at the next allocation. She was however included in several paid for Christmas dos.

Thank you. I do need to focus on the positives and not take it personally. Annual reviews only took place on the last 2 weeks. I was hoping for a token of appreciation; it would have made a lot of difference; as I said nothing big, it s not the money.

Bonuses are usually to incentivise towards and reward the achievement of business objectives.

You haven’t contributed towards these objectives - why on earth would you be rewarded?

It’s like working in a restaurant for a month and asking for a share of the previous months tips. You haven’t contributed towards the objectives - if anything as a new person so far you’ve been a drain against the objectives.

If this is their policy surely all staff will have had to wait like you are so this is fair.

😅😂 you are right

Why don’t you ask your manager or check your contract? There is probably a cut off date to be employed by to receive it - most likely September or October if it’s been paid in December. This is completely normal and only your employer can tell you why you didn’t receive one.

I've never worked anywhere that has a xmas bonus, but I assumed it would be 20 quid or something.
But you mention a few hundreds, do people really get hundreds of pounds extra because of xmas? So you don't actually have to budget for xmas at all?

Appreciation of what though? You have only been there a month they have no idea if you were a good hire or not yet.

I’m 55 and got a Christmas gift for the first time - a £20 voucher from the CEO (I work for a charity now). I was very happy to get it!

How do you know everyone else got a bonus, and how much?

Your annual review must've been brief.

I understand hoping you'd get a small bonus, but feeling entitled to one after a month in the place is just daft. Look forward to next December.

Appreciation for what? You’ve been there a month, so far you’ve been a net drain