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.

Wow.

How old are you OP? There is currently another thread on-going about if young people are entitled in the work place, and some people saying it's people in their 50s etc. Your age very well could be the deciding factor in this debate.

This.

They might not even know whether or not you're especially good at your job after four weeks. I mean you have presumably only just got your first round of payment? You're just settling into the role?

It's unusual to give a bonus at three months even, so they're obviously fairly generous.

Nobody would ever expect a yearly bonus for a month's worth of work. If you raise it you will look totally unreasonable and it could cloud their views on your attitude as an employee.

What have you contributed in 1 month to earn a bonus?

Surely you're still bedding in?

Do you not get the 10% discount at supermarkets (etc) as an NHS worker?

We get a blue light card but we have to pay for that. That’s not a bonus though. And it doesn’t give 10% on supermarkets!

It costs you £2.50 per year and is estimated to save a couple of thousand per year. I'd say that's a pretty decent benefit. If you use NHS benefits wisely it can save thousands - I have a family member who bought 2 brand new cars via an NHS scheme (one for himself and one for his son) and saved over £10k. Let's not pretend it's either costing you money or not giving huge savings. It is a VERY valuable benefit.

https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/en

I’m sure you have, but presumably people took the time to review your CV, interview you, set up your IT equipment, train you etc

It will be written in their pay policy, as to how long you need to have been there to qualify.

OP, it’s one of those things. The cut off will be somewhere! A month is nothing.

Presumably you accepted the job because it was a good job / opportunity for you. Keep that feeling. If you hold on to this with resentment and bitterness it will affect your performance and commitment. Look ahead and know that with a great year’s work behind you you will be looking forward to a good bonus and may be in a position to negotiate a pay rise.

If you feel underpaid you could raise this after you pass your probation.

YABVU. You’ve been there a month!! Many of us work jobs where there is ZERO bonus, year upon year. The sheer entitlement, sorry.

Not getting a bonus after literally a few weeks in a new job is "really getting you down"? That's wild. I'm assuming there's much more to the story.

My daughter go a €200 for a local store similar to tesco. She is only in the job just over a year. She was delighted, used it to get Christmas clothes for her and her daughter and some small gifts.

I've worked here 7 years and got a £25 gift card 🤣

You wanted 1% and it would have been "hundreds"?

This is real entitlement

What scheme is this? Bc none of my NHS family members get much use out of it bar the occasional discount at John Lewis etc

Primary school. Zilch.

you have literally just walked through the door of course you didn’t get anything

A few hundreds, you don't expect much !

Or indeed Social Services!

At my place you get a bonus if you joined prior to Q4 - paid pro-rata. I didn’t expect it at all so was a nice surprise (I had joined in September, some years ago).

Most other companies I’ve worked at before didn’t pay a bonus, the couple which did, you had to be there the full year to be eligible.
One place, my manager got me some chocolates and a bottle of fizz as I wasn’t eligible for the bonus (also joined in September), which was a lovely gesture. Wouldn’t have expected even this after just a month though.

Whatever, it will be somewhere in your contract which stipulates the minimum qualification period to get eligible for the bonus.

Try being a teacher or a nurse…

Not until youve passed your probation

A few weeks? Christ my boss is that miserly she wouldnt even give me a block of cheese from a hamper that was sent into the office and I am there 20 years.

Most companies have a cut off for bonus eligibility usually people who joined up until October or so may het a prorated bonus. I doubt there's many companies who will give you a bonus after 1 month.

You can easily find out the bonus eligibility policy for your company to manage your expectations. You're being unreasonable to expect to get a bonus after 1 month.