Is my company trying to rip me off?

[notveryfairatall]

I received a letter stating that 'with effect from 1st July' I would be entitled to a bonus 'which will be paid in the July payroll'. It then states 'please note that you will not be entitled to the bonus if you resign before then'. I resigned shortly after the 1st of July, but assumed that I would still get the bonus as it was 'effective from the 1st'. Just received my pay minus the bonus and they are saying I am not entitled to it. What do you think?

Sorry, but I think your company is right. You resigned before the July payroll so are not entitled to a bonus. It is a little ambiguous whether the 'then' refers to the July payroll date or 1st July, and so there is clearly no concrete answer.

Is the bonus a fixed amount, or 'discretionary based on your personal performance and that of the Company'. If discretionary, even if they agreed to pay you a bonus, the amount could by insultingly small given that you have resigned.

Standard practice in all companies that I've worked for that if you're not employed on payroll day, you don't get the bonus. So I don't think they're trying to pull a fast one.

Nope. Standard contract language. You only get the bonus if you are employed and not on notice the day the bonus is paid.

No, they're right - standard practice.