Approaching company about bonus

[labelwriter]

I have been employed by the same company for 5 years for 2 days a week, initially I was employed on a job share basis but now it's a part time role (person I job shared with left). Now it's a very profitable consultancy and I am paid well but I am the only person in the company who doesn't get the company bonus. Most of the other people who work here contribute directly to the sales revenue but there are 2 others here who, like me, are support staff and they do receive the bonus,although they have been here a lot longer than me. It doesn't seem to be based on my performance either as my reviews have always been good Now, I know legally they don't need to but I would like to raise the issue with them and they may well say no but I would like to ask them. I am really rubbish at this sort of thing so any pointers would be great. Thank you.

If you are employed, rather than a consultant, I would search around for an employee handbook or guidelines of some sort. It may give some guidance on who is eligible.

Assuming you are eligible, and you probably are, and although it is discretionary, I would broach it, either with HR or your line manager, or better still cc. both, in a written form, asking to be 'considered for inclusion in the discretionary bonus scheme'.

Outline that you have been there x years, your performance reports have been satisfactory (or whatever word they use) and that you feel an integral and important part of the company.

I would state that you know that it is discretionary and that you appreciate that it will be pro rata'ed to take account of the part time nature of your job.

Do NOT mention that you know everyone else gets it! Talking about salaries, bonuses etc is forbidden at some companies and frankly, it's not relevant. (It may be if you ever took them to a tribunal, but I wouldn't raise as a reason for you to get the bonus).

HTH

Thank you. This is a great starting point.

I disagree that it's not relevant that everyone else gets the bonus. I think if everyone gets it, including other support staff, and the OP is the only one who doesn't, it couldn't be more relevant.

And saying it would be relevant to a tribunal but not something to raise now isn't right at all - to bring something to a tribunal a key principle of employment law is that you give your employer reasonably opportunity to answer your concerns and to put things right first.

OP just ask why you don't current participate in the bonus scheme. How you take it forward depends on what their answer is so that's all you need to ask at present really.