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Original poster

Part timer bonus

27 replies

Changethenamey · 12/04/2022 23:04

I’m a long standing employee, currently working part time due to having young children. Last month the company kindly offered a one off payment of £1000 to all employees due to the rapid cost of living. I was emailed to inform me that mine would be pro rata due to my part time hours and gave me the figure to expect. At first I was ok with this but as the weeks have gone by I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed - this was not a performance related bonus (totally agree they should be pro rata to reflect hours put in) this was specifically addressed as to help with COL. Sadly my fuel prices are not pro rata.

Is this discriminatory towards the part time workers or one of those things I have to take on the chin as a part timer?

OP posts:

llm24 · 12/04/2022 23:07

Look at it from a full
time worker point of view why should someone who works less hours be paid the same as a part time worker

Ops1 · 12/04/2022 23:09

Bonuses are usually at the discretion of the company and not guaranteed in your contract so the business can apply their own terms and conditions usually but check your bonus policy if your company has one

When it was communicated was it stipulated ‘pro rata’ or has someone realised this after communicating

Ultimately In my experience (HR operations) it’s likely not illegal but is likely to cause ill feeling so I would encourage you to speak to your manager about that and explain this is an extra ordinary bonus and you think the terms should be the same for everyone
If this was my organisation I would argue we give people extra bonuses for long service eg 10. Years 500£ and this is never pro rata so those working 40hours get the same as someone working 10 as it’s a good will feature by the company and I would use that as my benchmark if I was asked to roll out a new extra one off bonus

Comefromaway · 12/04/2022 23:10

I would expect it to be pro rata to be honest.

foodaddict21 · 12/04/2022 23:12

I think it's fair tbh, & I'm p/t too.

Our company always pro-rates non performance related bonuses. In fact the last one was a % of salary, so naturally p/t get less than those on f/t wage.

TeddyTonks · 12/04/2022 23:14

It should definitely be pro rata. If you want to be paid the same as full timers, work full time!

MaChienEstUnDick · 12/04/2022 23:18

No I get what you're saying. Performance bonuses are pro rated and that makes sense, but cost of living applies equally to everyone. Your fuel bills aren't halved because your working hours are.

That said, this is a discretionary payment from your work so unless it's covered in your contract, best to accept graciously I suppose.

Original poster

Changethenamey · 12/04/2022 23:22

Thanks all. Good to get another perspective on it. As I mentioned we have had bonuses before which have been specifically performance related (company exceeded a target, large sale etc) and I wouldn’t dream of expecting the same as a full timer. I guess the waters were muddied as it was addressed as a COL ‘gift’ sort of thing. I’ll just give my head a wobble and be grateful for the extra .

OP posts:

WalesStar · 13/04/2022 09:26

I’m in a similar situation OP. I’m part time (3 days) we got a £1000 bonus in December. Everyone got the same amount except people who had been with the org for less than 6 months (they got £500).

Original poster

Changethenamey · 13/04/2022 17:01

@WalesStar we had a Christmas bonus too now you mention it and I got the same as everyone else. That was a much smaller amount though!

OP posts:

Sapphirejane · 13/04/2022 17:06

I view it as you are giving your employer x% of your working week so they are providing x% of help towards the cost of living crisis.

AuntieJoyce · 13/04/2022 17:11

On first read I thought it seemed reasonable but now I think that if it is a fixed amount it should be a fixed amount for everyone. Otherwise if it was a percentage of salary, then that would effectively be pro rata based on the pay.

Not explaining this well but I think if they wanted to pro rate this for you they should be giving a percentage of salary bonus rather than a fixed amount.

BritInUS1 · 13/04/2022 17:15

I think it should be prorated

£1000 to full time employees and then pro rated for hours worked for part time

MisgenderedSwan · 13/04/2022 17:24

I'm part time and got a pro-rated bonus last month. I look at it as I could always go get another job / increase my hours (theoretically) if I was stuck whereas someone already working full time doesn't have any more hours to give?

Antarcticant · 13/04/2022 17:31

I agree pro-rata is fair.

Original poster

Changethenamey · 13/04/2022 17:31

@AuntieJoyce a salary % possibly would have felt fairer. Although the type of business it is some of the management will be high earners so would have probably cost the company a lot more.

OP posts:

Original poster

Changethenamey · 13/04/2022 17:33

@Sapphirejane that’s a good way of looking at it, thanks!

OP posts:

ImBurtMacklin · 13/04/2022 17:34

Surely if you work 2 days out of 5 for example, your cost of fuel for getting to work are only 2/5ths of a full timer.

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 13/04/2022 17:39

@Sapphirejane

I view it as you are giving your employer x% of your working week so they are providing x% of help towards the cost of living crisis.

I think this is an excellent way of looking at it.

AuntieJoyce · 13/04/2022 17:43

@Changethenamey If anything high earners need this less. So if they are giving the full £1000 to the higher earners it should be a flat rate across the board.

TBF I can see both sides but given its specific purpose to meet COL rises I think it should be the same for everyone.

Original poster

Changethenamey · 13/04/2022 17:43

@ImBurtMacklin most staff work from home.

OP posts:

Genegenieee · 13/04/2022 17:45

@Changethenamey

Is this discriminatory towards the part time workers or one of those things I have to take on the chin as a part timer?

It's completely in line with market practice and not discriminatory from a legal perspective.

Think about it - your salary, allowances, pension, holiday days - are all pro rated. Whatever they call this payment, it's employment income - it's not a government grant or the like. The only reason you are getting it is on account of your employment - which is part time, so part paid.

HopefulProcrastinator · 13/04/2022 17:47

We're having a cost of living one off payment and it's equal across the board.

I'm quite pleased that the company have acknowledged being on reduced hours doesn't make you less important or as in need when it comes to non-performance/attendance related support...and I say this as a full time employee.

Viviennemary · 13/04/2022 19:37

Pro-rata is usual for bonuses. And I think quite fair.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 13/04/2022 22:59

Is this discriminatory towards the part time workers or one of those things I have to take on the chin as a part timer?

Absolutely not discrimination. I can see why you're miffed though. Equally, I'd see why a full timer would be miffed if the amounts were the same. It's difficult to please everyone.

My job is rolling out this sort of thing, I would advise a pro rata amount.

angelsandinsects · 15/04/2022 22:01

To pick up on SapphireJane's point, you could have two jobs for two days a week and, if they both offered a £1000 CoL bonus and paid in full regardless of whether you worked full time or part time, you'd get £2k but those working full time would only get £1k and still be working 25% more than you.
And to pick up on your point about your fuel costs going up the same as your full time colleagues, why is this only relevant to the CoL bonus and not your salary in the first place?

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