Would I still be eligible for my bonus if I'm working my notice period when it's paid?

[Dinoswearunderpants]

Hi

I imagine this is a very company specific question but thought I'd see if anyone has experience of this please.

I'm on a three month notice period and our bonus is due to be paid in March. This is based on performance for 2022.

I'm in the final stages of interviewing and just wondering if they'd still pay me my bonus if I'm due to leave?

The new company has discussed potentially offering a new hirer bonus. They've asked for my past few years bonuses. I'm not sure whether to slightly inflate this or not? What's the likelihood of them asking for evidence?

I'd rather be honest as I don't think it's good lying. But thought I'd ask again for experience.

Totally company specific. I have worked in places where you have to be there on pay day of the bonus to get it, and others where you just have to be there on 1 Jan (for March payment).

Thanks for replying. I'd still be working there but I would've given my notice in so I wonder if they'd withhold it.

At my company you wouldn’t get bonus if you’re working your notice (exception I think if you’re actually retiring, but definitely not if you’re going to another job). Don’t lie about bonuses - chances are they won’t ask for evidence but if they do and you e lied that’s not a good start!

Ours don’t pay out in a notice period.

My company specifically state you do not get the annual bonus if you are working your notice period. I suspect many notices are handed in just after bonuses are paid! Does your company have a published bonus policy?

Usually no you wouldn't get it. I wouldn't lie about it either but it's ok to be vague and round up if they're asking for a general figure or say what you're expecting to get as a minimum this year.

In companies I've worked for that gave short term (annual/cyclical) bonuses, there was a new policy issued every year specifying eligibility and terms. Usually people who were working out their notice were not eligible - hence people tended to hand in their notice directly after bonus was paid.

In ours if you are employed on bonus day you get it, even if serving notice. Only know this because a colleague never considered it when he handed in his notice and missed a circa £7k bonus by 2 days!!!

Then when he realised, 2 months into his 3 month notice period, he tried to challenge it/get his last day changed and was surprised when HR said no 🤦‍♀️

At mine you won’t receive it if in your notice period

Company specific.

My company recently changed their policy on this as everything went to shit and people started leaving. It's totally their discretion unless you have a specific clause in your contract.

Even if it's performance based for the previous year it's often an incentive for coming year. All places I've worked at said even if notified of a bonus, if you are serving notice or leave before on the actual pay date you won't receive it

Company specific.

I would also be amazed if they found out your bonuses over the last 3 years.

Company specific.

I would also be amazed if they found out your bonuses over the last 3 years.

I also wouldn't start an employment with a lie by claiming bonus amounts that aren't true. Whether they ask for evidence or not, it's just not a good way to start out.

Thanks for the replies. I'll look and see if there's a bonus policy but I suspect not. It's always been seen as 'discretionary' so I assume I won't get it if I do leave.

At my company you don’t get the bonus if you’re on probation or working notice.

In my company there’s a “good leaver” (retirement / redundancy etc) and a “bad leaver” (leaving to go to another job), although I don’t think they actually use those terms. If you’re a good leaver the. Bonus would be paid but not if you’re a bad leaver serving notice

I worked in financial services until recently, none of the companies I worked for would pay a bonus if you were working notice. In fact, it was fairly common for a rash of resignation letters to be put in the day after the bonus payment!

I think unless there is something very clear in writing, you need to assume that if you hand in your notice before the bonus is paid you will lose out.

To an extent prospective employers recognised this and there was the potential to delay start dates, particulalry round this time of year. Nobody wants to lose their bonus for the sake of a few weeks extra work.
So, if you are offered the job you can try and negotiate either a delay to your start date so you can collect your bonus at your old company or some sort of new signer bonus.

As somebody who used to manage a team and be responsible for recruitment, my view was that once I had a preferred candidate then thats the person I wanted. If I had to wait an extra 6 weeks for that person to collect their bonus then so be it!

I didn’t resign until I got the bonus. You had to be working for them on 1 Jan also.