WWYD - found out everyone got a bonus but me

[Anonymous]

This happened at my company. There was a review of compensation and people who were in the lower third of their pay bands (not for performance reasons, but historical inequities) were bumped up into the middle third of the pay bands. I was already in the middle third and this did not bother me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, now you know how much your employer values you - it sounds like they will keep you around but are not one of their valued employees and probably aren't going to advance.

Keep cashing those paychecks and look elsewhere.

This. If it happens a second time, focus on getting out.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really understand the issue. In my field, you get some percentages and then when junior people are coming up, they get some percentages from the people retiring. I wouldn’t expect to get more just because the people behind me are coming up. My points are still in excess of theirs. Did the other people now have more stock than you, or less? I would only be upset if they leapfrogged me.

[Anonymous]

You sound exhausting to manage so maybe it was really due to your performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on a team with 10 people. I recently discovered by accident that eight of them got stock bonuses earlier this year of various amounts - two of us (including me) got nothing. I called my boss and asked if this was performance related and he said no it wasn't performance related, but only offered some vague explanation that it was about trying to give the other people more shares to make things more equal. I do have a fair number of shares from previous grants - but I have been working hard just like everybody on the team in the past year - So being excluded from this bonus really hurts. We work at a small private company so there's not a tight limit on stock options/RSUs like at big public companies.

How can I move forward from this? It's been a week and I'm still extremely upset at my boss who did this. It feels extremely personal to be in the bottom 20% even though he said it wasn't performance related. I know the other person who got a zero is a high-performer, but she was recently promoted and I haven't been. Even if I had gotten an award on the smaller side to his point that they are trying to "catch up" other employees that would've been something.

I feel like quitting but this is a rare WFH job with good base pay (I have no complains about my salary) and the flexibility is really valuable. So I don't want to cut off my nose despite my face. But I have lost all trust in and respect for my boss and the organization that I guess just doesn't value me.

This is not a good time to leave a well-compensated, flexible, WFH job. I would try to see the situation in the best light--that they were trying to "catch up" as he said. But it sounds like you've been around a while and you may have reached your career cap there, or anywhere. You will need to take stock of what you want next. To try and get promoted? Go elsewhere for promotion? Stay the course and take the paycheck? Be honest with yourself and what you have to offer. Look to see what's out there in your field and apply for other jobs too. Responses will let you know if you can leave. But don't burn bridges in the meantime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your boss has told you this wasn’t performance related, and that it was about equalizing shares among employees (which IS a real thing that companies do especially smaller, private ones for all around fairness and also because it is often easier for the company to give grants than to equalize salary).

You have acknowledged that the other person who did not receive a grant is also a strong performer. And you are a strong performer.

You have also acknowledged that you are otherwise happy with your comp.

So why would you take this so personally, and actually want to quit over it? It sounds like your supervisor could have done a better job explaining the circumstances to you, although just reading your explanation of it, I still understood it. I’m honestly curious of your age/seniority level?

You also said that the other employee who did not receive a grant recently was promoted. Do you feel that you should have been promoted as well, and are upset about that? That’s a legit concern, if the case, and if so, you need to have a conversation with your supervisor about that, understand why you weren’t promoted, and what is the path to your promotion.

+1 There's no reason to take this personally. It's not uncommon for a company to re-evaluate the current structure and make adjustments to get things leveled out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, now you know how much your employer values you - it sounds like they will keep you around but are not one of their valued employees and probably aren't going to advance.

Keep cashing those paychecks and look elsewhere.

This happened to me and I wish I'd looked for another job, even though I liked the job and its perks. Their disrespect of you will affect you in other ways. They could have given you something, even if small.
In this job market it'll take awhile but think long term. You may be the first selected if layoffs happens, or not selected for a promotion. Whem someone shows you what they think of you, believe them. Money talks and you should listen.

[Anonymous]

So quit. I’ll be honest. You’re not valued, you don’t contribute in ways that are meaningful, and you have a bothersome attitude and approach.

If you didn’t get a bonus, it means you don’t deserve one.

I would start looking for a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound exhausting to manage so maybe it was really due to your performance.

+1 Easy to read between the lines

[Anonymous]

Welcome to my TED Talk.

Your manager made you feel inequitably treated while trying to fix a different equity problem. Maybe don't throw things just yet.

[Anonymous]

My old company we had a Funding round may 2021 that doubled stock price and I started March 2021 with a 70k sign-on We also went from bonuses every six months with 4/1 and 10/1 cut offs in June 2021. I got another 30k bonus four months after starting as made April 1 cut off.

People who stated after two months after me their stock granted water down.

Of course April 2022 and April 2023 bonus I got screwed vs new hires. They had no need to give me more and newer folks were flight risk.

Sign in is 4 year vesting,

If anything free you to leave. After my shitty 2022 and 2023 Grants I quit.

[Anonymous]

I would start looking for a new job. You will probably continue to be excluded from raises/bonuses/opportunities. Find a workplace that values you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound exhausting to manage so maybe it was really due to your performance.

+1 Easy to read between the lines

+2. I would look for a new job immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, now you know how much your employer values you - it sounds like they will keep you around but are not one of their valued employees and probably aren't going to advance.

Keep cashing those paychecks and look elsewhere.

+1. Pretty clear . . .

[Anonymous]

I would have never approach a supervisor about it. I would start looking for a job and have quietly left when I found one. Sometimes it is better to keep information to yourself.