My peer spilt his personal bonus among his team and now i feel pressured to do so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a department wide meeting where it was announced Teams A, B, and D made their goal. The team leader gets XYZ bonus and each team member gets ABC bonus. These amounts are fixed and we all know the dollar number attached to these incentives. I am the leader of team A. The leader of Team D publicly announced he is splitting his personal bonus among the team to sweeten everyones package. The leader of Team B and myself left the meeting kind of annoyed because now we feel in the hot seat. We both talked in the elevator and both mentioned we needed/wanted our bonuses for Christmas and won't be following Team D leaders idea. Well the next day I learn leader B did indeed split his bonus. He did "count himself in" so it was slightly lower extra amount than team D but still doubles the members bonuses. I now HAVE to do this right? Ive been a team leader for 8 years and gotten the bonus 6 of them and no one has ever done this before this year. Leader D is a new employee and has a high earning spouse and this is her "fun" job and I just dont think take home makes a huge difference to her. Leader B confided in me he felt like he had to follow the office trend or else his team members would try and switch teams in 2018 when a new project permitted. I agree with that sentiment but still feel resentful. Ugh. I know what I have to do but it just kinda stings.

This is so incredibly sexist that I don't think any advice to you would help you with your team or your peers.

I don't find this sexist, but very wrong.
You reward the employee for their work... if they are a high performer, they should get compensated appropriately. Not based on what other financial factors they have.
What if they were independently wealthy? Does that mean that they should work for free?
What if it were you? No bonus because you had money... but others get it.

OP isn't saying her colleague shouldn't get the bonus due to the high earning spouse. She's saying the new employee doesn't need to take the entire bonus home and has the luxury of giving it to her subordinates, which now has put OP in an awkward position.

[Anonymous]

There is no wrong option, OP.

If you are otherwise an inspiring and caring leader, I don't think your team members will mind too much. But I agree everyone will NOTICE that you didn't do this, and some will judge you. You just have to power through that, or redistribute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a department wide meeting where it was announced Teams A, B, and D made their goal. The team leader gets XYZ bonus and each team member gets ABC bonus. These amounts are fixed and we all know the dollar number attached to these incentives. I am the leader of team A. The leader of Team D publicly announced he is splitting his personal bonus among the team to sweeten everyones package. The leader of Team B and myself left the meeting kind of annoyed because now we feel in the hot seat. We both talked in the elevator and both mentioned we needed/wanted our bonuses for Christmas and won't be following Team D leaders idea. Well the next day I learn leader B did indeed split his bonus. He did "count himself in" so it was slightly lower extra amount than team D but still doubles the members bonuses. I now HAVE to do this right? Ive been a team leader for 8 years and gotten the bonus 6 of them and no one has ever done this before this year. Leader D is a new employee and has a high earning spouse and this is her "fun" job and I just dont think take home makes a huge difference to her. Leader B confided in me he felt like he had to follow the office trend or else his team members would try and switch teams in 2018 when a new project permitted. I agree with that sentiment but still feel resentful. Ugh. I know what I have to do but it just kinda stings.

This is so incredibly sexist that I don't think any advice to you would help you with your team or your peers.

I don't find this sexist, but very wrong.
You reward the employee for their work... if they are a high performer, they should get compensated appropriately. Not based on what other financial factors they have.
What if they were independently wealthy? Does that mean that they should work for free?
What if it were you? No bonus because you had money... but others get it.

In this case, the person with personal wealth is actually the one giving away money. OP isn't saying that Leader D doesn't deserve a bonus. OP is saying that Leader D has a flexibility that the other Leaders do not. That seems like a totally fine thing to note, particularly as Leader D is using her relative wealth to (potentially) poach team members from other Leaders, which is not really how a well-functioning workplace should function.

Thanks -- I read that wrong.

[Anonymous]

Yes that sucks.

[Anonymous]

OP this is still a conversation to have with your boss, HR, whomever, it's now set a precedent, a bad one at that.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Our VP was in the room when the first leader said he's splitting his. He literally went "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow". Vp didn't say anything other than "congrats to all, you all are hard workers and deserving" etc etc. This isn't a super high amount btw. Leader bonus is under 5k and teammate bonus is under 1k.

[Anonymous]

I'm just sad for Team C.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Our VP was in the room when the first leader said he's splitting his. He literally went "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow". Vp didn't say anything other than "congrats to all, you all are hard workers and deserving" etc etc. This isn't a super high amount btw. Leader bonus is under 5k and teammate bonus is under 1k.

Didn't you initially say leader D was a woman, and this was her "fun job"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a department wide meeting where it was announced Teams A, B, and D made their goal. The team leader gets XYZ bonus and each team member gets ABC bonus. These amounts are fixed and we all know the dollar number attached to these incentives. I am the leader of team A. The leader of Team D publicly announced he is splitting his personal bonus among the team to sweeten everyones package. The leader of Team B and myself left the meeting kind of annoyed because now we feel in the hot seat. We both talked in the elevator and both mentioned we needed/wanted our bonuses for Christmas and won't be following Team D leaders idea. Well the next day I learn leader B did indeed split his bonus. He did "count himself in" so it was slightly lower extra amount than team D but still doubles the members bonuses. I now HAVE to do this right? Ive been a team leader for 8 years and gotten the bonus 6 of them and no one has ever done this before this year. Leader D is a new employee and has a high earning spouse and this is her "fun" job and I just dont think take home makes a huge difference to her. Leader B confided in me he felt like he had to follow the office trend or else his team members would try and switch teams in 2018 when a new project permitted. I agree with that sentiment but still feel resentful. Ugh. I know what I have to do but it just kinda stings.

This is so incredibly sexist that I don't think any advice to you would help you with your team or your peers.

I don't find this sexist, but very wrong.
You reward the employee for their work... if they are a high performer, they should get compensated appropriately. Not based on what other financial factors they have.
What if they were independently wealthy? Does that mean that they should work for free?
What if it were you? No bonus because you had money... but others get it.

In this case, the person with personal wealth is actually the one giving away money. OP isn't saying that Leader D doesn't deserve a bonus. OP is saying that Leader D has a flexibility that the other Leaders do not. That seems like a totally fine thing to note, particularly as Leader D is using her relative wealth to (potentially) poach team members from other Leaders, which is not really how a well-functioning workplace should function.

Thanks -- I read that wrong.

OP here. This is why I mentioned this and why I think its a little unfair. However, I am not sexist nor do I ever think anyone deserves less because they come from/have money. But this is our personal money that she is splitting with her team. Hard to compete with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Our VP was in the room when the first leader said he's splitting his. He literally went "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow". Vp didn't say anything other than "congrats to all, you all are hard workers and deserving" etc etc. This isn't a super high amount btw. Leader bonus is under 5k and teammate bonus is under 1k.

Didn't you initially say leader D was a woman, and this was her "fun job"?

It doesn't really matter, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Our VP was in the room when the first leader said he's splitting his. He literally went "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow". Vp didn't say anything other than "congrats to all, you all are hard workers and deserving" etc etc. This isn't a super high amount btw. Leader bonus is under 5k and teammate bonus is under 1k.

Didn't you initially say leader D was a woman, and this was her "fun job"?

Yes I changed the genders a few times to try and remain anonymous but then forgot which one I used. We are all women except for leader B (guy in the elevator)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Our VP was in the room when the first leader said he's splitting his. He literally went "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow". Vp didn't say anything other than "congrats to all, you all are hard workers and deserving" etc etc. This isn't a super high amount btw. Leader bonus is under 5k and teammate bonus is under 1k.

Didn't you initially say leader D was a woman, and this was her "fun job"?

It doesn't really matter, right?

....so this entire scenario is a lie that you made up?

Either she is a woman with a rich spouse and this is her fun job, OR

he is a man and in the meeting he said "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow."

Those are two very distinct (and detailed) scenarios, so all I can conclude is that this is an entirely fictitious hypothetical that you've completely made up for...some reason. Either way, makes sense why you're brushing off everyone who says to talk to the boss / HR

[Anonymous]

There's no easy way out of this one, at this point if you don't share, you come across as "not leader like". These situations should be evaluated from long term perspective, if your team members are crucial for you getting the job done, then go ahead and split. The problem is, if your team members are crucial and you keep everything, it will bring a certain animosity towards you, which could translate to a terrible 2018.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Our VP was in the room when the first leader said he's splitting his. He literally went "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow". Vp didn't say anything other than "congrats to all, you all are hard workers and deserving" etc etc. This isn't a super high amount btw. Leader bonus is under 5k and teammate bonus is under 1k.

Didn't you initially say leader D was a woman, and this was her "fun job"?

It doesn't really matter, right?

....so this entire scenario is a lie that you made up?

Either she is a woman with a rich spouse and this is her fun job, OR

he is a man and in the meeting he said "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow."

Those are two very distinct (and detailed) scenarios, so all I can conclude is that this is an entirely fictitious hypothetical that you've completely made up for...some reason. Either way, makes sense why you're brushing off everyone who says to talk to the boss / HR

I do not see how the gender makes a difference. The scenario is clearly a combination of both of the ones you posted above.

Team Leader D could be a man or a woman, but he/she has a rich spouse and so this is a "fun" job. He/she also said in a meeting "I'm cashing this baby today and bringing everyone 1/4th of it tomorrow."

I suspect what you're implying is that men are unlikely to be the ones with higher-paid spouses and "fun" jobs, in which case, pot, meet kettle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a department wide meeting where it was announced Teams A, B, and D made their goal. The team leader gets XYZ bonus and each team member gets ABC bonus. These amounts are fixed and we all know the dollar number attached to these incentives. I am the leader of team A. The leader of Team D publicly announced he is splitting his personal bonus among the team to sweeten everyones package. The leader of Team B and myself left the meeting kind of annoyed because now we feel in the hot seat. We both talked in the elevator and both mentioned we needed/wanted our bonuses for Christmas and won't be following Team D leaders idea. Well the next day I learn leader B did indeed split his bonus. He did "count himself in" so it was slightly lower extra amount than team D but still doubles the members bonuses. I now HAVE to do this right? Ive been a team leader for 8 years and gotten the bonus 6 of them and no one has ever done this before this year. Leader D is a new employee and has a high earning spouse and this is her "fun" job and I just dont think take home makes a huge difference to her. Leader B confided in me he felt like he had to follow the office trend or else his team members would try and switch teams in 2018 when a new project permitted. I agree with that sentiment but still feel resentful. Ugh. I know what I have to do but it just kinda stings.

This is so incredibly sexist that I don't think any advice to you would help you with your team or your peers.

I disagree - it is what it is and the same could be said about my husband's job. He brings in enough to cover daycare and we don't really NEED his salary.