End of Year bonus disappointment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just told my kid this morning: life isn't fair get over it. Complain if it makes you feel better but don't expect it to help. Companies can pretty much do whatever they want to when it comes to compensation.

Time for you to look for your next job.

OP here. Yes, I think I needed to get this off my chest anonymously! You are right. The thing is, we all work in a small non-profit. Secrets are hard to keep in this small office. We all know what the others make. We all make within shouting distance of each other. None of us are making big bucks, so bonuses matter. To know that the new analyst got the full amount when some of us who've been here 10+ years didn't is hard to take. But you are right - life isn't fair. Better to look on bright side. Thank you for the perspective.

[Anonymous]

OP, similar things happen where I work too. I sympathize, it can be frustrating at times.

[Anonymous]

That bookkeeper should be immediately fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're walking a knife's edge of inappropriate right now, OP. Be very careful or your next review may not be as flattering as your most recent one.

It's inappropriate for OP to be upset at getting a lower percentage bonus than a worse employee and to be upset their boss lied? In what way? OP is not a slave to their company, my dear.

Yes, it is. It's also inappropriate to go whining about it in public.

Venting on an anonymous message board isn't whining in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why you shouldn't discuss bonus or salary with co workers. Also, just because she says she got one thing doesn't make it true.

Agree. Possibly OP is not as great as he thinks he is and coworker had better performance. The only thing wrong is that he got a soft let down. Probably should have given him thr truth.

I never ever discuss salary with my colleagues. I don't want to be envious like the OP. I'm happier just worrying about me.

[Anonymous]

I left a small nonprofit that I felt was overpaying its CEO by tens (perhaps hundreds) of thousands per year, and awarding him a hefty bonus every year, for seemingly nothing.

What “target” did you hit? What sort of non-profit are you working for?

[Anonymous]

OP, if you coworker is new it may have been part of her negotiated hiring package.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP. Does sound like an unfair situation, and I would be upset in your shoes.

You might want to think about looking around for another position this coming year and doing some interviews...maybe they think you are not a flight risk?

On the other hand, I've never received a bonus in my whole 20 year working life, while working for local and state government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a $100 bonus this year, Count your blessings,

We never get a bonus. Count YOUR blessings. OP bonus is tied into his pay structure. I'd be pissed. Time for a new job.

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel better, last year my year-end bonus was $100k. This year, $0. I joined a startup though...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you coworker is new it may have been part of her negotiated hiring package.

Yup, it could be this.

Don't feel too bad. You don't know the whole picture. Management may be trying to figure out how to fire her for cause, which takes forever, but may be obligated to pay her the full bonus.

[Anonymous]

It beats being unemployed. I know many people that got pink slips with their paychecks last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you coworker is new it may have been part of her negotiated hiring package.

Yup, it could be this.

Don't feel too bad. You don't know the whole picture. Management may be trying to figure out how to fire her for cause, which takes forever, but may be obligated to pay her the full bonus.

+1 There is likely something about her hiring and compensation that you don't know. Plus, particularly if your company had a bad year, management may be taking into account the fact that they have given you a raise already. Raises are permanent, thus better than bonuses. When times are tight, and the future is uncertain, bonuses are easier to come by than raises. These decisions are not made in a vacuum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you coworker is new it may have been part of her negotiated hiring package.

Yup, it could be this.

Don't feel too bad. You don't know the whole picture. Management may be trying to figure out how to fire her for cause, which takes forever, but may be obligated to pay her the full bonus.

+1 There is likely something about her hiring and compensation that you don't know. Plus, particularly if your company had a bad year, management may be taking into account the fact that they have given you a raise already. Raises are permanent, thus better than bonuses. When times are tight, and the future is uncertain, bonuses are easier to come by than raises. These decisions are not made in a vacuum.

+1 more; this was my first thought on reading the post. Maybe she was very savvy on hiring, or took a lower base with higher bonus.

Also, the book keeper should be fired. Point blank.

Small office or no, confidential information such as salary is, well, confidential. Knowing anyone else's salary or renumeration my my company would get you fired. Disclosing it would do even worse for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're either leaving something out, perhaps not intentionally, or something else is going on. Do you and this employee report to the same person? If not, maybe that person's boss has been instructed differently than your boss?

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We do report to be he same person.

Sorry, autocorrect fail! Yes, we report to the same person. My dollar a out was only about 5k more ( but bear in mind, coworker has only been here 6 months).

I only know this info, by the way, because another coworker (bookkeeper) was shocked and told me and showed me the paperwork.

One over point: my boss lied directly to me b/c he said no one got their full percentage. Clearly not true.

This person should be fired. What was this person hoping to accomplish by telling you this? There is a reason why employees are not supposed to discuss bonuses. It is non of your business what bonus this other person got, OP, just like it is not her business what you received.

Yes, it is wrong for your boss to lie to you. But, it is also (and I think more) wrong for your coworker to show you and for you to look at confidential paperwork.

Correct. The bookkeeper should be fired.