End of Year bonus disappointment

[Anonymous]

My company did not have a great year and bonuses were scaled back. Ok, I get that, no problem.


I had a great year. I exceeded all expectations. I had a great mid-year review where I was told I was a star and that I knocked it out of the park all the time.

Then the bonuses come around yesterday. I did get my bonus. I got 5% less than I was supposed to get -- and that percentage was based on my old salary (I got a raise mid-year).

My boss gave me a whole speech about how he appreciated me and this was just a tough economic reality, etc. Although I wasn't happy at the dollar amount, I felt like this was probably fair given the current situation.

Then…I found out that a co-worker who has junior staffers to help with workload (and still hasn't finished 3 important projects for the year) has gotten her full percentage bonus (based on her real salary). This is an employee who has (as my own boss acknowledges) screws up project after project -- which leads me to time and again have to jump in and help.

Knowing that this person got their full percentage is simply not sitting well with me.

Yes, I want to be realistic and even grateful to have gotten anything. But, given my contribution and workload, this is a tough pill to swallow.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Was the dollar amount of your bonus higher than hers?

[Anonymous]

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?

e


We do report to be he same person.

[Anonymous]

I'm not trying to be glib, but what are you going to do about it? Your choices seem to be suck it up or look for another gig. Whining about it won't accomplish anything.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry it happened to you. Unfair. Meh. We don't get bonuses and our raises were paltry this year even though the company did great and all the management went on and on how we exceeded expectations. Just sucky.

[Anonymous]

Maybe that persons income is extrodinarly low and it is a way for the boss to shore her up. I do this with MBOs when maybe the person doesn't fully deserve the full MBO, but their salary is out of wack with everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was the dollar amount of your bonus higher than hers?

This. Does she make less in salary than you do?

[Anonymous]

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?

e


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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe that persons income is extrodinarly low and it is a way for the boss to shore her up. I do this with MBOs when maybe the person doesn't fully deserve the full MBO, but their salary is out of wack with everyone else.

Nope. She makes 5k less than I do.

[Anonymous]

Can you persuade Randy Quaid to kidnap your boss and bring him to your home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe that persons income is extrodinarly low and it is a way for the boss to shore her up. I do this with MBOs when maybe the person doesn't fully deserve the full MBO, but their salary is out of wack with everyone else.

Nope. She makes 5k less than I do.

So she makes 5K less than you do, but you got 5K more in bonus than she did? That means you netted 10k more than she did for 2016, correct?

[Anonymous]

This stuff happenso. In some places I've worked it is not what's fair and who works hardest but who the boss likes better. Sounds like your office might work that way too.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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?

e


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.