Boss found out I'm leaving before I gave notice and before bonus hit

[Anonymous]

My firm pays bonuses this month, and I was waiting to give notice until the money hit my account. (I was told the amount I would receive and the date it would be paid a few days ago.) Unfortunately, my new employer contacted my supervisor without my consent (and before my bonus came in) and now my firm knows that I'll be leaving. My boss told me that he couldn't guarantee that the firm would pay my bonus because it's not his decision.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What should I do? I'm obviously very upset at my new firm for putting me in this spot, but I can't unring the bell.

[Anonymous]

Anything in writing?

[Anonymous]

Did you actually tell the new firm not to contact them? If so, maybe you can get the new firm to somehow make it up to you.

I also don't see how a bonus earned for work already completed could be rescinded. If it's a substantial mount, and you don't receive it, I might at least send a legal letter about withholding pay.

[Anonymous]

Ugh that sucks OP - but bonuses are retention tools so I don't see your old company budging. I guess you could try to negotiate something to make up for it with the new company, but you risk putting a bad taste in their mouth too if you push too hard there.

In retrospect, anything you could have done/said to prevent this that the rest of us could learn from? IS new company aware of the problem they caused for you and apologetic about it?

[Anonymous]

Wow, that really sux. And I mean that sincerely and hope it all works out for you. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you actually tell the new firm not to contact them? If so, maybe you can get the new firm to somehow make it up to you.

I also don't see how a bonus earned for work already completed could be rescinded. If it's a substantial mount, and you don't receive it, I might at least send a legal letter about withholding pay.

Wouldn’t likely hold up. Bonuses are discretionary. Almost all companies have policies that address yhis

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure waiting until the money hit and then giving notice would have put you in the clear, OP.

I've seen where in that scenario, the bonus funds were requested to be paid back. Basically, even though a bonus is based on the previous year's performance/work, it's a tool used to retain a worker and push them to work harder in the new year.

I think to truly have been in the clear, you'd have to of gotten the money, waited a month, and then given your 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. That is terrible. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Why did your new company contact the old one. That is really poor form. I wouldn't go to a company like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did your new company contact the old one. That is really poor form. I wouldn't go to a company like that.

Yep. I would tell the new company you lost out on your bonus. How much was it? 5k or 50k?

[Anonymous]

Hope your new company is worth it. They sound incompetent, to say the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope your new company is worth it. They sound incompetent, to say the least.

+1 what boneheads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did your new company contact the old one. That is really poor form. I wouldn't go to a company like that.

Yep. I would tell the new company you lost out on your bonus. How much was it? 5k or 50k?

OP says firm, which sounds like a law firm, many of which pay out bonuses in January (so 50k and up)

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes this is a law firm so the bonus is very significant.

Boss says bonus will be paid but he's in an awkward position. If my current firm wasn't going to pay the bonus I was thinking of discussing the issue with my recruiter. I'm unhappy with my new employer but what can I do. I think it was likely someone in HR who contacted my boss and who was probably less sensitive to the bonus issue.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth wouldn't you wait until it hit to look for something new? All you can do now is ask the new job to match it.