I think my new bonus structure is unfair.

jmd4eva

Hi,

I work in the e-communications team at work, a finance company, and we were on a bonus of 30% a week, so long as we completed all of our work up until 12pm on Saturday.

There are 5 of us, and there are only 2 of us rota'd on for Saturdays.

Yesterday (Wednesday), we were told that the bonus structure would be changing - because it was simply costing them too much.

The new structure is as follows, and is based on still having completed all work up til 12pm on Saturday:

30% for working Monday - Friday AND Saturday

20% for only working Monday - Friday, not Saturday.

10% for having ANY time off in the week (sick or holiday), REGARDLESS of working the Saturday.

I think this is really unfair. For example, I could work above expectations over the week, but be ill on the Friday, and still come in on the Saturday, and only get 10%.

I take Monday as holiday and work the rest of the week, but only get 10%.

And since there are only ever two people rota'd on for the Saturday, that means 3/5 will only receive 20%. When I asked if we could come into work on the Saturday, to be eligible for 30%, I was told that there wouldn't be enough work for 3 people, so I would get sent home anyway.

It just seems really unfair that there is no way that I can get 30% bonus unless I am rota'd on for the Saturday, which is at the team managers discretion.

Any tips on how to oppose this?

ALSO, I was told about the above on Wednesday just passed. Today, I received my paycheck for LAST week and because I had 2 days off sick, I only got 10% bonus - when noone knew that the bonus structure was changing until this Wednesday.

Feel like I'm being cheated out of money.

zppp

jmd4eva wrote: »

Hi,

I work in the e-communications team at work, a finance company, and we were on a bonus of 30% a week, so long as we completed all of our work up until 12pm on Saturday.

There are 5 of us, and there are only 2 of us rota'd on for Saturdays.

Yesterday (Wednesday), we were told that the bonus structure would be changing - because it was simply costing them too much.

The new structure is as follows, and is based on still having completed all work up til 12pm on Saturday:

30% for working Monday - Friday AND Saturday

20% for only working Monday - Friday, not Saturday.

10% for having ANY time off in the week (sick or holiday), REGARDLESS of working the Saturday.

I think this is really unfair. For example, I could work above expectations over the week, but be ill on the Friday, and still come in on the Saturday, and only get 10%.

I take Monday as holiday and work the rest of the week, but only get 10%.

And since there are only ever two people rota'd on for the Saturday, that means 3/5 will only receive 20%. When I asked if we could come into work on the Saturday, to be eligible for 30%, I was told that there wouldn't be enough work for 3 people, so I would get sent home anyway.

It just seems really unfair that there is no way that I can get 30% bonus unless I am rota'd on for the Saturday, which is at the team managers discretion.

Any tips on how to oppose this?

ALSO, I was told about the above on Wednesday just passed. Today, I received my paycheck for LAST week and because I had 2 days off sick, I only got 10% bonus - when noone knew that the bonus structure was changing until this Wednesday.

Feel like I'm being cheated out of money.

Unfortunately, it is a bonus. It is in addition to your pay, and it is up to your employer how they set their bonus structure. Unless you have something in your contract with perfomance measures and bonuses within it, then they can change it whenever they like. You can however complain if you wish, but it may not do you any good in your position. If it is within your contract, then it is more complex.

KiKi

jmd4eva wrote: »

30% for working Monday - Friday AND Saturday

20% for only working Monday - Friday, not Saturday.

10% for having ANY time off in the week (sick or holiday), REGARDLESS of working the Saturday.


Any tips on how to oppose this?

Yes - firstly, the 20-30% difference isn't unfair, I don't think, as it's effectively a premium for working the weekend. However, the rota for it should be fair and everyone should have the opportunity to work those weekends, whoever wants it. You can propose that simple admin change to your managers in a letter, backed and signed by the whole team.

The 10% is a difficult area. If someone is off sick for reasons under the DDA, then the employer is potentially discriminating against the individual. Equally, holidays are paid holidays, but as long as you are being paid (and the bonus is additional to a fair base pay) then you really have no comeback. The only suggestion I have is that you don't ever take 1 day as Annual Leave, but the whole week.

The other thing that you could propose to your employer that they are encouraging absence; if one day off means only 10%, then you might as well take the whole 5 days as it will make no difference. There is no incentive to get back to work. It also encourages people to come in when they're sick, which isn't always helpful. (On the other hand, the company may have implemented this due to high sickness levels, and they want to manage it?)

If you all feel the same way, you should write a letter to the senior manager / director responsible for making the decision, copied to your boss (and let your boss know beforehand that you will be doing it, so you're not going behind his/her back). However, the best way to make an impact is not just to complain, but to propose a fairer solution. If the company has to cut costs, you have to accept that - perhaps you could work out a fairer scheme which doesn't penalise a day's annual leave or sickness, but still reduces their costs. Offer to work with them to help them come up with something, but don't just get annoyed and say you want the 30% because you're clearly not going to get it.

HTH
KiKi

bigblackdog

it seems to me as you are trying to skive off , you are thinking of all the ways when you are off it will affect your bonus, just go to work all week and you wont be missing out will you? i am surprised you get any kind of bonus if i was in charge i'd sack you , you skiver

steve1980

Some people don't know they've been born. Blimey, I wish I got a bonus at work.

Unintentional

Good lord, the things I would do for a 10% bonus every week at my job!

Yes, it may suck that you're losing part of your bonus, but then again if the company kept on doing it and ran into financial troubles you might be at risk of losing your job

Be grateful you get a bonus every week. I bet many people on here envy you just as much as I do.

BackOnTrack

While I have a little sympathy regarding you only getting 10% if you take a holiday during the week you are stilling getting a bonus for what seems to be solely doing your job so think yourself lucky. The trade union where I work gave away our annual bonus so I get no annual bonus now and don't get paid for overtime, however I do have a good salary so I don't complain about either of these.

At the end of the day if you don't like the changes you can start looking for a new job.

getmore4less

OK turn this on it's head.

Whats the penalty for not completing all the tasks on time.

How many times a year are these bonus targets not met.

Are the targets daily or weekly.

Is it individual or group basis and how is the work dished out?

Doe noone get the bonus if the Sat people don't get finished.

The obvious thing seems to be to propose a 5% per day bonus or you all just start doing less work during the week so you all have to work Sat.

KiKi

Unintentional wrote: »

Good lord, the things I would do for a 10% bonus every week at my job! I bet many people on here envy you just as much as I do.

It does depend how the pay is set up, though. If they are working on a very low wage where the 'bonus' is effectively a commission-type structure for working to very very tight deadlines (and for weekend working), then the overall salary may not be very high at all.

Everyone on here has it better than someone else out there, that's just life! None of us has the right to complain if you compare what we have in this country to others!

But if you've been earning a certain wage for 25 years (which isn't very high) and part of your salary drops by 2/3s because your boss doesn't like you and so doesn't schedule you to work weekends, I think it's fair enough to ask whether or not you are able to oppose it.

I'm not saying all the above is the case; I'm simply pointing out that 30% may actually not be very much. It may be a bit like working at a restaurant - you live on your tips / bonus!

KiKi