resigning & xmas Bonus

lemonslice

Hello everyone, may I ask a quick question,
Im not sure if you can help

I am going to resign from my job - traditionally my employers (oil industry) have given a xmas bonus for the work we have done over the year, but the past 2 years we have had a token amount as with the credit crunch they couldnt afford the usual amonut which was great,
its due to come in our dec pay -30th decemeber

if I hand in my notice next week 30th Nov -our Nov pay day
do you think they wouldnt give me the bonus, I will have worked the decemember so will be due a wage at the end,

They know I cant afford to stay (nursery fee's petrol etc) I asked for a payrise or even the possibility in the near future 6 months ago so I can carry on working, but they said no. anyway I chose to have children so I cant and dont expect anyone else to pay for them

I have looked through our procedures but there doesnt seem to be anything about bonuses when resigning

any idea?
thank you x

scheming_gypsy

(guessing)

If they're contractually obliged to give you a bonus for the year worked, and you work the full year then you should get the bonus.

lemonslice

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

(guessing)

If they're contractually obliged to give you a bonus for the year worked, and you work the full year then you should get the bonus.

Thank you for your reply x

stephent82

This is a very sticky one. Generally no company is obliged to pay any type of bonus - as per it's name, it is a bonus.

I would say that if your bonus is linked to either the performance of the company, or your performance (an both are good) you will get your bonus for the year... if you have worked it.

I worked in HR for a company that would not pay a bonus to any person resigning, they weld also negate any overtime worked. This is by no means an exception, but is less likely than having it paid in your instance.

P.S. If they need someone to fill your job, pass on my details

bap98189

You will only be entitled to a bonus if your employer is contractually bound to give it to you. Look at your contract - does it say anything about a guaranteed bonus?

If not (and I suspect this is the case) then a bonus is just that - a bonus, which is awarded at your employer's discretion. They do not have to give it to you, and if indeed you have resigned they may well decide not to.

lemonslice

stephent82 wrote: »

This is a very sticky one. Generally no company is obliged to pay any type of bonus - as per it's name, it is a bonus.

I would say that if your bonus is linked to either the performance of the company, or your performance (an both are good) you will get your bonus for the year... if you have worked it.

I worked in HR for a company that would not pay a bonus to any person resigning, they weld also negate any overtime worked. This is by no means an exception, but is less likely than having it paid in your instance.

ahh ok, thats what I was thinking, I guess i'd have to weigh it up, leave when I need to. now- or hold off till end of Jan, but they might take if off me -get me to pay it back?

I am moving house in 3 weeks (husbands job forces move) which will add extra miles and petrol and more nursery time neither of which I can afford at all . the bonus is not millions. but it would help clear the debt built up from nursery fees- hence the reson i asked for a payrise things were getting desperate..
ach either way i'll have to make a decision

Thank you x

lemonslice

bap98189 wrote: »

If not (and I suspect this is the case) then a bonus is just that - a bonus, which is awarded at your employer's discretion. They do not have to give it to you, and if indeed you have resigned they may well decide not to.

yup that it, its if the company has done well. which this year it really has, Managers get big ones, us admin much less so,
but I know I am lucky & certainly not turning my nose up, but i expect I wont get ,
thank you

InsideInsurance

My last employer gave two discretionary bonuses (profit share and performance) every april and did explicitly state for one that you would not qualify if you were in your notice period at the time of award. In fact you wouldnt get either and there was always a flood of resignations on the 15th April after bonus had been paid the day before.

scheming_gypsy

lemonslice wrote: »

They know I cant afford to stay (nursery fee's petrol etc) I asked for a payrise or even the possibility in the near future 6 months ago so I can carry on working, but they said no. anyway I chose to have children so I cant and dont expect anyone else to pay for them

How well do you get on with them? seeing as they might be expecting you to resign at some point if they know it's not financially viable to stay; just ask when you'd have to hand your notice in to get this years bonus...
Obviously if they're not too friendly, it might not be worth asking if there's a chance they won't give you one anyway.

paddyrg

Just remember, unless the trading year has been good, it is quite possible there will be no bonus, or a small token one. There is no automatic right to one, so staying somewhere you are going to leave for the hope of a couple of hundred quid or less (that may or may not come) isn't the best use of your life!

jfh7gwa

at my employer you wouldn't receive it

but then it's not outlined in the contracts as guaranteed, it's purely a bonus (not performance related like commission or anything)

i can't think of a single employee who hasn't resigned the month after bonus time (every april) whilst i've been here - the company almost expects/plans for resignations in May each year to be honest!