should i split referal money?

Moneysaver127

The company I work for run a referral scheme, if someone you refer passes the probation of 3 months you receive £400. I recently suggested to a close friend to go for a job at my place of work, she was unhappy at her old job and was on a low salary. She got the job I suggested and is now earning an extra £300 per month. Her probation finishes at the end of the month and she has asked me to split the £400 referral money with her. What should I do?

fluffnutter

Well, it's your money, not hers. Why does she think it should be split?

Alikay

She's got a cheek asking, unless you mentioned it at the start and suggested sharing. I would have probably used some of the money to treat the friend (plus our partners, if it's that kind of friendship) to a nice meal out to celebrate, but her asking for "her share" of your referral bonus would make it all seem awkward and a bit of an obligation now.

Pollycat

Ask her if she's going to split the extra £300 per month she's earning with you. :rotfl:

Seriously, I think the money is yours.

If she'd just applied for a job at your place (without any referral from a current employee), nobody would have got any referral money - but she would have still been £300 per month better off.

I think she's being very cheeky.

What you actually do may depend on how close a friend she is and how you think she will react to being told to that you're not sharing the £400.

If she can't see the logic and takes offence, I'd query whether she really was that close a friend.

Nottoobadyet

I dont think so. I did something similar with a good friend of mine - I did as Alikay suggested and took her out to dinner once she passed probation. I don't think I was obligated to, though, and I think its cheeky for her to ask when essentially you've done her a favor by getting her CV to the top of the HR-bot pile.

PaulJM

She's got a right cheek!

If you say no, she's obviously going to sulk, and it sounds like there is little point in explaining what you've done for her and the fact it's your money - so there's probably little to be gained by doing that.

Just make up your mind - is the £200 worth losing a friendship?
Is she worth it?
Respectfully, she sounds like a pain in the ar5e.

tea_lover

Unless you suggested sharing it when the idea was first discussed then I'd be keeping the lot. She's already getting an extra £300 a month, and (presumably) now has a job she's happier at. Imo she's being really cheeky asking for half the referral money as well.

cte1111

Gosh how awkward. A friend sent me details of a job going at her workplace, I was grateful for her help as I probably wouldn't have heard about it otherwise. I didn't get the job, but if I had, she might well have got a recruitment bonus - I wouldn't have dreamed of asking for half! Recommending someone for a job is doing them a favour, not the other way round.

What did you say when your friend asked?

CH27

She's a hard faced madam.

Keep the money yourself & tell her to be grateful she has a better job.

tyllwyd

I'm pretty sure that in the past people have suggested to my OH that they would put him forward for a job and split the recruitment bonus (although I don't think that's ever actually happpened). I'm a bit more sympathetic to your friend than the other posters, although I'd agree that it is your money and your decision in the end.

TimBear

I would only split it if that was discussed when she applied for the job. She can't assume that she is entitled to half when it's YOUR bonus not hers!

If she's a close friend, however, perhaps take her out for lunch?