Delaying discretionary bonus

ReadingTim

TBagpuss wrote: »

As others have said, a lot will depend on exactly how the bonus system is worded, however, the fact that it is specifically expressed to be discretionary probably means that you would struggle to claim you were entitled to payment, still less to payment on a specific date.
Are there any other terms in the bonus scheme? I know where I work, although the scheme does relate to specific individual targets and amounts payable, it also includes provision making it clear that it it also subject to the company's over all performance.So if the company as a whole performs badly bonuses won't (or may not) be paid.

Since at this stage your manager is telling you payments are delayed, not that they are not happening, I suggest that you wait, and (if you haven't been told) ask whether a new date has been set.

It may be that the company needs to move the payments into the new financial year, or that they have cash flow concerns which mean they can't pay the amounts now, but expect to be able to do so shortly.

Assuming they weren't drafted by a complete monkey, the rules of any discretionary bonus scheme should be drafted in such a way as to permit the company maximum flexibility, including to deal with such scenarios as you outline. The OP should sit tight and hope its a delayed payment, rather than a cancelled payment; but be mindful that it may be an indication of a larger problem on the horizon.

Unfortunately, the issue that the OP also spent the money before he received it, is no-one's problem but his own.