Bonus for some staff not all.

Ramius2020

Bonuses don't happen in our workplace. I won't appear to be petulant by comparing myself to my colleague but what I can say is we both work very hard and both of us are relied upon by our bosses.

The only reason I, and my colleague for that matter can think of for her bonus is that she covered more hours whilst I was on Maternity leave. If that is so, something is not right as I too have done that in the past.

Therefore, if the reason given for my colleagues bonus is the above. I'd feel that is not right. We have the same contracts.

Ramius2020

Thanks theoretica. Never had a bonus, neither has my colleague before. My colleague is in as much shock as me over this, she did not believe me when I told her.

theoretica

It was on the payslip too as bonus? Not just a number error?

Ramius2020

A cash bonus! In the payslip envelope.

TELLIT01

It's entirely possible the bonus has been paid to your colleague as a thank you for handling the additional workload in your absence. Even if additional staff was taken on to cover your absence they wouldn't have known the business well and probably looked to him/her for guidance.
As has been said, bonuses are generally discretionary and, as you said, have never been paid in the past.

74jax

I'd just wish her well and move on. Have a 1 to 1 with your boss and ask what extra you could do to perhaps put yourself in line for a bonus in future if you want to know that.

Sea_Shell

Ramius2020 wrote: »

A cash bonus! In the payslip envelope.

Are you saying that it was actually a "folding holding" cash bonus, in notes, in their payslip envelope?? How much was it, do you know?

So that's no Tax or NI being paid on it!! Sounds well dodgy, assuming the whole story is true, and that your colleague isn't just winding you up!!

If true, you could always report the non payment of tax and NI to the authorities.:p

Undervalued

theoretica wrote: »

Bonuses and maternity leave are complicated - you say you have worked there for 13 years. What has the bonus situation been during this time? Are you missing a bonus you usually get?



If this is the only bonus given in all that time then the giving is the unusual bit, and it doesn't seem to me you could argue you have been left out. If you usually get a bonus, but this time haven't then it does seem more like you have been left out.

Exactly!

OP, with respect you don't seem to be accepting what people are telling you.

There doesn't have to be a reason for giving one member of staff a bonus. Your only grounds for complaint would be if you could show that the actually reason you were treated differently was due to a protected characteristic.

So, if that employee makes the boss laugh or he likes the fact that they wear red socks on a Thursday, it would be perfectly lawful to give them a bonus and not give one to you! It might not be good for employee relations but it is not unlawful!

Even if there is a written down bonus scheme in a company they are almost always "discretionary". Discretion, legally, is very wide and can only be challenged if it is so extreme as to be "perverse".

MacMickster

Ramius2020 wrote: »

Bonuses don't happen in our workplace.

So your colleague must have done something truly exceptional in your absence in order to merit a bonus.

Well done to them. You haven't lost out on anything at all. Envy is never a good look in the workplace. You really don't want to push this with your boss.

[Deleted User]

When my Mum worked in a 2 person office (the other person being Accounts!) there would always be argy bargy over bonus.

Both would wind each up as I'm sure I remember they would get different amounts and paid at different times.

Perhaps your bonus is still to come? We're not quite at year end.