Retainer - how to play it

lazer-zxr

There’s significant change (merger) coming to my organisation in January 2025. This has been planned since March 2024. I started in July 2024.
 All of the existing staff at my level have been here since March 2024. They all will get a 50% annual salary retainer bonus in Jan 2025, however I will not as I want here in March when it was allocated (and I didn’t know about it during my contract negotiation). I am now a fundamental part of the business. I am happy with my job and am paid fairly.
 Should I ignore the opportunity to get this retainer, or should I take the opportunity to ask someone about it….. I’m not sure how it would be perceived.

DullGreyGuy

There isn't an opportunity for it, you joined after the merger was announced so will have taken that uncertainty into account when accepting the job. Others will be a flight risk as they didnt know about it and hence are offered the bonus to not run.

Ultimately anyone can attempt to negotiate anything but your on weak grounds with your current argument. Were you to secure an alternative offer elsewhere and then go to your management and talk about having cold feet about the changes ahead and hence have another offer on the table then you may have more negotiating power. If however they still say no then you've got your card marked if you then dont resign and take up the other offer. 

lazer-zxr

Thanks, I’ll keep quiet, I like the job

DullGreyGuy

If its any consolation, I've done M&A work before and drawn up similar offers (though ours were to be paid several months after the transaction took effect) and didnt put my own name on the list of those to receive a bonus. 

My Ex had the opposite problem, worked for a small department with very low turnover of staff. About 80% of them had 7+ years service and those that did got a massive payout (share save scheme - some were 10 years salary levels). Over half the staff resigned on the same day and then there was a flurry of promotions to make up for all the team leaders/seniors that had left.