Bonus entitlement

[themalster]

Hi guys,

I started my job back in March and I am still on probation (it is a minimum of 6 months probation due to the difficult and intricate nature of the job).

However, today I was offered a better paid job.

My question is, if I handed in my notice in the next week or so, does that rule me out of receiving the Christmas bonus (my probation in my current role ends 7th December which means I become a proper employee)? My notice period is 28 days.

I don't have an employee handbook and I don't really want to ask anyone before I do hand in my notice.

Just wondered if anyone had an idea.

Thank you in advance.

[cathfromsaron]

normally you would need to be in continuous employment to receive anything like that, and one sniff of a notice period they would pull it!

BUT how long will it take you to receive the same amount at your new job and is the bonus worth staying for? x

[boxtops]

I would have thought that if you are on probation, probably not - it's continuous service which counts, and you can be dismissed at any time during probation. I would imagine that it only applies to people on substantive contracts. It's very unusual for anyone to get a Christmas bonus at all, these days!

[Bambiagain]

My previous employers paid Christmas bonuses only to those who were still in their employment at the time the bonus was paid. If someone hadn't worked the whole year, they would get a twelfth of the full bonus for every month trhey had worked.

[themalster]

When I pass my probation (which I will) on the 7th December, it means I am a fully pledged permanent employee. My point is, if I hand in my notice AFTER the 7th, will I still be entitled to the bonus even though I've told them I'm leaving?

[factor-fiction]

We can't give a definitive answer: that will depend on the scheme rules. For example some companies say you have to have been there a certain period- maybe a year, or you have to be in post at the end of the month in which the payment is made.

I'm not sure being 'on probabtion' means much- after all they can dismiss anyone for almost any reason in the first 12 months, but again your scheme may have a rule about bonus payment eligibility for probationers

[Hopkirk]

If the answer is no, what will you do?

If you are going to leave anyway, just resign after the 7th and see what happens.

[Prudie]

factor is right, we can't answer because all schemes are different. For example at my place people are given a pro rata payment based on time worked within the year, even if they have left. Also staff on probation are still considered substantive employees. Everywhere is different.

[buildersmate]

As per Factor's answer, it is going to depend entitrely on whether the bonus scheme is part of your contractual terms or not. Employers aren't in the habit of paying bonuses to those who are about the leave.
You are going to have to look at any published fine details of how the scheme works - most are non-contractual. This is why so many staff tend to leave as at 31st December -
If you are going to leave anyway at some point, assume you won't get it in factoring in the worth of resigning now