A bit peeved at bonus..

Thirty Thirty

Hi guys,

I don't want to sound like an a-hole here, but I'm a little bit annoyed and need to get this off my chest. I know that there are people without jobs, but just listen to the whole story.

I was called in to the director's office last week and told that I would be given a 5k bonus (less than 10% of my annual salary.)

I was also told that my salary review would be next month and that there should be an increase for me.

I shook the director's hand and thanked him after we had discussed a few other issues.

I work for a Spanish company, where I'm an accountant and I've put in a huge amount of overtime over the last year, as well as travelling to Head Office and spending some of my weekends in Spain working (being away from wife.)

Now, I was absolutely fine with this up until yesterday morning, when my immediate manager apologised to me for the size of my bonus. I was surprised by this and answered that I was happy to get anything in the current climate. I was then told that the same if not bigger bonuses went to people who would be junior to me in the office, who would not have put in anything like my hours, commitment, contribution. What they all have in common is that they are Spanish and Head Office wants to keep Spaniards happy and doesn't worry too much about anyone else.

Obviously, I was annoyed, but, there's nothing much I can do. If this was three years ago, I'd be looking at other jobs already. To be honest, it's not the size of the bonus, but it's the insult of really killing myself in work and then being basically laughed at behind my back!

adamski8

Thirty Thirty wrote: »

To be honest, it's not the size of the bonus, but it's the insult of really killing myself in work and then being basically laughed at behind my back!

I dont see the insult as the quote below you say your manager apologised!
Sounds like your company said "right give everyone a little bonus" but your immediate manager who probably knows more than anyone the amount of work you put in apologises as he doesnt think its fair. Sounds like you get alot more respect than most.

Thirty Thirty wrote: »

Now, I was absolutely fine with this up until yesterday morning, when my immediate manager apologised to me for the size of my bonus.

So you were happy originally with it, what other people get shouldnt annoy you.

Hagar

I used have a job like that too, no offence but they don't take respect as payment at Tescos.

Thirty Thirty

Sorry, I should clear something up-

My line manager is Irish, my director is Spanish.

My line manager was the one who was involved in the meeting also, but gave me the heads up on what my Spanish co-workers were getting as a bonus (highly unprofessional- I know.)

It just makes me wonder, I thought I had earned the respect of everyone in my company, but maybe I never will because I'm Irish?

kmick

10% is a good bonus. You are also getting a payrise. I would suggest your manager is insane or a fool and probably lying or tarting up the truth. Someone somewhere is always going to get a higher bonus than you. You are never going to know what other people got so dont torture yourself. On the other hand know what you are worth by investigating the market and dont under sell yourself.

Thirty Thirty

Hagar wrote: »

I used have a job like that too, no offence but they don't take respect as payment at Tescos.

True!

Thirty Thirty

kmick wrote: »

10% is a good bonus. You are also getting a payrise. I would suggest your manager is insane or a fool and probably lying or tarting up the truth. Someone somewhere is always going to get a higher bonus than you. You are never going to know what other people got so dont torture yourself. On the other hand know what you are worth by investigating the market and dont under sell yourself.

That's the problem, the market is a nightmare at the moment.

gaz wac

Of course your going to get a load of people on here saying " at least you have a job" :rolleyes: . People forget that not everyone / all companies are in a recession!! If it were me, id org a meeting with your boss and explaine it to him that your not happy. Tell him your convirsations that you had with the Director ( eg overtime, travel etc ), leave it with him and ask him to get back to you. There is always money in the kitty, you just have to fight for it !! :mad: good luck

daveyboy_1ie

You were happy with the bonus and the best way to try to react is get back to that feeling. In the current climate its defo better to have a job.

However learn the lesson from last year and work what hours you are paid, I mean be happy in your job and give 100% but the peronal sacrifices of hours worked (sometimes this is impossible but don't be volunteering as much) and trips away and what not should be reduced. Your still going to be working very hard and giving it your all but if your not rewarded for extra hours on top of basic hours as well as those 'must do' items then why sacrifice?

homeOwner

I presume your Spanish co workers are based in Spain, is it possible that they are getting a much smaller salary than you are. I dont think salaries are as high in Spain as here.

In the company I work for we often give lower paid workers in other offices a higher bonus (if they deserve it) to compensate for the fact that their base salary is lower than some of the other offices.

Thirty Thirty

homeOwner wrote: »

I presume your Spanish co workers are based in Spain, is it possible that they are getting a much smaller salary than you are. I dont think salaries are as high in Spain as here.

In the company I work for we often give lower paid workers in other offices a higher bonus (if they deserve it) to compensate for the fact that their base salary is lower than some of the other offices.

No, my Spanish co-workers are based in Dublin- my Irish boss told me that HQ are worried about keeping them happy and not the Irish workers.

To be honest, I'm not as angry anymore, it is what it is, as said above, they can't be expecting their pound of flesh from me anymore. Obviously, I have a job and that is good, but as long as the market is as bad as it is, what's the point in complaining. I'll just wait and see what happens when my salary review comes up!

Sleepy

Isn't it perfectly normal for ex-pat workers to get higher salaries / bonuses?

AARRRGH

In my own experience foreign workers are always paid less than natives, so I'm not surprised he's having this issue.

OP: Did you do all that overtime for free?

dunleakelleher

Sleepy wrote: »

Isn't it perfectly normal for ex-pat workers to get higher salaries / bonuses?

Ya that is the norm in most companies.

Thirty Thirty

AARRRGH wrote: »

In my own experience foreign workers are always paid less than natives, so I'm not surprised he's having this issue.

OP: Did you do all that overtime for free?

Yep, we don't get OT, but there is a bonus at the year end.

About the ex-pat thing, I think if you are moved to Ireland by a company from Spain then you are entitled to more pay/bonus, but not if you're living in Ireland anyway and just happen to be Spanish.

Lisnagry

If you were happy the bonus I cant understand why you are not now.Why are you upset with what others got,What possible difference does it make to YOUR life even if they got 3x your bonus it wont change your life one bit.

Move on, lose the jealousy you are only upsetting yourself.No matter what you do for any company or workplace most of the time all you are is a payroll number.A few days after you leave you are not even a memory, and the wheel goes round again etc etc.

Redderneck

For what it's worth - watch out for that line manager of yours. He was incredibly unprofessional to do what he did. If he was that unprofessional in that area, I'd put money on his being equally unprofessional in other areas; which could impact on you at some stage. Just to be aware of it.

dunleakelleher

Redderneck wrote: »

For what it's worth - watch out for that line manager of yours. He was incredibly unprofessional to do what he did. If he was that unprofessional in that area, I'd put money on his being equally unprofessional in other areas; which could impact on you at some stage. Just to be aware of it.

so true, maybe he done it in the hope that the OP would be so pi** off he would jump ship.
Seen it before.

Chipboard

I could be wrong but I'll throw this out for your consideration; Is it possible that your manager is stirring the sh1t. He is annoyed at the inequality with regard to the bonus situation too and rather than address it himself (cos thats risky in this market where everyone is replaceable) he is priming you to see if you'll do it.

I was given targets to achieve recently. We accidentally found out that our boss is getting a bonus if we achieve our targets. A stick for us and a carrot for him. Can you believe that.

I think that you would say that this is more about the inequality than the size of the bonus and that is fair enough but don't bite your nose off to spite your face as they say.

Thirty Thirty

Chipboard wrote: »

I could be wrong but I'll throw this out for your consideration; Is it possible that your manager is stirring the sh1t. He is annoyed at the inequality with regard to the bonus situation too and rather than address it himself (cos thats risky in this market where everyone is replaceable) he is priming you to see if you'll do it.

I was given targets to achieve recently. We accidentally found out that our boss is getting a bonus if we achieve our targets. A stick for us and a carrot for him. Can you believe that.

I think that you would say that this is more about the inequality than the size of the bonus and that is fair enough but don't bite your nose off to spite your face as they say.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I think you're right, I mean, why did he bring it up? I'm going to chill, wait for my pay review and if I'm still not happy, maybe put the feelers out for a new job (which, in the current market, will probably take about two years!)

Anyway- not to worry, all I can do is keep my standards up and my eyes and ears open.

unJustMary

Chipboard wrote: »

I was given targets to achieve recently. We accidentally found out that our boss is getting a bonus if we achieve our targets. A stick for us and a carrot for him. Can you believe that.

That's pretty normal in industries where part of the salary is in the form of an at-risk (ie you could lose it) bonus. Some bosses choose to share the information (and/or the bonus) with their staff, some don't. It depends on the company culture and HR set-up.

But you can always assume that you boss's performance assessment will include how well all his/her staff are performing.