Bonus Dilemma

Water Cooler Careers
#1

I recently received my bonus figures for 2015. However, the payout structure is 20% cash followed by another 20% cash in September then the remaining in stock over the next several years. I am looking to leave to pursue another opportunity in Chicago pending an offer.

If I leave before September, I will only be entitled to 20% of my bonus and I’ll leave the rest on the table. Is there any way I can negotiate a part of this into the offer. I don’t have experience with this and was wondering if anyone has experience with this. I just dont know why firms pay deferred bonuses for my efforts from last year.

#2

Of course you can negotiate it.

Give it a shot.

#3

Signing bonuses are certainly not unheard of, but it depends on your level and how in demand you are. In an entry level or junior role, they’ll just hire another robot to plug into the system. If you’ve got skills, then maybe they’ll pay you something.

#4

really? You have absolutely no idea?

You truly do not know why your employer might dangle a carrot in front of you for several years?

#5

I doubt that your company will even consider paying your deferred bonuses earlier. What reason would you even give them for this? So you can quit and work somewhere else right away (which is what you actually want to do)?

Sorry, that’s just how it is. There is no discussion or value to be added here.

#6

He’s talking about negotiating the bonus(es) he’s leaving on the table into his offer at his new job. I would do it, why not?

#7

Yes, I am just asking to negotiate the bonus I am foregoing into my offer. I’m not asking my current employer to pay my bonus earlier.

#8

Ok, sorry I misread the question. In that case, you should bring it up with the new company. However, if your bonus is sizeable, and you really want the new job, it might not be a good idea to push this point too strongly; there are a lot of people this year who are “unattached” or just unhappy with their current companies, and who would not specify a large signing bonus as a condition of employment.

#9

Don’t worry about your future bonus when making a career decision for today. For all you know, the firm could go under, you get shit -canned, or some other reason for you future bonus not to get paid out.

It’s shitty that your current employer decided to payout like this but do what’s best for you by pursing a different opportunity.

#10

If you have the firm offer and haven’t signed , then of course it is up for negotiation. Politely make your case and see their reaction. If they sound disgusted and turned off, then just back down. If you never ask, you’ll always get nothing

#11

Ask…if they actually think of you as the number 1 choice, they’ll consider buying you out.

#12

If the deferred cash bonus is significant, you should definitely try to “recover” it. If it is only a few grand, forget it and move on.

There are two ways to go about it:

  1. ask new firm for a sign-on bonus which would offset the cash bonus you are giving up at your current firm

  2. ask new firm for a later start date, so that you can collect your cash bonus from the current firm in the near future

#13

Sounds like #2 is out of the picture, as majority of the bonus is being paid out in stock over “several years”.