My sales goal was changed after the quarter ended, which shorted me $70k in commission. I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure that this was legal despite the “final bonus payout subject to VP approval” fine print. Even with that being said, if I want to keep working for the company I’m not sure I can actually do anything about it. If I was to pursue legal action I’m fairly confident they would let me go during the next round of layoffs (they are all too frequent). It was disclosed to me that my adjusted quarterly bonus payout number was essentially plucked out of thin air and the compensation plan had to be changed because we were $900k over the compensation budget for the year. This just didn’t seem fair to me! I’ve been at the company for eight years and have worked my way up to recently be promoted to my current director level role. I have tried reasoning with my boss and our EVP but it goes nowhere. It’s been a fairly good year, and I’m happy with my earnings (even without the $70k shortage) but I also feel like I’m being used and am frustrated by how this has been handled. I feel like I’m being stepped on. What’s to keep this happening again, and again? This bonus check should have been over $90k, and the largest I’ve received in my entire career at the company was $50k in January. Thoughts? Suggestions? Has anyone had with something similar come up?
Old people shit? How so. I’m 35. Lol
Thanks for the good luck wishes tho.
Sales people are on here too... don’t listen to the trolls. Get a lawyer and talk it over, then make a decision on your next step. Something like this will come up in almost every successful sales persons career. If you consult a lawyer, worst case you are out a little more money now (nothing compared to the 70k), but you are better positioned for the rest of your sales career on what red flags to look for in the comp contract. Also, I would strongly suggest you plan on leaving the day after you get the next commission check... regardless of how things play out. It’s not like they are going to make the number easier next year, and if they do, they will cap your earning all over again. You are almost guaranteed a down year.
That’s usually how it goes, after a good year, the following year is a washout.
I just realized my last place did this regularly (⊙_⊙)
Get a lawyer who is willing to work for 3% total settlement fees. Thats ur best bet
Honestly I was in a similar boat at my previous job. I had a lot of tenure, but my bonuses never matched up. First I had a greedy boss who didn't want to pass more money down to me, but then I switched bosses by moving to a different department (sales role) and still found that the goals were shifting to short me at the end of it. I ended up applying to a role at another company for a "practice interview", but I found they were willing to offer me a base higher than my base and bonus combined at my last role, and an even bigger bonus. I think it's easy to feel ownership and loyalty to a company when you've been there that long, but some external offers (or even just one) would help you show your worth, especially when held up next to your results, and show them their mistake. FWIW, I did get a counter offer to stay at the last place, but decided it was time to try something new and leave a situation where they were abusing my loyalty and trust. No regrets! Good luck.
Thanks for the insight. Good feedback for sure. Thanks again!
Some studies show that people who end up taking their current company's counter offer leave in 6 months anyways. I don't have a link though
Interesting how anytime you're new at the current level, how some people try to play you! Always something to learn! Good to see the perspective of some other real jobs, fine prints and the ways things work at higher levels. Great insight from others on the thread too. Good luck!
Thanks!
Sorry this happened to you cmxx. I’ve experienced the engineering equivalent at previous employers. Come hustle ads at FB and get paid properly.
That's a terrible situation. Lawyer sounds like best advice, followed by interviewing elsewhere. Good luck!
“Lawyer up to lube them up.” A very well known legal professor once shared with me this tidbit of wisdom.
TC or GTFO
You could talk to others & see if they’ve also been cheated & go to the management as a group. Or at least have them share the legal costs.
Noob
Helpful.
TC: -70k