Just told my Boss I want out, just stupid or very stupid?

[Notmeee]

Today is bonus day in work, and whilst they're not massive,in the situation I'm in, it's a big deal.

Only it turns out its not bonus day after-all, without warning they've pulled mine, plus they've also pulled my commission from last month meaning I've got paid half what I was expecting, no payslip, no warning just gone.

Obviously I asked my boss a more professional and long-winded version of 'wtf' and have been given an extremely long and complicated computation which shows despite hitting every single monthly target and all information I am privy to showing I ended last year around 130% that using the fkuover 1.0 calculator I've actually hit, 99.98% and as such I'm entitled to exactly £0.

This has not sat well with me, and harder than that I've had to tell my wife the news that the plans we had are now cancelled.

This added to a half-dozen other kicks and moved goal posts in regards to this year means I just don't want to be here anymore, il not being bigheaded ether when I say it's not worth working here for the equivalent of my basic, it honestly doesn't cover the bills and costs of getting here.

So I've told them I going, I haven't resigned 'just' told them its the final straw and I'm going to look elsewhere and leave at the earliest opportunity. I've weighed up all the pros and cons and even though i knew the only pro would be that it made me feel a bit better and make me feel I have some control over my working life and there were a million and one cons - I did it anyway.

Sorry, ramble over -

What have I let myself in for? I didn't scream my head off, or bad mouth the company (hence my use of my spare PH profile) I just told the director what they did was unjust and unfair and I was going. I assume wanting to leave isn't a stackable offence?

[prand]

Don't worry too much about it, you've had your bonus (which I guess you could appeal) but why not take this as an opportunity to move on? Telling them this makes your position clear, but you can't be fired for having an opinion. Just get your cv out and get another job. If you are there in 12 months time you will be the office bh and you will be paying them to come to work.

Just follow up on your promises.

Edited by prand on Thursday 31st January 14:21

[RVVUNM]

Car trade?

[Notmeee]

prand said:

Don't worry too much about it. Just get your cv out and get another job. If you are there in 12 months time you will be the office bh and you will be paying them to come to work.

Just follow up on your promises.

Thanks, I'm worried my rant to them has been read as "please pay me what I'm owed and worked myself stupid for or I'll leave, I really really will I promise".

It's not like that, mentally I'm gone, I just want a the reference I deserve.

[Rude-boy]

To be honest if they have just done that to you they obviously don't want you there.

I would also be having a very careful read of my employment contract and all written details of the bonus structure, etc. Just to see if there is anything you can hang them with.

[sc0tt]

Notmeee

Amicable of you to express your opinion. Not many would have done so and would have just taken it on the chin.

They won't sack you for expressing your disgust but IMO if you aren't a "top biller" in what you do I doubt they will be too bothered.

If you are good at what you do, I imagine a swift 180 will be in order from the managment.

If you do decide to move on Good luck.

[Notmeee]

RVVUNM said:

Car trade?

No, can't say which industry, but its a very small specialist market (for my skills, not the industry).

This will be my 2nd ever job search, I need to speak to an expert who can look at my skills and try to fathom what the hell I can transfer into - nether if my last two roles fit into any obvious box other than 'sales' and I'm pretty far from being a call centre drone.

[Rude-boy]

Notmeee said:

Thanks, I'm worried my rant to them has been read as "please pay me what I'm owed and worked myself stupid for or I'll leave, I really really will I promise".

It's not like that, mentally I'm gone, I just want a the reference I deserve.

TBH who cares how they took it? If they pay up you'll still walk, you just do not need to tell them that is your intention anyway!

BTW they will not give you a proper reference, only a legal minimum as if you are as good as suggested they will not want you working for a competitor.

[jimmyjimjim]

This 'fkover mark one' calculator...

Clearly it's a calculation performed backwards, working from the assumption of not having to pay out* (at least, that's how you've worded it).

Is it being applied to everyone else in your position, or just you?
Is it the first time it's been applied to you?
Is it valid - if someone else looked at it, would they reach the conclusion that is was a crock of st as well?

What I'm getting at is, when you've left, would it be realistic to sue/claim constructive dismissal, or the like?

I'm not a lawyer, but it might be worth talking to one?


* This doesn't always work out in favour of the company; ours set out a bonus scheme one year that was complicated in structure and scope, with a seemingly unachievable goal based on customer satisfaction stats.

Unfortunately for them, the customer stats were regularly published so couldn't be fudged, and from our point of view it was simple enough to ask customers nicely to fill in the online form saying how great we were. Roll on bonus day, target met, payout achieved, bonus structure completely changed again.

[prand]

Notmeee said:

Thanks, I'm worried my rant to them has been read as "please pay me what I'm owed and worked myself stupid for or I'll leave, I really really will I promise".

It's not like that, mentally I'm gone, I just want a the reference I deserve.

Well, it might perhaps be worth a chat with your manager and apologise for the outburst, say you're committed to working for the moment, but your position is the same. In the background get something else lined up.

You may have a vindictive boss who would give you a bad reference just for trying to leave, in most cases I would not expect a company or referee to wish you badly if you wanted to leave.

BTW- I really feel for you, he day I left for Christmas I was told the department head role I was being lined up for was given to someone else.

I have had to "have a word with myself" to remain professional, but I am treating this as a kick up the backside I probably needed.

There's no happy ending for me yet. I have had some sympathy from my management but I've no doubt they know I'l be off like a shot at the first good opportunity.

[Rude-boy]

If it helps at all I was talking to a chap late last year who had something similar happen to them about 5-6 years ago.

We were just completing the paperwork in relation to the purchase of their old employers business which their old boss will be lucky to clear the price of a new Golf from once my colleague has done with all the claims against the breached warranties...

[0000]

This is why I hate the bonus culture. My resignation would be in pretty sharpish now.

[Notmeee]

JimmyJimJim - I couldn't tell you how the fkuover calculator works, I've never been shown it, or indeed how it's meant to work. In fact my non-core income is a complete mystery to me, which is part of the problem I never know what I earn until Barclays tell me, it's a fun game of "what can we do this month" my wife doesn't like it so much. But when you're told you've missed target my the tiniest of margins only after you've complained you'd be forgiven for thinking foul play, in fact I'm certain they started at sub-100% and fudged the figures accordingly.

In regards to some of the other points, I'm the only person they does the job I do, everyone else here is on a set salary.

I'm not really interested in any claim or legal action, I actually know some great solicitors and barristers, hell, there's even a judge amongst the in-laws, but the cost of legal action would probably be more than any claim.

As above, it's the wake up call I've been after, my Wife's career is on the up and up and I've been plodding along in the doldrums too long.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

[MagicalTrevor]

In a similar, albeit more positive, situation. I told my boss that I'd had enough and that I was looking for another job. I'd applied for an internal transfer but it wasn't available until September. I had that in the bag but I also explained that I was looking externally.

He appreciated me giving him the notice as it's very difficult to replace people in this industry and then today I managed to secure a contract position so I again told him that I was going, which he also appreciated.

My point was that I'd rather make things easier for him by giving as much notice and trust that he won't fk me over (I do trust him).

Alas, it's not the same as your situation... good luck though.

[Rude-boy]

Notmeee said:

I'm not really interested in any claim or legal action, I actually know some great solicitors and barristers, hell, there's even a judge amongst the in-laws, but the cost of legal action would probably be more than any claim.

Your call and your life but...

...you can cost them a lot of time and money using very little of your money and a few evenings with a computer and one of your legal friends.

Not to be done if you work in a small world where people will not see your side of the story but I hate to think of the Directors laughing at you as they spend your money on their toys.

I’m as capitalist as they come 99% of the time but I get very angry when someone misleads, lies to and stitches another up for no reason other than to feather their nest a little more. Business is business, what they have done is make it personal.

[Gargamel]

Back to basics please

Ask them to explain how, in hitting every monthly target you have missed annual bonus ?

Get all your sales information, month by month, request a further meeting and ask them to explain the calculation.

Tell them you would like to ensure that in future if they are using the same calculation methods you want to ensure you hit bonus targets.

You need to get all the facts and see if their numbers are correct.

If you "can't be arsed" to question the data, at least point out to them that for a bonus or target to be motivational you need to understand how it actually works.

To be honest, you sound like you have given up on them, in which case you probably should resign.

[clived]

Amazed no-one has said this yet, but what does your contract say about how your bonus is calculated, and what if any discretion the company has over paying it?

[GoneAnon]

Payplans change from time to time and are rarely covered in Ts & Cs of employment. They are normally changed at least once a year, to incentivise the results that currently matter to the business.

I've never seen one without a get-out clause, but have seen several that are badly written - ambiguous or just plain st.

I agree with the poster above who suggested gathering your monthly figures and asking for a detailed explanation. I'd also ask for clarity around what has to be achieved to make bonus this year, and regular progress reviews.

[8potdave]

I can completely relate to your problem having worked in sales for many years now. When things are tight companies will try and squeeze money out of their staff. In my experience this is usually because they are struggling and quite possibly heading into problems.

There is nothing worse than having your wages messed around with, I have had years of it and it is exhausting. I think you did the right thing voicing your opinion - if they value you and are a worthy company they will reassess things. I'm assuming it isn't just you that has been affected by this? Maybe worth speaking to colleagues and working together on it, companies do not like their staff turning on them especially sales staff!

If it is just you I would be concerned they are managing you out of the company as I have seen this many times too.

[0000]

I couldn't find the words for an appropriate reply to a work email today. I nearly replied to say I wrote a reply but thought they might prefer a Dilbert cartoon instead, but my wife tells me that wouldn't be appropriate either. So I'll leave one here instead.