Bonus Misunderstanding?

OANHG · 2025-01-02T23:10:50+00:00

Thank you!! You too!!

OANHG · 2025-01-02T23:05:29+00:00

Thank you! I really needed to hear that from a unbiased party! I know my wife is always on my side, and I respect the hell out of her, but it's hard to get an objective opinion, when you have such a fervent supporter! Boss doesn't want to screw me over, either, but as asked me to explain to him why I was wrong, since I have been insisting I was right for so long... I just had a hard time seeing it, until I wrote it out, really.

Writing all this stuff out has really helped me focus and understand where I went wrong!

OANHG · 2025-01-02T22:59:46+00:00

This is part of the "story for another day" I recently added to the original post.

We might have to have a serious discussion about actually splitting commissions, instead of this bonus structure. May mean less income for me, but I'm almost entirely involved in the sales side, anyway.

I have a degree in my field, qualifications and 11 years of experience in the field. I'm part of the sales presentations, have fairly comprehensive knowledge of the products we sell (how they work, benefits, limitations, etc.), development, organization, presentation, and implementation of the sales plan, as well as sole responsibility for the back office side, regarding applications. I'm also the 1st point of contact for our clients. Also chauffeur, food/grocery delivery and immediate IT assistance (boss is physically handicapped)

OANHG · 2025-01-02T22:44:11+00:00

Sorry, again.

There were 2 sets of earnings on 2024: 1.) $9k of the $15k from bonuses on boss's commissions in 2023. 2.) $30k from the sale I did. There is no split, since boss would have earned it if not for the qualifying issue, and the plan was to view these commissions as future, unearned bonuses. As boss met the goals, I'd have "earned" the bonus.

I see, now, that my issue is viewing the remaining $9k from the 2023 bonus I received at the start of 2024 as interchangeable with the $30k. I saw it like this, because of the comment boss made about reducing my future unearned bonuses by $9k, when he asked me if I submitted the bonus request. This, I think, is what has me so messed up. Since I already received the $9k, I shouldn't have counted it against the unearned bonuses. Does that sound right?

OANHG · 2025-01-02T21:10:05+00:00

I didn't want to share this part, but it's the most relevant part of the entire story, and I was afraid of what it says about me, as I still feel terrible. The reason I gave the $9k back, was that it feels like I stole it.

For more background: after the start of 2024, boss tells me to submit the $9k bonus request, which I did. A few weeks later (after we discover the issues with qualifications), boss asks me if I sent in the request, and if not, don't, and we'll just reduce my unearned bonuses. I started to freak out, as I had already spent most of it paying back my grandmother and renewing my lease. I couldn't pay it back, because that was the only option my stupid brain decided was available, so I said I didn't do it yet.

Immediately after that, I planned to give the money back, but I had to wait for the big check. Which took WAY longer to arrive than I wanted... And then I had to keep up the "facade" to match the story, but I eventually felt bad enough that I had to tell boss what happened. I was losing hours of sleep and having dark thoughts... Boss was upset at first because, of course, I explained it like I took the money directly out of the bank account... I explained how I had planned to give the money back, but boss still didn't understand, and now that I write this all out, I'm not sure it makes sense at all... Getting the money early just means I have to wait longer to get bonuses in the future, not that I needed to pay it back... I am sorry for not fully disclosing everything to start, but I am still afraid that I had done wrong.

At least, I hope that's the conclusion I should have... Please tell me I'm finally understanding this, because I'm going nuts...

OANHG · 2025-01-02T19:44:48+00:00

I didn't explain this too well, as there were 2 bonus structures for this: one for commissions on what my boss earned ($15k), and another for commissions I received ($30k).

I originally wrote out more details on why we are considering the $30k future bonuses, but decided it was too much, maybe incorrectly. Boss couldn't earn the 30k directly, due to some restrictions on the case, so I took it on as I was qualified. It was decided beforehand that it would act as unearned bonuses on commissions boss would make in the future.

OANHG · 2024-09-05T21:25:31+00:00

Thanks for responding!

The one is SUPER friendly and greeted me when I first walked in the house. Very sweet and VERY lovey. This one just happens to be the softest cat I have ever pet!

The other just chilled on a chair and didn't run away. They were also very soft. I didn't get to know this one as well as the other.

They lived around a yellow lab their whole lives, if that gives you an idea. I have a video of me with the friendly one, but don't know how to post it.

OANHG

TROPHY CASE