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Ask HN: Signing bonus situation sketchiness

2 points by andbberger ↗ HN
Wanted to get some feedback from the hivemind:

Recently joined a company, compensation included a signing bonus 'provided I stay with the firm for 6 months'.

To me 'signing bonus' suggests a bonus you get at the time of signing, for signing.

After some weeks of not being very forthcoming about when I can expect my bonus, they are now telling me that I will get it at 6 months.

To me this feels quite sketchy and at best very misleading. That was not my expectation when signing.

What do you think?

5 comments

[ 4.8 ms ] story [ 21.2 ms ] thread
yasp
The particulars should have been written into the employment contract that you should have signed but it's not unusual for such a bonus to be tied to remaining with the company for a certain period of time.
andbberger
No that was literally all it said; 'provided I stay with the firm for 6 months'. No discussion of provisions or details, nothing.
yasp
Honestly, it sounds normal, IMO.
sushid
It’s normal. I have a sign on with a public tech company you’ve heard of that has a one year stipulation.
tango24
I've had both -- signing bonuses that are provided day 1, but can be clawed back if I don't stay the expected length of time. And I have had signing bonuses that are paid out on my one year anniversary. You should have asked for it to have been written/clarified in your contract though if it was not clear.