conversation: User (VictorShakapopulis): "I hope this is within the rules of this sub; I'm not really sure where else to post it.\n\nI was hired in July of 2015, and my offer letter stated that I would get a 10% bonus each year (contingent upon the company meeting its profit goals). This past January, I asked someone in the payroll department when bonuses would be paid, and she said it typically takes a month or two while they complete the internal audit. So, I waited.\n\nThis past Friday (April 8), I followed up and found out that bonuses had been paid in February. It turns out I was not eligible because I was hired after June 30, which is the end of the company's fiscal year. Frankly, this is a sensible policy. Every bonus-paying job I've ever had has a cutoff date for eligibility. However, this cutoff date was never mentioned to me. It's not in the employee handbook, it's not on my offer letter, and nobody ever told me about it. I willingly took a lower base salary because the bonus made up for it; that was a compromise I made. To hear that I won't get a bonus at all is disappointing, to say the least.\n\nDoes anyone have advice or experience with this? I don't particularly want this to turn adversarial, but I do feel like I've been hoodwinked out of a bonus that I was expecting. My specific questions:\n\n1) Do companies ever make common-sense compromises in situations like this? Or is it a strict all or nothing area for legal reasons?\n\n2) Do I have legal recourse if it comes down to it? What would something like that look like?\n\n3) Are there any dos or don'ts? I don't want to accidentally write something in an email that can be used against me.\n\nThanks for your help!\n"
  Self: "I don't say this to be flippant, but this is an illustration of why you get things documented. But to answer your questions, 1) Depends on the company, 2) Doubtful, 3) Retell your account of events as plainly as possible, but make sure you don't throw people under the bus. "
  User (VictorShakapopulis): "I'd just assumed hat my offer letter was the documentation, and nowhere on there does it mention a cutoff date or anything about eligibility.\n\nI suspect that my manager rushed the paperwork because he's focused on working and doesn't care much for bureaucracy. I like that about him; that's part of why I took the gig. But I think an unfortunate consequence is that I'm getting screwed by the fine print."
  