[Flashpoint]

Thank you to everyone who participated. I appreciate your advice.

I decided that the fairest thing would be to give him 2/3rds of the bonus. As he was quitting with almost no notice, he potentially could have put me in a very bad situation, which is why he did not receive the full amount.

I had to ask myself 3 things

What is the purpose of the bonus?

How would I feel if I were in his shoes?

What is the best solution to keep both parties happy?

I see a bonus as a reward for hard work, motivation for the upcoming year, and as a way to encourage company loyalty. It is also a way of recognizing that the most important thing in this company is not always the bottom line. Our best asset is our people. Clearly the weighting is on work done. Hence, he has earned at least half the bonus. As far as motivation goes, there is no need. He won’t be here. Loyalty goes in much the same vein as motivation, but if providing a partial bonus mends what would otherwise be hard feelings, then it is money well spent.

The final third I felt justified in keeping, as it will allow me a little time to find his replacement. We are not extremely tight on money right now, but if my boss calls me on this decision I can defend it by indicating there was a penalty of a 1/3rd deduction.

If I were in his shoes, I would feel entitled to the bonus based on the work I had accomplished over the past two months. I would also be ****ed that I wasn’t getting a bonus because I had the misfortune to announce I was quitting right before the cheques were handed out. In the future, I might not provide ANY notice just to prevent it.

I appreciate the effort he has put in, and want him to think of his time with us as a positive experience. I reminded him that in future, it is best to provide his employer with advance notice if thinking of leaving, as it prevents a whole host of issues and mutual hard feelings.

Before making my final decision I asked him if he felt this was a fair compromise. He agreed that it was. He is a straight shooter, so I believe him. I’m happy as I feel like less of a scrooge at Christmas when I know he is struggling, and has a wife and child. I also don't have to worry how it looks to my other employees. My boss is happy because he saved some money, but doesn’t have to worry about an ex-employee badmouthing the company.

Thanks Calgary Puck. You guys provided some great perspectives, and even if I didn’t follow your advice, I certainly thought about each opinion presented.