Signing bonus that you only after x months of work, is this normal?

Posted by geicogecko on Tuesday September 21, 2010 @02:02AM
from the self-post dept.

I was under the impression that a signing bonus was given to you as soon as you started the job. But I just got a job offer where the sign on bonus is only available to me after 2-3 months, with the additional specification that if I quit or am fired within a year I have to pay it back to them.

I just wanted to know ... is this normal?

( 3 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Signing bonus that you only after x months of work, is th... by NonEUCitizen on Tuesday September 21, 2010 @08:46AM (#1712388)

You should insist that the "pay it back to them":

1. only applies if you quit, not if they fire you

2. be pro-rata -- i.e. if you quit after 9 months, you only pay back (12-9)/12 = 1/4 of the bonus

With the above, you can also ask (not necessarily insist), that they pay you the bonus now, or by the next paycheck.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Signing bonus that you only after x months of work, is th... by AutomatedTester on Tuesday September 21, 2010 @06:50AM (#1712098)

This is very common as some companies don't want to you disappear within 3 months of joining because they have spent a lot of money hiring you.

The year part of it is to make sure that they have "made back" their signing bonus.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Signing bonus that you only after x months of work, is th... by michael_dorfman on Tuesday September 21, 2010 @03:45AM (#1711843)

Yes, that's not unusual.

Were you really planning on taking the signing bonus, and jumping in less than a year?

[ Parent | on HN ]