Ask HN: How do you delay a job offer? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How do you delay a job offer?

6 pointshighwayman4712 comments

I received a job offer, it is a big company so they do not seem to be fixed on a start date.

However, at my current job our bonuses for 2022 are distributed in March.

This is a significant bonus, usually around $30K pre-tax.

Obviously, I'd like to stay to collect my bonus and then leave.

So I need to have a discussion with the hiring manager to see what's possible - obviously I should make up another reason for wanting to delay (maybe sabbatical, or feign some dedication to closing a project with current employer)?

Lastly, other people at my company have left right after bonus in previous years so I'm not too concerned about the optics (it is after all, for last year's work).

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Why not be open and honest about it? Say you can hand in your notice straight away if they’ll give you a $30k signing bonus to make up for the bonus you’d miss out on?

(I guess it depends whether you think they’re at risk of announcing job cuts and rescinding job offers.)

I agree with some other comments, just explain the bonus situation to your new employer. They can make you whole by bringing you in sooner and paying it to you themselves, or let you join after the bonus is paid. I've been on both sides of this, I waited hiring someone for a sales role as she wanted to collect a quarterly bonus at the place she was leaving, I though it was the sign of a good sales person! I also was offered a role when the hiring company agreed to match my anticipated bonus to bring me on sooner. Good luck!

Edit : typo

It all depends on whether you're willing to lose the job offer to keep the bonus.

If so, just tell the company making the offer that you won't be able to start until whatever date you want to say.

If they say no, try countering with a signing bonus for the amount you're losing out on - or some percentage of the amount you're missing out on. Whatever you're willing to accept.

If you're not willing to lose the job offer, just accept it and give up the bonus.

A few options.

1. Check the literature of who is eligible for the bonus. The bonus might get paid out for anyone who was employed as of a certain date.

2. Use this as a negotiation for a signing bonus. It's common to have some vest or bonus on the horizon. Asking to be made whole with a signing bonus is how this is handled. Just be aware that you'll probably be on the hook to pay it back if you leave your new company in under a year

1. Tell NewCo your availability date.

2. If they ask for an earlier date, tell them the price, and give them the option.

Some companies payout pro rata bonuses. When you leave in month 11 you get 11/12. not in yours I assume?

Otherwise I would simply tell them that you want to wrap up some important work, which is always a good excuse because it’s almost always true. I wouldn’t lie though.

My company doesn't do that and I assume companies don't do pro rata bonuses as they are a tool for staff retention.

My company also pays out an annual bonus in March. They explicitly state that you're eligible for the bonus if you're on the payroll as of 12/31. I've had co-workers leave in early January, and I assume they got the bonus, although I never checked with them. I have no idea if this is standard, but you may want to check.

(Not sure how you can ask your company's HR about this discreetly, though...)

It's extremely rare. Why else would they add a 2+ month delay? It exists specifically to avoid paying people who are leaving soon.

Not surprised to hear that. When I noticed the bonus policy said that I did read it multiple times, because why would you pay someone who doesn’t work for you any more?

This is correct - both companies I've worked at that had revenue bonuses paid them out only to people employed on the day the bonus was issued. New people who weren't around for the entire fiscal year got the pro rata bonuses.

Some people say their current employer wants them for a bit longer time period than the usual two weeks.

Are you prepared if the bonus gets delayed by 2-4 weeks? or, you sure it's out of question?

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