[USER]

For someone employed at the Director level of a smaller company for several years, expecting an annual bonus of approx $20-$40K on Feb 1st, 2025, and wanting to give notice, how would you navigate giving notice in a way that is ideally helpful to the employer, but doesn’t jeopardize the bonus? Would like to leave the role asap after receiving bonus.

How much advance notice? Anything in particular to say or do, or to avoid?

[Carol]

I work in personal finance and had a client deal with this.
The client waited until the deposit cleared—not just pending, but cleared—in their bank account before they put in their two weeks notice.

You could do things like, depending on the nature, agree to stay to train your successor, or assist with the hiring process, if you wanted.

[Brian]

Under no circumstances do you give notice before you have the money in your bank account. No matter how much you trust your boss or how “good” they have been to you.

Once you give notice, you are dead to them.

[Marta]

You should give notice after receiving the annual bonus.

[Cica]

Be on vacation when the check clears. Come back. Wait a few days and give your two weeks.

The bonus is for previous year’s performance so you really owe them nothing more.

At will employment goes both ways.

[Molly]

Wait til the deposit goes through. I’ve worked at several employers that will claw back pending deposits.

Second option is to negotiate new employer to pay your bonus as a hiring bonus.

[Brian]

Corporate HR here… if getting that bonus is important to you, I wouldn’t resign or mention to anyone you’re leaving before you actually see the money hit your bank account.

Even leaving on good terms, with good intentions, with good relationships, with long tenure…

wouldn’t say a thing to anyone. Anything short of that brings in risk into the situation.

[Engelbert]

Giving notice right after the check clears could definitely damage relationships at your workplace.

It might be better to wait a month or two before giving notice, and when you do, offer to stay on for a few weeks to help train your replacement or transition your responsibilities.

[Audrey]

Give notice- try for 4 weeks m after the bonus clears. If you give notice before, they could just sever you before bonus day and not pay.

Check any contracts and employee handbooks you may have as well

[Marty]

I would just wait a month or two after the check clears and leave.

[Julie]

Executive Recruiter here…
Wait until the check clears in your back account.

[Lynne]

Bonus are for the previous quarters. And you must be still employed to get it.

So, you give your notice when it clears the bank.

[Author]

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