Don't sweat this at all. You deserve the bonus; it is part of your compensation. It is pretty much a biz contract between you and your employer as part of the job. You will not get a bad reference for this. They will just make you feel like a heel. If you have any accrued vacation days, point to that. I know people who applied earned vacation days in exchange for leaving sooner. Hell, I left the Army one month in advance based on vacation days.
Leaving a job with vacation days still remaining means you convert those days into straight cash... you can negotiate leaving earlier, but you'll likely forfeit that pay.
Obligation??? Unless he is under contract there is no legal obligation. As far as moral obligation, where is the employers obligation if they want to fire him? Are they going to give him two weeks notice if they want to get rid of him? No, more than likely they will a nice 2 minute warning and an escort off the premises.
If I was in your situation, I would give the normal 2 weeks notice... but then again I have a great boss who would most likely give me the bonus I earned and say "good job, you deserved it". So perhaps our situations are totally different... in which case I'd look out for #1.
If you give them a 2-week notice now, technically won't you still be employed on March 2? It'll just be your last day.
Split the difference. Ask your new employer if they can extend your start day back to March 12. Tell them you are working on a project and you don't want to leave your old employer in a lurch. It doesn't hurt to ask and they'll respect you for that. Then once the check clears, give 1 week notice. If it comes down to it, do whatever you need to ensure you get $$$. Just make sure you'll be at your new job long enough to get a good reference. (This assumes the bonus is for a sizable amount.)
Many companies don't keep you for 2 weeks once you put in your notice. They have the option of letting him go immediately so he would no longer be an employee on the 2nd. I've worked for companies that immediately walked you out the door upon giving notice. They escort you to your desk to collect personal belongings and show you the door. This is very common if there is any sort of security implications.
I consider myself a cynic, so obviously I assume its either his boss or him. Might as well look out for himself. There is no win-win.
How significant is the bonus? If the bonus is the company's way of showing appreciation for their employees, and the business has treated you right, I don't think the money is worth your relationship with your business. To be honest, if this new job is too good to pass up, I'd assume the bonus is chump change in that aspect. I've worked in 3 different companies since I graduated from college and started grad school, and the honest truth is that I've now dealt with old coworkers from all 3 places. Moreso, the bigger the opportunities at the bigger companies, the more likely you'll have them again in the future. If the company lives up to a good name, then they give you your bonus regardless. At the end of the day, I'd think that doing things right should trump any short term bonus. Put the ball on their court. Take the high road and give them the due diligence with the 2 weeks if they expect it. (depends how important your position is, I guess) Let them decide what to do. If they take it as a slap in the face, make a mention of the bonus, but a bonus's definition is what it is, a BONUS. It's their choice and I won't want to leave a place without giving notice unless there is absolutely no choice.
A bonus might be the company's choice to give as part of a compensation package but once that is established it also mean it's already earned. Meaning I might work for a company that doesn't care if I improve sales 10% for the year. My pay is the same. But if part of my compensation package is a bonus that is contingent on me raising sales 10%, and I achieve that, I have now earned that bonus. It is mine. It's not just icing on the cake. It's part of the compensation agreement. My bonuses are on the order of 30-40%. I would never leave the company so close to bonus time.
Give the two weeks notice. I treat people how I expect to be treated. The company I work for treats its employees with respect. If it didn't, I wouldn't work for them.
I don't consider businesses to be people. I'll just echo what a few of the other posters have said. If you're legitimately worried you won't get your bonus and it's a sizeable amount, 4 digits, look out for yourself. Besides, if you already have this other job wrapped up, you don't need this current one for a reference. Your boss, or a future boss will know what they can divulge about your work specifications pertaining to the job you're at now. So not much harm in you being slandered in the future. Considering you work for a company that gives yearly bonuses and whatnot, I can assume you don't work at Chili's or Walgreens, whoever is in charge of hiring will know what information they can find out about you from previous employment. Been in management for about 5 years now, I would not be insulted if someone came to me and said they got a new job and it starts next week, it's happened a few times.
The length of the time is not important as much as tying up loose ends as you leave. If it takes a week to catch someone up on your job, then that is plenty. But certainly do whatever it takes to CYA, even if it means giving 1 1/2 notice.
Last time I checked, the owner of the company where I work is not Rosie from the Jetsons. My coworkers are not machines.
If your new boss wants you to start on the 5th, and he's already dismissed the two weeks notice request and/or you have a signed offer letter, that's when you start. You already have your cake.
Push back the start date if you can. Take the bonus and take me out to lunch. Lots of catching up. I just switched jobs too.
that sounds all fine and dandy and the company may very well treat you with respect...until you are no longer an asset because you are leaving and they can save money by not paying you. A company is always good to you, until it's in their best interest to not be.
I thought the size and/or existence of any bonus was contingent on all kinds of company and individual performance factors that would allow them to take it all the way zero.
