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Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

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Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#11

Post by emingo »

AznHisoka wrote: post #10
emingo wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ya... I guess I am making it more complicated than it has to be. I have to wait a few days I think and cool off... I've been pouring my heart and soul into this, and this was just pretty crushing.

lesson learned: don't pour your heart into something you don't have equity in.

That's a sad conclusion in my eyes.

Part of being happy for me is immersing myself in something and doing a good job. But there is something to be said about getting taken advantage of.

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#12

Post by canterburry »

jpetersonmn wrote: post #7
canterburry wrote: post #4

Remember, bonuses are discretionary and subject to the overall financial health of the company. What affects your bonus the most is if there is any money available for bonus payments regardless of your eligibility. Everyone on the team may be doing awesome, but if you are not turning a profit, then where is that money going to come from?

If it's so bad they can't give larger bonuses that $200, they should have skipped them all together. That's just insulting.

That I agree with.

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#13

Post by emingo »

brd wrote: post #8

1) I think its smart to cool down prior to having a conversation about the bonus. Approaching this tactfully will be important. 2) I'd absolutely call them out on this embarrassingly small bonus if only to establish that you're not going to take insults (which this is) laying down. 3) I'd probably not even bother fighting over the 4k annual bonus. I don't know what your current salary is but I'd imagine framing the a…

It's my first start up job. This is great advice. Gonna continue working hard, have a talk with them, and start shopping, but this time for not a supporting role.

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#14

Post by MalcolmDiggs »

I would definitely calm down before you do anything at all. In a few startups I've worked in the bonus structure is surprisingly simple:

- Bonus pool is some fraction of profit for the quarter

- Your part of that pie is proportional to your role/seniority. (Not necessarily having anything to you with your performance for the quarter).

- You are capped at a certain amount, just because they had to set the cap somewhere, and you probably shouldn't expect to see anywhere near that number.

I would ask them to clarify if this is a performance-bonus or just your piece of the pie (a form of profit sharing).

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#15

Post by partisan »

I received a bonus like that at a job once. I stayed there about a month after that. They were upset when I left.

Your bosses will get away with as much as you let them. The 70 hour weeks are on you, but you can certainly approach them to understand why they are giving you that amount. You can explain it away by saying that you'd like to understand where you can further improve. It is, after all, a reflection of your performance.

If you can separate your emotions from the money, just ride it out for a year and get back that $20k you lost by switching to a RoR developer role at another company.

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#16

Post by rthomas6 »

Personally I would talk to them with the assumption that they're unhappy with me somehow, even if I think they aren't. I'd say that I noticed my bonus was only 5% of my maximum and I just wanted to know why my job performance was unsatisfactory and what I could do to improve. They either respond with a useful critique (who knows, you could be overestimating your abilities), or the actual reason why the bonus was low.

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#17

Post by emingo »

partisan wrote: post #15

I received a bonus like that at a job once. I stayed there about a month after that. They were upset when I left. Your bosses will get away with as much as you let them. The 70 hour weeks are on you, but you can certainly approach them to understand why they are giving you that amount. You can explain it away by saying that you'd like to understand where you can further improve. It is, after all, a reflection of your…

How do you ease your way back into 40 hours after they know you are capable of working 70?

How does the conversation go... "I want my old job back?" or what?

Re: Ask HN: Is my frustration warranted?

#18

Post by petervandijck »

emingo wrote: post #17
partisan wrote: post #15

I received a bonus like that at a job once. I stayed there about a month after that. They were upset when I left. Your bosses will get away with as much as you let them. The 70 hour weeks are on you, but you can certainly approach them to understand why they are giving you that amount. You can explain it away by saying that you'd like to understand where you can further improve. It is, after all, a reflection of your…

How do you ease your way back into 40 hours after they know you are capable of working 70? How does the conversation go... "I want my old job back?" or what?

Just leave on time.
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