HR help, bonus not paid on mat leave?

Hoping someone can help me. I have received a discretionary bonus each year I have been with the company. As employees we have no idea what the bonus is based on but I assume the team hitting target as it is paid after our financial year end and is not a Christmas bonus. This year as I was on maternity leave I didn’t receive one. I hit all my targets and so did the team so I assume this is because I was pregnant and then on maternity leave. I worked for 10.5 months the of the year so I expected a pro-rated bonus but received nothing. I was also promoted before going on maternity leave so I assume it is not performance related! Do I have any rights here or none as it is discretionary? Discretionary bonus was part of my job offer but the contract basically says we can choose to not give you one if we feel like it. I feel too scared to even ask! Thanks x

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Did everyone else get the bonus? It sounds suspicious like they've not given you it just because you're on mat leave. I still received a company bonus whilst I was on mat leave, despite not having worked at all that year. I know it's daunting but id definitely ask if there is a particular reason you've not received it. Even if over email x

You should still be entitled to at least part of the discretionary bonus relating to the 10.5months you worked plus the compulsory 2weeks Mat leave and it should be paid at the same time as everyone else even if you are not at work. If everyone else definitely received the bonus I would query with HR.

There is advice on working families regarding bonuses: https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/a-mothers-rights-during-maternity-leave/ Looks like your bonus should have been pro rated. You should ask. The worse that can happen is they explain their legal position and you get no bonus anyway!

If everyone else got one then you should have too. Find out if others have got one and then if they have ask for a reason you didn't receive one. Do it all in writing so you have written evidence. If they say it's because you're on mat leave let them know you believe this is discrimination as you are protected by the equalities act. Basically you shouldn't be treated any differently because you are pregnant or on mat leave. If the answer is that it is because you're on leave (again - vital to get this in writing) you can raise it with your HR department or in the absencs of a HR department - acas. It could just be an oversight so you don't have to go in hard. You can ask gently and also keep your cards close to your chest initially.

Technically no monetary values of money have to be given, even if it’s what you normally get when you are not on maternity. All other benefits you will receive like accruing holiday pay, a payrise and your maternity pay being recalculated to be in line with the payrise at the end of your leave and backdated to you, you can’t be demoted etc. But bonuses or anything else of monetary value you do not get. Hope that helps.

Not sure if this helps but I was given my bonus pro rated this year. Our bonus is also discretionary. We're paid the bonus in our March payslip, I went on mat leave start of August 2023 so I was given 7/12ths as our bonuses are based on company financial year rather than tax year. The same will apply next year - I'll only be able to get 5/12ths. You might need to check what period your bonus relates to compared to when it is paid. There may be a company policy whereby if you're working for less than 6 months of the applicable period you are not entitled to a bonus. This will also apply to new joiners etc.

Thank you everyone this is really helpful. I have a KIT day soon so I will bring it up and see what my manager says x

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