Q: Does my employer have any right to clawback a 2019 bonus if I put in my 2-week notice on the same day as bonus payout?
I accepted a new job offer and it requires me to put in my 2-weeks notice to my current employer on the same day I get my 2019 performance bonus paid out. Does my current employer have any legal right to clawback my bonus if it has already cleared in my account?
A:
No. Bonuses, though voluntarily paid on top of other compensation by your employer, are still considered wages in the eyes of the IRS. Bonuses are paid for past performance, with the hope that you will continue to work at that level.
Once they have paid you, they can't take it back. This is definitely something to sue for, and if the county attorney's office wants to help, they could easily make a criminal case for theft.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
