Hey! That just said legal k-n-o-w-e-r a-b-o-u-t-e-r-s...nothing bad!
This is not meant to come off as a humblebrag, cocky, I'm-so-great post. I really, really, REALLY do have some legitimate questions about employee rights and what I should have coming to me.
I am a commissioned sales rep. I have the latest and greatest commission plan in front of me from my company. Today is July 1st and the end of business for June has come and gone without another commission plan being given to me and signed.
Now, as preliminary info, I have struggled, fought and battled to be a good provider for my family. Getting laid off in a "last in-first out" reduction in force two days after my youngest son was born two and half years ago threw us into a tailspin that frankly went on for quite some time. This new gig I have been at for four months seemed to be a great solution. Great opportunity.
Well, based on a simple math formula that plugs into a spreadsheet, according to the latest and greatest comp plan, it is easy to figure out that I SHOULD be getting a pre-tax commission this month of over $72,000. Sounds insane and gaudy and all that...I know. My boss told me when I landed the deal that this one deal is his expectations for an entire year for two sales reps...and I got it one large deal.
Well, it wasn't long before I was told the commission plan was changing. The company said the deals need to be profitable before they will pay out commissions. I totally get that...but I wasn't the one who came up with the commission plan. THEY did. I just signed and dated it. Plus, it will be profitable...but this is month one of a HUGE deal. The plan says "the company reserves the right to review, change or otherwise replace this commission plan prospectively at any time, in its sole discretion." I understand that, too. But from my research, the new plan would have needed to be on my desk, signed and dated by end of business yesterday for that to take effect. Since we are now in July and the commissions earned were from June and the latest and greatest plan on my desk is still the most recent comp plan I have, is the company legally bound to it?
Now, I have ZERO plans to take them to court. I like working for this company and want to be a team player. I do, however, plan to use it as leverage to let them know I know what I should be getting based on their comp plan and that I want to know how they plan on making it right with me. This could be in the form of bonus structure, opportunities for advancement, more freedom to come and go as I see fit, etc. It could be many things. Bottom line, I can still make a lot of money here that hasn't been flowing into these pockets...ever.
So my long-winded question...IS the company bound to the current plan since no other plan is in place now that we are in another month? Secondly, any advice you smart folks (I know, I know...south oval advice--am I an idiot, or what?) have is appreciated. All cuteness aside, I am a sole provider for a family of five and I want the best for them...we have scratched and clawed for a few years and I want to get out of financial stress...and I sure as hell want to find a way to get my *** to Tallahassee in mid-September!
Thanks...