Translation of publicist‘s post (RUS).

While working at my last job, I was given a “Good” assessment at the end of the year, and was supposed to receive a bonus based on the results. Deciding not to wait for payment, I quit the job and transferred to another company. No bonus was allocated to me as part of the severance fee. Can I, after voluntarily quitting my job 7 months ago, still claim the bonus?

Bonuses are payments designed to stimulate employees. Other such kinds of payments include one-time bonuses independent of the source of payment; rewards based on six months of work; and bonuses for completing one-time assignments. Whatever the case, these payments are determined by the labor contract and/or the employer.

In particular, bonuses based on performance assessments are considered voluntary acts by the employer, who has the right to determine what criteria employees must satisfy in order to be eligible. To award a bonus, the employer must issue an order and submit necessary payroll documents to the accounting department. If your employer issued an order and accompanying documents, you could not nave not received them. When you severed your contract with the firm, you should have either received all sums owed to you, or a document explaining why a given sum was not awarded.

For a more detailed examination of this issue, contact the company’s trade union committee (if one exists) or the regional Department of Social Protection.

The question was answered by a legal consultant of Kazakhstan’s Federation of Trade Unions.