Completions Bonus was revoked retroactively – Has this ever happened to any of you? via /r/engineering

I work in mining on a remote project in Northern Ontario, Canada. I work for the Engineering Consultant who charges my hours to the client who own the Project.

To retain talent it’s industry standard for employers to pay "Completions Bonus" (CB) to workers who stay on the project for ~12 months. It’s 5% of your hourly rate on each hour you work.

My project is no exception – all workers who stay 12 months get this bonus. From a contract standpoint: Long-term contracts (12+ months) explicitly state this bonus. Short-term contracts (3-6 months) do not state the bonus, as the contract doesn’t reach the 12-month checkpoint, however, if contracts extensions reach 12 months, employees receive the Completions Bonus retroactively. This is communicated when employees review the contract extension with HR.

Practically speaking, the employer has always paid the CB to employees (including short-term ones who have been extended to the 12m checkpoint), no questions asked. But recently things have become sticky… the employer is experiencing financial turbulence and have been cost cutting. They recently introduced a new contract for all (long/short) employees to sign as of July 1. The new contract has reduced benefits and lower pay, and no longer includes CB’s.

For long-term employees who signed before the new contract period, they will receive their CB up until July 1st, then move onto the new format. (IE – if they were hired Jan 1 they’ll earn CB on each of their hours until the new contract started, which is 6 out of 12 possible months. You with me?)

Nothing was said for short-term employees either way. I fall into the short-term category. I started on the project for a) 4 months, then b) signed a 6-month extension, both under the old contract. Then, with 2 months left in my extension, c) I signed onto the new contact (July 1 2016 to mid-2018). When I signed my 6 month extension (b) I asked if I’d receive a CB at month 12, HR said yes. I have this in writing.

But when CB’s were paid, I didn’t see any deposit. I inquired, and HR told me there was a mistake: I was included on emails for CB eligible employees by mistake, which “misled” me. I responded via email saying I had been told I would receive it, HR confirmed they said this, but, because of the new contract, I’m no longer eligible. I spoke with the Project Director, who initially was defensive and sided with HR, but then said he'd look into it. He then suggested they may pay for my extension only (b), which equals 4 out of 8 months the bonus should be paid for. But again, he'd look into it. He's supposed to get back to me shortly.

What pisses me off isn't the money, it's the I was promised something, stayed for it, and now it's being pulled away. It violates professional integrity. Has this ever happened to any of you?

TLDR: I was told I'd get a 5% bonus for working at site for 12 months, but then my employer pulled out last second. Now they're saying I'm not entitled to it