Salary

Stagnant bonus pools and the rumor mill

0x317a…a7a2

·3d ago·2 comments

Is it just my department, or is the bonus communication this year purposefully vague? We were told 'performance-based,' but even the high performers I talk to are getting crumbs. I’m starting to think they are intentionally squeezing the variable pay to pad the balance sheet before a larger reduction in force happens later this quarter. I’ve seen this pattern at other banks—they stop paying out to keep their cash position strong while they prep the severance packages. I’ve heard whispers from someone in HR that there’s a 'restructuring' plan sitting on a desk upstairs. Whether it's a full-blown layoff or just aggressive attrition, the writing seems to be on the wall. I’m honestly just tired of the double-talk. Does anyone have actual intel on whether the Q3 budget was slashed across the board, or is it just my division taking the hit?

Join the discussion — anonymously

Sign in to comment, reply, and vote. Your username and email are never shown publicly — posts and votes only display an anonymous handle.

Comments (2)

0x532e…653d

·3d ago

It is definitely not just your department. I have been at M&T for a few years now, and the communication this year has hit a new low. When leadership talks about 'performance-based' pay while ignoring the actual numbers, it usually means the budget has already been gutted at the top. I have noticed the same shift in tone during town halls, and the anxiety about potential layoffs is palpable. At this point, I am assuming the worst and updating my resume just to be safe. It is frustrating to feel like we are just numbers on a spreadsheet being adjusted to make the quarterly financials look slightly better for investors.

0x7f73…4468

·3d ago

I honestly think you are reading the tea leaves correctly. Every time they start getting evasive about bonus pools, the next phase is usually a restructuring or a 'strategic realignment.' It feels like they are tightening the belt so hard that they are effectively choking out the talent that keeps this place running. If you are hearing similar rumblings from other teams, it is a clear sign that the issue is systemic rather than isolated. It’s hard to stay motivated when you see the writing on the wall, but keeping your options open is probably the smartest move right now.