Recently, I referred an old "colleague" (we worked together for maybe 4 months) to my new company. He was subsequently hired. As is customary, we agree we should probably grab lunch one day to catch up. That day is today.
When he originally stopped by to catch up and suggest the lunch, he casually mentioned "you're buying with that referral bonus haha." Today, he stops by at 9:30am to confirm and ask where the office manager is because he "really needs his paycheck. Like, seriously. Today is payday, right?" Apparently, in the job switch he's gone three weeks without a paycheck. I also know his prior employer paid out any remaining vacation days (albeit at 50%), so he even should have received a bump there and he was traveling for work this past week so even a dining out habit would be subsidized.
I was originally just a little shocked he would suggest I buy him lunch, but now knowing how terrible he must be with his own money (yes, he was paid poorly at his last job, but not THAT poorly), I'm a more upset. Whatever, $6 for a slice of pizza. Really, though, shouldn't be the other way around? I'm the one that opened the door for him to get a better job and a higher salary, after all.
Fun anecdotes:
- The only reason I knew today was payday was because I made a point to check to ensure the referral bonus went through, which it did not and I needed to contact HR to ensure that process was taken care of.
- The look on his face when I couldn't provide any nearby recommendations on where we should eat was priceless. Sorry, bro, I just don't go "out" for lunch. Hell, I rarely even come to the office.
- The bonus is paid in two parts, 1/2 now and 1/2 after 6 months. It's only about $1500 taxed at an exorbitant rate, so I'll only see about $450 on my next paystub. The HR woman was over the moon apologetic that she dropped the ball. No, I don't "need the money to help out with the holidays coming up," I was genuinely just curious if I would be receiving a bonus at all.