walkingintoameeting

Account Executive

2 Weeks notice?

So- I am planning to bounce to a new company in early June. I was in accelerators last month (April) and am expecting a commission check to come in at the end of May (this month). I am concerned if I give 2 weeks notice prior to the check landing in my account, that they will not pay me out on it.

Any thoughts on this?

☁️ Software Tech

🧠 Advice

44 comments

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1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

I’d ask the company you’ll be starting on to delay start at two weeks after the commission comes in. When the commission hits your account, submit your two weeks.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Yea it is a great point, and is actually what I did, but they want me to start a week after the check lands... I've stalled the start date a month and 1 week now. The company was receptive to the situation which is cool... I've just got to be smart about this. Company I currently work at has been known to just turn off our laptops if you put in notice. THanks for the advice

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

I’d assume since it’s sales the moment you resign it’s over at your current company. You could roll the dice and put in two weeks after your commission lands, assuming that your current place will end employment.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

Enterprise AE

You could also leverage your commission check for a sign on bonus with the new company, I've done this in the past. Happy to join on X date, but I'll be missing out on X in commission, can you give me a one time sign on bonus to start earlier? --- might be worth the shot to see if you can double dip on that check. Worst thing they can say is no...

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Solid idea there kicker. I low-key attempted this during salary negotiation, and unfortunately did not work. I was hoping they would jump at the idea but not what happened. I've read on Blind that companies are much more likely to give Sign-On bonuses than salary adjustments, so I made the ask but I guess the company did not have enough of a time constraint on when I start.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

These are all great ideas.

When I was in the same position I offered to start evenings/weekends at the new place to get up to speed. You can still give your current employer full notice, and start onboarding earlier at the new place.

If the current guys walk you out then you just start full-time rather than part-time.

In any case, I would certainly give notice after the commission is paid. I didn't wait, trusted my old employer by given them notice before and just got burned.

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

The Metal Rooster

yea - let them know the scenario. if they need you now, ask them to pay out a signing bonus to cover your commission since you think the current co. will withhold it

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

The Metal Rooster

missed this before i responded. seen it play out well for people who were 'walking away from a massive pipeline', when the reality is nothing was coming in anytime soon. ... OP could even take screen shots to share whats coming his way, the way w-2s used to be used to verify peoples claims

Hotsaw

Politicker

VP Sales

If you can wait until the Commish hits your account it's the safest bet. Unless your contract explicitly says otherwise, you're entitled to your comp... but as you know, backoffice tend to hate the SADNESS game and will most likely try to screw you with some "must be employed at time of comp run". Total BS. You could always just 'be sick' for two weeks (*cough COVID cough*) and then grab your comp check an bounce.

Hannibal

Opinionated

Senior Account Executive

A - Having seen it all in my life, it's trash until it's cash. Wait until you see the $$$ in your account before doing anything.

B - 2 weeks notice is a simple formality and courtesy. I am not sure how is your relationship with your current employer/manager but you you can literally give them a 2 minute notice the same way they would do when they let you go and cut you off the face the of the earth.

C- That being said if you think they are honest and you are on good terms and you want to keep that good reference... I would back up all the information proving what is due to you (comp plan, metrics...) in the event you need to take this baby to court.

D - Do what savages do - start your new job, give your notice and go on PTO.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Solid. Thanks for the feedback @Hannibal

MrMotivation

Politicker

Sales

Read your comp plan. Our states that when a company leaves, they are paid ALL DUE commission. Every company is different though, but this is something that is in almost every comp plan I have seen.

Chep

WR Officer

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

This a good question. I've not had this situation pop up, but looking forward to hearing other savages experience with this and what ended up happening with their commission.

Salespreuner

Big Shot

Regional Sales Director

Exactly!

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Read your comp plan or employee handbook (if you have one). Do you need to be on the payroll as a full-time employee at the time of payout or closeout of the commission earning period? If so, they can choose to withhold all additional compensation beyond base salary earnings. It's often discretionary, however, not many companies will make it easy on you to walk away with extra cash.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

all really good points, i'll take a gander at this for sure. appreciate it

Bittersweet0326

Politicker

Digital Business Associate

If you can, I'd give your two weeks once you get your comish.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

thanks!

SaaSguy

Tycoon

Account Executive

I don't think its legal to not pay you your commission- but some companies definitely might be salty and make it a headache. I would get paid and then put in notice.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

thanks for that

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

If it's written in your plan, that you sign, then it's legal.

paddy

WR Officer

Director of Business Development

I think you should wait. Companies will find every reason they can to not pay you.

KPIMaster

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Most reputable companies pay regardless, but like others have said cya and either push until paid or verify via comp plan/policies. Good luck!

PAPA_FOXTROT_ALPHA

Opinionated

VP, Business Development and Operations

wait til you get that commish. then give your two weeks. never, ever burn the bridge on your way out and always make sure to get the keesh.

SteveT

Good Citizen

Regional Manager

@walkingintoameeting Pretty sure they legally have to pay you, if your company is big enough ot have an HR department you should be able to talk with someone off the record about what the policy is. I see you are an SDR manager, the only kicker I would add if it is a bonus pool where there is discretion on managements end, then you could get screwed.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

thanks @SteveT . Appreciate the advice.

Annonny

Big Shot

Account Executive

Take the Risk...

JuicyKlay

Celebrated Contributor

Unless you really trust your manager and the company, I’d wait to resign until after the check clears.

SoftwareSlanginSavage

Good Citizen

Senior Account Manager

Get your guap then ride broski .. let your new company know , im sure they will understand

CCP

Opinionated

VP, Business Development

Check your contract and consider calling your local employment governing body. I know my last contract had a clause that commission and bonuses ended my last day of employment. I would assume they'd need to pay by law but I'd to my homework ahead of time. Especially if you happen to be going to a competitor and will get canned right away (that's what happened to me even after 6 years of serves making a lot of people a lot of money). But they did pay me everything owed which is the most important haha

Broncosfan

Politicker

Account Manager

What has your company done previously? When I left my last company, I knew my company always just let you leave a few days into two weeks to transition stuff but paid you for two weeks. You can also contact HR to get clarification on commission payouts of people leaving. Another idea is to reach out to someone who left who you know and could shine light on their last commission.

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

I dont think that contacting HR to ask what happens when I leave is a great idea tbh. But good idea about reaching out to someone who recently left.

sahil

Notable Contributor

Deepak Chopra of Sales

If you have already earned the commission, the company must pay it to you. That's the law, and to withhold earned wages is an EASY lawsuit you'll win. (And no company would want that suit, they would just settle.)

On the other hand, if you're still wanting to close more deals from here on out and get more commission from those... you should wait. They don't have to pay you anything from here on out, as they can just pull you from any active Opp immediately.

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

@sahil this makes me wonder... I left a job where my commission wasn't paid out until the client paid their invoice. I left at a time when my clients had been invoiced, but payment had not been received yet. How does that work in the above scenario? The total that would have been due to me was about $8k which was an extremely high single commission check at that company.

TheRealPezDog

Notable Contributor

Account Manager

Yeah, I would definitely NOT trust that, get that bonus and then put the notice in. If you're in sales they will probably walk you out right away anyway...

posercloser

Valued Contributor

VP Sales

What's the general vibe of the company? I've been at a company with an incredible culture where I gave a 3-week notice knowing I'd have no issues. It was my best month at the company too so I had something to lose. I was at another startup that had a trash culture, so I waited until I got my commission and gave notice right after, knowing they were going to walk me.......they walked me lol. So what does your gut tell you about your leadership?

walkingintoameeting

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

the vibe is I have no clue what they will do. Some AE's have had their computers turned off same day they give notice. Some do the traditional 2 week thing. Overall, really no way to know what will happen tbh. I'll just wait till money is in the bank then give 2 weeks.

Rigeyyy

Opinionated

Account Executive

Don’t give two weeks. Sales orgs usually say to pack your stuff in the spot. Just finish it out and get paid

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

In the sentiment of everyone else, wait until that commission lands however be careful with your new job and dont compromise it. You dont want to start off with a bad first impression and you may need to weigh up the value of the commish and potentially losing it vs losing the new job opportunity or starting with a bad impression there if you muck them around too long.

CorpBroette

Executive

New Business Account Executive

Every company I've been at requires you to be an FTE when they pay commission but as we've established in my recent post I have worked for tight companies (always the big tech vendors).

SalesSage

Valued Contributor

National Account Manager

i would reread your commission agreement and specifics about they handle this situation, usually it is spelled out. I think 2 weeks is respectful and you never know when who you will run across again, smaller world than we think. . Don't burn the bridge.

SaaSsy

Politicker

It’s pretty common in sales for companies to not want 2 weeks but it’s always appropriate to give it. Get the commission in the bank and offer notice, they’ll probably send you on your way that day!

thegrinch

Politicker

SDR

Recently people at my company have just been announcing its their last day

SlinginSoftware

Politicker

Account Executive

Hmmmm… This is tough. Are you able to talk to any former employees that you’re still friends with that could tel you about their experience?

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walkingintoameeting

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