SaasStar

AE (Account Executive)

Parental leave commission splits

For those AEs who are taking parental leave, do you have a commission split leave policy you wouldn't mind sharing? E.g., if you hand a deal off in contracting, the supporting rep gets 25% commission while you get 75%; if a deal is in discovery when you hand it off and the supporting rep closes it while you're out, they get 90%, you get 10%.

If you have some sort of a chart where this is laid out, or thoughts on it, please share!

💰 Compensation

27 comments

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Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Never been the one on leave, but have only seen it with paternity so it’s only for a few weeks where the manager finished it out and the person on leave gets 100%

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

This is usually how I've seen things handled during (non parental) leave.

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

got it - ty!

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It seems to be an "it depends" situation. How many deals are in flight, how far along are they, etc. Do you need a formal process, or is this something you can discuss with your manager? I would say that any split you decide on should be in writing once the decision is made so there are no misunderstandings. X deal goes to Y rep for a 50/50 split if the deal closes by z date, etc.
I've seen splits like you're proposing, but I have no chart to share, so I think you should make your own up based on what you think works. This is going to rely on deal cycle time, where those deals are in the cycle, and how long your leave is. You're on the right track IMO.

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

Thanks! I think I'm going to take a custom approach her on a deal by deal basis. I don't think a fortune 100 deal should split 50/50 if further along compared to a smaller ACV and faster moving deal. Going to include it in my leave strategy doc and align with supporting rep and leadership on it. TY!

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

By the way - congratulations! Enjoy your leave. It's worth it.

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

Thanks!!

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Just ask for help from a colleague and take the full commission!!!

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I would definitely close a deal for a colleague if it's close to being done. If it's earlier days and there's significant work left, that might be a different story.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Yeah, exactly.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

I've closed SO many deals for colleagues because I'm (generally) a good person.

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

same here in prior roles. my boss asked to align on commission splits before I leave though

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Which is smart - but I think if you're really close to close, somebody should help you out.

Justatitle

Tycoon

Account Executive

Been on parental leave but never had to deal with splits for leave. I think depending on what the deal source was and how far along it is it should be pretty easy to figure out a split

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

Thanks everyone! Comments are all very helpful

medhardwaredr

Politicker

Director of Sales NA

We are unique but we pay both reps fully. Sorry you have to deal!

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

That would be ideal - and certainly more equitable for women who tend to need longer leaves for obvious reasons. Ugh

Basketballer

Executive

Head of Sales Ops

In my company, it’s 50-50 if the deal is still in discovery.
If it’s already in contracting, then it’s 80% for the person who originated the deal and 20% for whoever helps close it.
Hope that helps, and congrats!

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

thank you! very helpful

Filth

Tycoon

**WarRoom's Most Unhinged**

IDK, any deal I had when I was having my kid I still worked but just with zero prospecting. Can usually break for a call, meeting, email or two each day in all the early steps of a new kid, and if your prospects know then they wont engage unless its a needle mover.

I hate splitting anything I hunted, if someone dropped it on me, sure but not the other way around.

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

That's an interesting strategy. I could talk to my boss about it. Unsure how it'll work out for me as the mom who's feeding in this scenario. I remember being completely exhausted with my first and the idea of logging on broke my brain haha. Maybe this time around it'll be different. Thanks for your insight.

Filth

Tycoon

**WarRoom's Most Unhinged**

ha - yeah now being the dad is a whole different story and I only get the witness/target end of the ppd and can only be so helpful in feeding until the bottle is involved....
I wouldn't be surprised if you could work out a combo of that and your supervisor stepping in when you aren't up for the task or if it requires a body onsite, but I would take every action to NOT split your commish but if a lead comes in that someone else needs to work until your back, have a good % split in mind based on what work/time was actually done.

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

agreed 100%. I've worked too hard to give away 25% for something going back and forth with legal....

DollHairs

Opinionated

Owner

Never thought about this!

SaasStar

Contributor

AE (Account Executive)

yeah this is my second child as a female AE so it's been top of mind for a long time!