Do I owe a piece of my commission to an admin staffer?

[unjung]

Recently an admin staffer helped me close a deal simply because the retail client (one I'd worked with a fair bit previously) called her directly to finalize some paperwork after delaying previously. The admin person is now half-joking about me giving her a piece of my comp. I think if anything this would be limited to a bottle of wine or something, because it isn't a big deal. I still did 95% of the work. My name is on the deal and it's my risk. The admin person will probably have to do this exact same thing again in the future for me or other IR people simply as a part of her normal duties. She is compensated fairly, I assume, and does not otherwise earn commission.

Do I owe her anything?

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by unjung

Recently an admin staffer helped me close a deal simply because the retail client (one I'd worked with a fair bit previously) called her directly to finalize some paperwork after delaying previously. The admin person is now half-joking about me giving her a piece of my comp. I think if anything this would be limited to a bottle of wine or something, because it isn't a big deal. I still did 95% of the work. My name is on the deal and it's my risk. The admin person will probably have to do this exact same thing again in the future for me or other IR people simply as a part of her normal duties. She is compensated fairly, I assume, and does not otherwise earn commission.

Do I owe her anything?

You don't owe her any part of your commission, but a bottle of wine (<$20) would be a nice thank you.

 

[IUtoSLU]

Bottle of wine. I'm assuming she only did what is expected of her. If everyone understands that what she did was expected, then she deserves nothing. If she went above and beyond, then maybe give her a small part of the commission.

 

[unjung]

Originally Posted by IUtoSLU

Bottle of wine. I'm assuming she only did what is expected of her. If everyone understands that what she did was expected, then she deserves nothing. If she went above and beyond, then maybe give her a small part of the commission.

Somewhere in between. She could have just told me to call the client back, but instead she went ahead and finalized the deal with her. Probably about 15 minutes of work. I'll probably grab her some wine then.

 

[VKK3450]

Originally Posted by unjung

Somewhere in between. She could have just told me to call the client back, but instead she went ahead and finalized the deal with her. Probably about 15 minutes of work. I'll probably grab her some wine then.

Would the deal have closed without her? I mean if she just did the equivalent of ringing up the sale then a bottle of wine is prob fine.

If she actually played a more material part in closing the deal then you might think about whether you would have gotten the comission without her.

K

 

[the_k]

a reasonable (to you) thankyou gift seems appropriate...at least that is what i would do...

 

[ter1413]

Wine would be cool.....Agree 100%.....

 

[Piobaire]

Here's more how I would look at it: could she screw up a deal for you in the future if she got pissed off at you? If the answer to that is &quot;yes,&quot; I would get her a bottle of wine or some token. Sometimes, office politics doesn't break down to what is right or wrong but rather things that could foreseeably impact your paycheque.

 

[edmorel]

have you considered Slopho-ing her?

 

[Syl]

How much is your comissions? How much will she be involved in the future? If you are making decent money then spending a few bucks to keep her happy isn't a cost, it's an investment.
Another way to think about it - in 2 yrs, will you remember spending $50, $100, $whatever on this and will you be impacted?

I do agree though that you shouldn't give money - give a gift.

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Here's more how I would look at it: could she screw up a deal for you in the future if she got pissed off at you? If the answer to that is "yes," I would get her a bottle of wine or some token. Sometimes, office politics doesn't break down to what is right or wrong but rather things that could foreseeably impact your paycheque.

x2. I hate all the people who I work with*, but I buy them donuts once a week and lunch for the whole office at least once a month. It keeps them from bad mouthing me and ruining everything.







*Not really true.

 

[unjung]

Originally Posted by VKK3450

Would the deal have closed without her? I mean if she just did the equivalent of ringing up the sale then a bottle of wine is prob fine.
Yeah, equivalent to ringing it up on a register.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Here's more how I would look at it: could she screw up a deal for you in the future if she got pissed off at you? If the answer to that is "yes," I would get her a bottle of wine or some token. Sometimes, office politics doesn't break down to what is right or wrong but rather things that could foreseeably impact your paycheque.
Good call. Noted.

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

x2. I hate all the people who I work with*, but I buy them donuts once a week and lunch for the whole office at least once a month. It keeps them from bad mouthing me and ruining everything.
Also noted.

 

[randallr]

Originally Posted by unjung

Recently an admin staffer helped me close a deal simply because the retail client (one I'd worked with a fair bit previously) called her directly to finalize some paperwork after delaying previously. The admin person is now half-joking about me giving her a piece of my comp. I think if anything this would be limited to a bottle of wine or something, because it isn't a big deal. I still did 95% of the work. My name is on the deal and it's my risk. The admin person will probably have to do this exact same thing again in the future for me or other IR people simply as a part of her normal duties. She is compensated fairly, I assume, and does not otherwise earn commission.

Do I owe her anything?

The more you treat her like a business partner the better she will work for you. I would treat her well and make sure you appreciate what she has done. If she could ever be in a spot to blow a deal I would definitely want to keep her happy and I would want her to feel she wasn't just an admin.

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by unjung

Good call. Noted.

Lesson learned the hard way.

Just passing it on to the next generation.

 

[Petrolhead]

port wine, or some other digestif.