Should I Confront a Coworker for Keeping My Bonus?

"WIBTA if I confronted a coworker for keeping a bonus meant for me? Multiple mistaken payouts have raised ethical concerns at work."

Damjan

Published in Interesting
25 Dec 2025

Should I Confront a Coworker for Keeping My Bonus?

In the world of workplace dynamics, few things can stir up tension quite like issues surrounding bonuses and achievement recognition. In a recent Reddit thread, a well-off employee finds themselves grappling with a moral dilemma after discovering that a coworker with a name strikingly similar to theirs has claimed a bonus that was rightfully theirs.

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This isn't just a one-off mistake; it’s a recurring issue, with the original poster (OP) having returned multiple bonuses that were mistakenly awarded to them. While the OP doesn’t need the money, the principle of the situation weighs heavily on their conscience.

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They're left questioning whether reaching out to their colleague to address the situation would make them the "bad guy." The post has sparked a lively discussion among Redditors, with opinions ranging from advising the OP to speak directly to HR to cautioning against confronting the coworker directly. As the conversation unfolds, it raises more profound questions about accountability, workplace ethics, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships in a professional setting.

Should the OP take a stand for what feels right, or is it wiser to let the company handle the matter? Join us as we dive into this nuanced debate and explore the myriad perspectives on this compelling workplace conundrum.

Original Post

I’m not poor, not by any stretch of the imagination. I am well off and small achievement awards and bonuses, while nice, won’t help me achieve my financial goals. In preparation for a management review, I was reviewing team awards.

I noticed someone with a name very similar to mine got credit (and a payout) for achievements that were actually mine. Think “Pat E Pleta” vs.

“Pat E Pletta.” This isn’t the first time this has happened. I’ve gotten at least five bonuses I didn’t earn and always returned them (I have a common name).

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This person didn’t. They just took the money and ran.

I don’t need or want the money, but it annoys the s**t out of me that they didn’t do the right thing. Would I be the a*****e if I emailed them to ask why they kept quiet?