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Am I burning bridges by waiting until I get my bonus in two weeks before putting in my two-weeks notice?

All you are required to do is give two weeks, which you will be doing. There is nothing wrong with that. The bonus has nothing to do with this situation because it is money that you have already worked for and earned. The bonus is not an incentive for you to stay, but rather to reward your past work.

I know someone who gave notice maybe a week after she got her bonus. I think she did burn a bridge with one partner by doing it so close to the day we got bonuses (i.e., it was more obvious she waited it out just to get the $$ than it'd have been had she waited a couple more weeks), but she did also get rehired recently, so it couldn't have affected her that much.

Jarndyce&Jarndyce wrote:Am I burning bridges by waiting until I get my bonus in two weeks before putting in my two-weeks notice?

You already earned the bonus so take it. Wait.

A secretary where I work did this last year, put in her two weeks right after receiving a bonus. One of the attorneys made a joke about it, but the secretary was well liked and no one seemed to look down on her leaving right after getting the bonus. I don't think people would really care in your circumstance either.

silenttimer wrote:The bonus is not an incentive for you to stay, but rather to reward your past work.

This sentence isn't true, but your overall advice is correct: OP should take the bonus and then give notice.

It might be a bigger deal at a smaller firm where partners see the bonus directly coming from their pockets. Probably not so much in biglaw.

I gave notice the day bonuses were deposited in our accounts. No one said anything to me and I'm still on good terms with partners at my former firm.

You'd be letting them take advantage of you if you did anything else.

This is common practice. Wait for the check to clear, then bail if you want. It would be unforgivably dumb to do it any other way

North wrote:This is common practice. Wait for the check to clear, then bail if you want. It would be unforgivably dumb to do it any other way

This. There's a reason the lateral market heats up in January/February after all the dust from exiting associates settles.

Jarndyce&Jarndyce wrote:Am I burning bridges by waiting until I get my bonus in two weeks before putting in my two-weeks notice?

You earned it. I don't see what the issue is.

I mean don't say "hah u got played suckers" when they hand you the check

I'd agree with all the above but not knowing iF OP is at a big firm or a small one... there are situations where it's still the normal thing to wait for bonus but you could be burning bridges.