Getting my share

[Bership]

Hi,

I found a way to improve a process that can save my employer £20k - 30k a year. I know that I won’t hear even ‘thank you’ for this. I know that because I saved them money in the past and received no reaction whatsoever. That is one of the reasons I have handed 3-month notice.

To put it simply, I want a share of the money. Do you have any idea how I can get it and how much should I ask? I am a freelancer after work so I can issue invoices, if that helps.

And what do you think about my attitude?

Thanks

 

[Mr D]

Once you have left you could approach them and tell them you have found a way of them saving money and you will provide it for £x.
I'd say 80% - 90% chance of rejection but can be worth a try.

You cannot force them to give money. Technically anything done on work time or as a result of work they already have an interest in.

 

[Bership]

Can there be any legal repercussions for not disclosing the process improvement?

 

[Scalloway]

Does your job description include anything about you being obliged to look for ways to improve the way the business works?

 

[Graham Tyers]

If you have handed your notice in you are probably saving them £20-30k per year already.

In a medium-size business 20-30k per year is chickenfeed. I can think of 3 or 4 ways I could save that amount tomorrow, but there are always other priorities, and experience tells you that theoretical savings rarely fully materialise. Or have unexpected negative consequences and end up being reversed anyway.

 

[TheWebDesignCompany]

You could try writing to the main boss, offering your services as a consultant.

Pointing out that you have saved them money in the past and how. (Chances are the real boss won’t even know that came from you until you tell them.)

Then saying that you can save them another £20k-£30k per year and would they like to know more?

 

[Bership]

Thank you.

Does your job description include anything about you being obliged to look for ways to improve the way the business works?

It doesn't.

If you have handed your notice in you are probably saving them £20-30k per year already.

They have to find a replacement which means additional cost to them in terms of recruitment and training.

I can think of 3 or 4 ways I could save that amount tomorrow, but there are always other priorities, and experience tells you that theoretical savings rarely fully materialise. Or have unexpected negative consequences and end up being reversed anyway.

I calculated everything. All parties that would need to be involved in the implementation agreed that they can do it. I am waiting for 1 more quotation to see if the saving is going to be closer to 20 or 30k.
Thinking about the saving as chickenfeed is a mistake. Think about how you can invest the money in advertising.
I am very well aware of the complexities in business.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I think this is what happens in many businesses
I would like to know your employers version of evens as well
He may just be in the frame of mind that your lucky to have a job and bringing in that revenue might have only saved your job .
They might have sent you up the road if you had not done this !

Some would give you a big bonus but it looks like you picked the wrong company to work for

 

[AllUpHere]

You are an employee. Anything you do during work time is the property of your employer automatically. If you want to get a cut when you have a good idea, stop working for other people and be your own boss.

 

[Maxwell83]

Your ex-employer won't thank you for trying to sell them an idea that they will probably think is your job to discover anyway (depending on what your job was to begin with - I'm assuming you're not a shelf stacker here).

Could you leverage your idea to get a better deal at another company in the same field?

 

[The Byre]

I found a way to improve a process that can save my employer £20k - 30k a year. I know that I won’t hear even ‘thank you’ for this. I know that because I saved them money in the past and received no reaction whatsoever. That is one of the reasons I have handed 3-month notice.

Were I the employer in question, I would very much want to hear about savings that we could make and if these suggestions were to be implemented, a 'Thank You' would be in order!

That said - employees tend to over-rate the value of suggestions that they might make and not understand or know all the factors involved.