I am a three-year PQE assistant at a leading City firm and I am unhappy with the discretionary element of my bonus, which does not reflect the positive feedback I have had in appraisals. However, when I mentioned this to a partner I get on with, he said bonus decisions were not up for discussion.

I don't want to be branded a troublemaker, but if my firm is just paying lip service to the amount of 'headline' bonus available I would rather know that now. Should I suffer in silence or raise the issue more formally? Has anybody successfully challenged their bonus?

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