Originally Posted by
Whiplash6
As long as you admit this retention bonus a) isn't a pay raise and b) won't actually retain you, I wouldn't care if it were a check for $26,666.
Good for you on a personal level. I'm sure this money that brings your overall pay back to industry standard helps tremendously for you and your family. But it's not a pay raise, it's a conditional bonus.
It's conditional on you still being here when they pay it out. Just like if you leave a job that's giving you an hourly wage increase before it becomes effective. Guess what? You won't get that either. I'm not sure why you're so hung up on the word conditional?