You're right in saying that is has nothing to do with the CPO, but bitwiser is also correct in saying that the payments don't start until the start of the quarter after you're off probation. AKA, If the quarter ran between Jan 1st and March 31st, and you got off probation Jan 2nd, you wouldn't get a bonus for that quarter. Your first bonus wouldn't arrive until the 2nd quarter bonus gets paid out in the Summer. You're still guaranteed all 8 payments reguardless, unless you get into some weird situation like... say a CA displacement and the bonuses get cut off. But that would never happen, right?