How long does it usually take to receive completion bonuses?

[smbrn]

Just wondering. I finished up a 13 week contract at Yale New Haven Hospital on Feb 25. I am owed a $7000.00 completion bonus. This money comes directly from the hospital, not from the travel agency. I cannot seem to get an answer as to when I can expect this money. Anyone know, or have experience with, how long it usually takes hospitals to fork over this money and what recourse I have if I am made to wait longer than I think I should have to? It seems to me two weeks time is plenty for them to figure out that I fulfilled the requirements of the contract and they should pay up. Perhaps I should have been more careful at the outset about finding out the time frame for paying me this money.

[zipporah]

I will be interested in hearing the outcome of this. I now will remember to clarify before starting work. Who are you traveling with? Aren't they any help at all? They are the ones that notified you that the hospital was paying a bonus, right?
I sometimes think the entire pay thing is kept murky. The hospital pays the travel company and the company gives us a portion of what they make. Who really pays the bonus? I have not gotten one yet so I am a bit in the dark. Hospitals really pay big bonuses to temp employees? Seems like the travel company would be incentivizing...

[smbrn]

Actually, it all worked out in the end. The bonus was in my last paycheck which was deposited in my account on the day it was supposed to. Still, I didn't know right up until I went online to my bank's website whether or not the money would be there. I couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone about it. My next assignment is with a different company, although not over this issue, and this time I have been assured the completion bonus will be included in my last check. Also, since the previous bonus was so large, the way the taxes were calculated left me with only $4500.00 net. When your taxes are calculated, the tables used assume you earn that amount every week and then tax you as if you make $7000.00 per week! As if! This time I am going with a substantially higher housing subsidy and a much smaller completion bonus so as to spread the money out over time and not get hit with such high taxes. I'll get it back when we file next year but could have used the money now, of course.