The doctrine of disclaimer, which operates in relation to gifts of property (particularly under deeds and trusts), does not extend to individual rights arising under a simple contract. An employee's expression of dissatisfaction with conditions attached to a discretionary bonus does not constitute a disclaimer or abandonment of the right to receive the bonus. Once a remuneration committee exercises its discretion to pay a bonus and communicates that decision, the employer is contractually bound and cannot later revoke the decision. The recognised means by which individual contractual rights may cease to be enforceable are limited to contractual variation, election between inconsistent rights, and estoppel.
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