Bonuses can be a great motivation tool, even for employees of the smallest business. They can also be a waste of money. How they are planned and administered makes all the difference.
Properly administered bonuses can reinforce behaviour that will lead your company to success by rewarding people for making a specific contribution to the organization. Bonuses given out improperly will lead to disgruntled employees who expect a bonus, but who may not be happy with what they receive.
Set Goals
To reap the most out of bonuses, tie them to clearly set goals. A good time to set these goals is at the beginning of the year. These goals should be concrete, attainable, and critical to the growth of your business. The steps below will help you set good bonus goals:
Other Reasons to Give Bonuses
If you did not set goals with your employees last year, that does not mean that you can’t pay bonuses this year. There are a few reasons that you might want to consider paying year-end bonuses to your workers. You can still make an educated decision at year-end by asking yourself the following questions:
How Much to Pay
There are no hard and fast rules except that you should make bonuses equitable among peer groups and always have performance justification for bonuses. Employees will discuss bonuses and paying inequitably will generate strife or potentially lawsuits.
When you deliver bonuses, be sure you explain the reasons for them. These reasons should be non-subjective, measurable, and performance oriented. When you deliver bonuses, make it clear that a bonus is an extra that may not always be available. As nicely as possible, drive home the fact that you are rewarding them for this year’s accomplishments and that bonuses are available based on the company’s performance this year only.
Bonus variations
The end of year is not the only time bonuses can be given out. Some business owners believe that whether you give bonuses or not, you should also provide periodic rewards for jobs well done. Accountants often give them at the end of tax season, other entrepreneurs give them at the end of a large job or busy season to demonstrate appreciation for employees’ devotion and hard work.
Even a bonus as small as £50 can mean a lot to someone because it demonstrates that you acknowledge their hard work. If you do not have a lot of extra money to spare, a small bonus or a bonus in the form of time-off can work.
There is a belief that giving all bonuses at the end of the year is not a good idea – as end-of-year bonuses can create a mine-is-bigger-than your syndrome in your company. It is recommended that providing bonuses for goals attained at the time of the achievement is more suitable.
Whether you are handing out bonuses during the year or at the end of the year, don’t forget the behind-the-scenes people who have made the big orders, the successful client presentations, and the travel, possible. Clerical staff is instrumental in making all other functions of the company operate smoothly.
Reward them for it.
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