Should Employees Always Expect a Bonus?

It's no secret that the economy after 2008 was in dire straits. No one knew just where their jobs were going or would come from during the worst of the downturned economy.

As the economy began to improve, jobs began to trickle in. Not everything is rainbows and puppies even years later, but things are better.

That leaves us to wonder, should employees always expect a bonus from their employers?

Not The Same As It Used To Be

Bonuses used to be the norm during pre-2008 days. Christmas bonus, Easter bonus, best dressed bonus...or maybe not best dressed. We saw bonuses for almost everything an employer could think of. People were making a lot of money and wanted to keep employees happy. It was a win-win or so it seemed.

Today even large businesses are understanding that a bonus is just that, a bonus. A little something extra for a job well done. A surprise to put into an employee's check at the end of the week or for the holidays. But, should an employee expect them? Not so much.

When to Give a Bonus

A bonus should be given when work merits it, not for any old reason. When employees come to expect a bonus they get upset if the bonus is not there, even if the company just can't afford to put one into every employee's check. A bonus should not be viewed as a right unless it is in the employee's contract.

Some employers think that their workers will not work as hard if they do not receive bonuses. This isn't exactly true. While some employees may work harder if they think they will receive a bonus, good employees will always work hard. If the employees are invested in the company, through loyalty or even financially, they will always perform well. Good employer to employee communication can drive the performance level up even further through respect.

If a company is doing well, it may pay to give all employees a bonus when sales are up. This lets employees know they are valued for their contribution to the performance and company's well being. To keep employees happier an employer can come up with fun bonus structures or initiatives. When employees have an incentive to do more work for a reward they often will perform better, even if the structure is based on attendance only.

Alternatives to Bonuses

Bonuses do not need to always be monetary. An employer could offer gift cards, a day off, or options to leave work early. Bonuses could be a family picnic or even a day where the company buys pizza for everyone.

In the end, if your company cannot afford to give out bonuses this year, talk to your employees.

Let them know the situation and explain why bonuses will not be coming. Employees are more likely to be sympathetic if they know what is going on rather than being left in the dark.