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Incentive Compensation

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Is pay for performance the same as bonuses? Bonuses are “money or an equivalent given in addition to an employee's usual compensation.” (Miriam-Webster, 2011) Bonuses are normally awarded at the end of the company’s fiscal year and are determined based upon the company’s bottom line; however, most companies do not clearly outline the factors that will determine if a bonus is awarded. Bonuses are a usually a company’s reaction to prior year performance. Most companies decide how much money will be allotted for bonuses once the year-end totals are tallied and divide the amount evenly among the employees. If the company decides that bonuses will be awarded, all employees will receive the bonus regardless of their performance for that year. Although bonuses are awarded based on the company’s profit margin, most employees tend to feel obligated to receive a year-end bonus and are hardly ever satisfied with the amount given.
Pay for performance is not the same as a bonus. Pay for performance is usually an incentive plan that is based on the performance of each individual as well as the performance of the company. The incentive plan supports the pay-for-performance philosophy by aligning a percentage of total compensation with the attainment of annual business goals and individual performance objectives. The plan is also designed to increase awareness, understanding, and commitment to the business goals, as well as promote employee retention.
Moving from a bonus plan to a pay for performance plan will require a lot of work for any organization and union. An effective pay for performance plan will need to be reviewed and negotiated periodically to ensure that the plan works for the organization and for the employees. The incentive plan will need to meet the company’s core objectives while retaining employees. “Too often I have seen organizations lose key people

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