Cui Bonus?

[steepholm]

This poll is prompted by the recent fuss about Stephen Hester's bonus, but it's something I've often wondered about. Just how widespread is the practice of giving performance-related bonuses? We tend to hear about it in connection with bankers, and others who are already paid ridiculous amounts, but is it much more widespread? I can see the argument for incentives, but would find it strange if only rich people needed them, and only in the form of yet more money. While the rest of us are expected to do our jobs properly from a sense of professional pride, are only the rich venal and lazy enough to need a couple of extra million to get out of bed? Surely not!

ETA: I of course should have included "Self-employed" in the job options, as I know that applies to many here, but I guess that falls into the "Not that simple..." box.

[Poll #1815171]

Comments

[joyeuce]

I filled this in relative to my last job, and then realised I shouldn't have answered question 1 ... sorry. Anyway, none of my jobs have involved bonuses; one did include a proportion of profit-related pay, but I can't remember, if I ever knew, how this was calculated.

I suppose one could argue that M's wedding and funeral fees count as bonuses, as they are additional to his regular stipend, and ministers will get different amounts depending on how pretty their church is, how willing they are to marry divorcees and/or conduct blessings of civil partnerships, how good a relationship they have with the local undertakers, etc.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I tried finding a gainly way of saying "the job you have now or one you had in the past", but gave up - but I really meant both!

I don't think I'd count the fee for performing ceremonies as a performance related bonus - it's just a fee. Unless, that it, M gets more money for doing it with extra vim?

[joyeuce]

Sadly, no! In fact the best services he does are those for church-connected people, because he knows them, and those are the ones where he waives the fee.