The Top 10 Bonus Structure Examples in 2024

1. Goal-based bonuses

When an employee or team reaches a predetermined objective, the company may award them goal-based bonuses. Organizations may grant goal-based bonuses on a regular basis, such as bi-annually or annually, and use them to incentivize employees to perform well and hit their goals. 

Example: Employees may receive a goal-based bonus after completing a project or reaching their quota within a set timeline, such as a quarter. 

Benefits: 

• Goal-based bonuses prompt employees to work towards set goals, allowing them to focus on their objectives and positively contribute to the organization.
• Employees are encouraged to develop new skills and engage in efficient work practices to achieve their goals, which will benefit both themselves and the company. 

Pro tip: Goal-based bonuses are only effective at motivating employees if the set goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Otherwise, employees may be discouraged, confused, and unable to appropriately apply themselves to achieve the company’s desired outcomes. 

2. Sales-based bonuses

Sales-based bonuses provide sales representatives with additional opportunities to earn rewards based on their sales performance. While commissions are direct compensation tied to individual sales, sales-based bonuses offer additional incentives beyond potential commission earnings. These bonuses can reward employees for reaching specific sales targets and objectives or effectively managing sales teams, among other achievements.

Example: Sales representatives can earn a quarterly sales target bonus in addition to their regular commissions. When sales targets are met or exceeded, representatives can receive a bonus equivalent to a percentage of their total sales revenue for that period.

Benefits:  

• Companies can utilize sales-based bonuses to reward positive behavior without offering direct monetary compensation. As opposed to commissions, sales bonuses can be granted through gift cards, vouchers, flexible work options, PTO, or other forms of recognition. 
• Sales-based bonuses can be tailored to incentivize specific sales behaviors, such as hitting sales targets, acquiring new clients, or generating repeat customers. 

Pro tip: Combine sales-based bonuses with other forms of sales incentive compensation to deliver measurable results within sales teams and drive financial success within your organization. 

3. Attendance bonuses

Companies can reward employees for consistently showing up to work and reaching an attendance target through attendance bonuses. Awarding bonuses for attending work can reduce absenteeism and aid organizational productivity. Attendance bonuses are best suited for manufacturing, healthcare, and customer service industries, where consistent staffing is vital for maintaining efficient operations and delivering quality service.

Example: Employees are eligible to receive an attendance bonus if they attend work for all scheduled shifts during a calendar month or are awarded an additional five days of payment at the end of the year if they have not used sick leave. 

Benefits: 

• As employees are rewarded for their presence, they are more likely to attend shifts rather than call out without notice.
• Attendance bonuses can ensure a smoother workflow, as consistent attendance from all employees and minimal time off can reduce disruptions caused by short-staffing. 

Pro tip: Companies may be accused of discrimination if they are not considerate when implementing attendance bonuses. These bonuses should not be withheld if doing so would result in unlawful treatment, such as in cases where an employee’s disability affects their ability to attend work.

4. Profit-sharing bonuses

Eligible employees can receive a percentage of the company’s profits, typically annually, through profit-sharing bonuses. These bonuses can be distributed as cash, stocks, or other forms of compensation and link employee performance with the company’s growth and prosperity. 

Example: A company’s annual profits are $100,000, and 10% of the profit is distributed as a bonus to 5 eligible employees, who receive an amount relative to their salary. If employee A’s salary represents 25% of the company’s total salary, they will receive 25% of the total bonus pool, ensuring fair distribution of the profit-sharing bonus. 

Benefits:  

• When company and employee success are tied, turnover rates are reduced, as employees are incentivized to contribute to the organization long-term. 
• Employees will have a greater sense of responsibility and ownership of their duties and are more likely to produce high-quality work, as they know it will directly impact their finances. 

Pro tip: As a company’s profits can drastically fluctuate year to year due to external factors, employees may feel frustrated or discouraged if they receive lower bonuses for reasons beyond their control. Companies can avoid a potential negative impact from these bonuses by introducing additional long-term incentives (LTIs) for employees. 

5. Team-based bonuses

Companies can encourage teamwork and cooperation by awarding team-based bonuses. Rather than focusing solely on individual performance, team-based bonuses recognize the collaborative efforts of a group or department in achieving shared goals or project milestones. 

Example: A bonus amount of $20,000 is awarded quarterly to a team if they successfully complete a project within the timeline. The bonus may be distributed among the team members based on their roles and contribution levels. Team leaders, along with senior management, can collaborate to determine how the bonus is allocated.  

Benefits:  

• Team-based bonuses motivate employees to work together rather than individually, which promotes the sharing of valuable knowledge and skills.
• Projects are completed with higher quality as each employee can contribute to their team by offering their diverse perspectives and unique strengths. 

Pro tip: If companies opt to allocate team-based bonuses according to the roles and contributions of individual employees, it’s crucial to maintain open and transparent communication. By doing so, companies ensure that employees are well informed about the decisions made and prevent perceptions of favoritism or inequity. Pay transparency and equity can also be established through the use of specialized workforce analytics software, which provides key insights such as performance metrics and employee contributions.

6. Spot bonuses

Spot bonuses are given to employees instantly or spontaneously for their performance, actions, or behaviors. As opposed to other forms of bonuses, spot bonuses are often unexpected and are not tied to predetermined criteria or timelines.

Example: When a customer provides unsolicited feedback about an employee’s exceptional service, the employee is immediately awarded a monetary bonus, such as cash or a gift card, or a non-monetary bonus, such as a certificate or extra paid time off. 

Benefits:  

• As spot bonuses are not predetermined or planned, companies have additional flexibility in rewarding positive behaviors and contributions. 
• Employees are driven to perform well by the promise of unexpected spot bonuses, while companies can incentivize good performance without incurring significant financial costs, as these bonuses are typically granted on a smaller scale compared to other rewards.

Pro tip: Although spot bonuses can help companies promote desirable behaviors, they should not substitute for fair compensation practices. The spontaneity of spot bonuses can also unintentionally demonstrate favoritism, which can cause tension among employees, so team leaders and management should exercise discretion.

7. Retention bonuses

After staying in the company for an agreed time period, an employee becomes eligible for a retention bonus, a financial incentive that allows organizations to retain key talent and minimize hiring expenses. Companies may also offer retention bonuses to keep employees they suspect are exploring opportunities with competitors.

Example: A retention bonus is paid out annually to eligible employees who stay within the company for a year. The bonus payout can coincide with the employee’s anniversary date or at the end of the fiscal year and is based on either a percentage of the employee’s salary or a predetermined flat rate determined by HR through compensation management software.

Benefits:  

• Retention bonuses encourage long-term company loyalty, allowing organizations to maintain a reliable workforce, even during challenging or unstable periods. 
• Companies can increase the overall quality of their workforce by offering retention bonuses to the highest-performing individuals who demonstrate exceptional skills, focus, and dedication. 

Pro tip: Companies that offer retention bonuses risk retaining employees who are unhappy, stressed, or otherwise dissatisfied with their roles. Retaining such talent solely through financial incentives such as retention bonuses could potentially diminish project quality and adversely affect morale among other employees.

8. Referral bonuses

When employees refer candidates to the company, they can receive a referral bonus, which is typically granted as a financial incentive, such as cash and gift cards, or other incentives, such as additional PTO. Companies may opt to offer referral bonuses as a flat rate regardless of the position type or through a tired structure that accounts for the level or importance of the position being filled.

Example: Employees can refer candidates to a role by submitting their resumes through the company’s designated referral portal or directly to the HR department. The company can employ a tiered bonus system, with higher bonuses being granted for successfully referring candidates for hard-to-fill positions. 

Benefits:  

• Referral bonuses can speed up the hiring process while reducing costs, as companies can assess a large pool of prescreened candidates leveraged by existing employee networks.  
• Referred candidates are more inclined to remain with the company for an extended time, as they are provided insights from existing employees regarding the company’s culture and values. 

Pro tip: To avoid employees referring to unqualified candidates and extending the hiring process, companies must clearly outline the role’s requirements to ensure employees understand the type of candidates the company is seeking and can make appropriate referrals. 

9. Safety bonuses

Safety bonuses encourage employees to adhere to safety protocols, regulations, and best practices, reducing accidents and promoting workplace responsibility. These bonuses are particularly useful in manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, construction, and other high-risk industries where safety must be prioritized. 

Example: All eligible employees receive a quarterly bonus for zero-accident records within a specified period of time, such as each quarter. The bonus can include cash prizes or other rewards such as gift cards, PTO, and career development opportunities.

Benefits:  

• Safety bonuses can decrease company expenses by reducing downtime, medical expenses, compensation claims, and productivity losses that stem from workplace accidents. 
• An organization’s commitment to safety can positively impact each employee’s morale and engagement, as they perceive that their employer prioritizes their well-being.

Pro tip: Be consistent and informative when establishing a safety bonus program by clearly defining the desired safety measures and refraining from awarding arbitrary rewards without justification. Otherwise, the program’s effectiveness can be reduced, as employees will not understand which behaviors or actions are rewarded.

10. Innovation bonuses

Organizations can encourage creativity and ingenuity through innovation bonuses. These incentives encourage employees to contribute fresh ideas, creative solutions, and unconventional approaches to solving problems and completing projects within the organization.

Example: All employees are encouraged to submit proposals for process enhancements, product improvements, cost-saving measures, or other initiatives that can have a positive impact on the company. Each proposal is evaluated on criteria such as its feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with the organization’s goals, and the most promising ideas are selected for implementation, with employees receiving monetary or non-monetary bonuses for their successful contributions.

Benefits:  

• Innovative bonuses can promote creativity, resourcefulness, and productivity within a company, as employees are motivated to apply their knowledge and contribute to the company’s success and advancement. 
• Companies that visibly promote and prioritize innovation can be an attractive option for prospective talent, increasing their competitiveness in their respective markets.

Pro tip: Clearly communicate the criteria for receiving innovation bonuses to avoid misunderstandings and prevent the waste of employee time and resources. Employees should also have an accessible platform or system for submitting their proposals and staying updated with the status of their submissions, as this encourages participation in the program.